Why do we have to be so PC??

[_Some Schmo]

Why do we have to be so PC??

This thread title suddenly strikes me as extremely funny coming from you given the position you've taken in the porn thread.

[_Scottie]

Why do we have to be so PC??

This thread title suddenly strikes me as extremely funny coming from you given the position you've taken in the porn thread.

Schmo, if you want a sounding board where everyone agrees with everything you say, try RfM.

[_Scottie]

And your blind spots? That don't allow you to see your own ignorance?

Honestly, Scottie this has nothing to do with "PC" and everything to do with good manners and being well read. Two things that should always go together.

I'm quite certain that I have blind spots. I am constantly trying to find them. If someone points out to me that I have a blind spot, I don't put up defensive wall and hold on to whatever belief I cherish. I examine that belief to see if it's really what I think it is. I've surprised myself a few times.

[_Sethbag]

Believers, help me understand why I should consider you intelligent, because I'm really having a hard time here.

Are you intelligent? You were a believer once. So was I. When you call them stupid, you're calling yourself stupid too.

Some very smart people, much smarter than I, believe in Mormonism, born-again Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and all manner of false beliefs. I don't think that raw intelligence has anything to do with it. Once one accepts an epistemology that favors their own belief system, everything around them "makes sense", and very smart people will think that reality in fact favors their beliefs.

I'm convinced that it's possible to be smart enough as to make it almost impossible to come out of a false belief system, because the smarter they are, the cleverer they are about inventing explanations that short-circuit the evidence that their beliefs aren't true.

It sounds like this new coworker of yours has accepted an epistemology that allows faith of the kind she has about the Flood to make perfect sense to her. Thus she simply doesn't see it as bone-headed, the way you and I do.

[_Some Schmo]

This thread title suddenly strikes me as extremely funny coming from you given the position you've taken in the porn thread.

Schmo, if you want a sounding board where everyone agrees with everything you say, try RfM.

OK, are you on medication today or something? I'm starting to get a little concerned.

Seriously, I have no idea how you came to that conclusion from what I said.

[_Morley]

.... Look we all know the scientific method. We all trust that it can work in helping us answer questions. We simply have that plus another mode of understanding--the Spirit. It too can help us answer questions.
....

Please elaborate. You often talk about 'the Spirit,' but aren't specific about how it helps you (or others) 'answer questions.'

[_Scottie]

Believers, help me understand why I should consider you intelligent, because I'm really having a hard time here.

Are you intelligent? You were a believer once. So was I. When you call them stupid, you're calling yourself stupid too.

Some very smart people, much smarter than I, believe in Mormonism, born-again Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and all manner of false beliefs. I don't think that raw intelligence has anything to do with it. Once one accepts an epistemology that favors their own belief system, everything around them "makes sense", and very smart people will think that reality in fact favors their beliefs.

I'm convinced that it's possible to be smart enough as to make it almost impossible to come out of a false belief system, because the smarter they are, the cleverer they are about inventing explanations that short-circuit the evidence that their beliefs aren't true.

It sounds like this new coworker of yours has accepted an epistemology that allows faith of the kind she has about the Flood to make perfect sense to her. Thus she simply doesn't see it as bone-headed, the way you and I do.

You're exactly right. I have to constantly remind myself that I recited many of the standard rote lines that made all the problems okay.

Thanks for reminding me that these people are no different than I was once.

And Jersey Girl, that really made sense when you say it's all compatmentalized. Thanks!