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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: epicure who wrote (52378)	7/5/2002 5:30:00 PM
From: maried.	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 82486

Your examples are not true facts for everyone. You could say," It is raining." and I could respond," No, this is a slight drizzle." Or,"It's 66 degrees", and I could answer," No, my thermometer says it's 68 degrees." Neither of us would be wrong...(you might become annoyed,however, at my argumentative spirit.) But the existence of a higher being is a fact. If you disagree with that fact, you are wrong. You are not an awful, horrible, damnable person...you are just wrong. There is someone or something more powerful than you or me. Someday you will acknowledge that fact...maybe not tomorrow but you will someday.

To: epicure who wrote (52378)	7/5/2002 5:34:10 PM
From: J. C. Dithers	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 82486

Hi, X. The "acknowledge" issue is an interesting one ... The problem with E's suggestion about substituting "belief" is that it implies (IMO) something of a mind stretch ... like "believing" in Santa Claus. It has a ring to it that the existence of God has a certain implausibility that can only be overcome by a conscious act of will to belieeeeve ... a conscious act of faith to accept something that is inherently implausible. The way I look at it is that our existence is a fact. Our existence is a demonstrable and indisputable effect that was caused by something. That "something" can only be (1) A superior being, or (2) An accident of nature. Thus, it seems to me that "acknowledgement" is the more apt word for those who accept explanation (1). One could acknowledge (1) grudgingly, while feeling utter contempt for the very idea, just as a matter of feeling that logic demands its acceptance. On the other hand, "Belief" suggests some desire or wishfulness for (1) to be true. Just my opinions. I agree with you that this discussion is in the very best traditions of non-pejorative rendering of views. Hope you are enjoying a great weekend.