I am beginning to question the wisdom of dismissing belief as a factor in life and communication. If you dismiss belief as unworthy, it doesnt go away. In fact, its still very much a factor, but now its become the elephant in the room. Also it tends to derail dialogue in other ways. For example, instead of something being presented as I believe... absolutism is being backed up by no small s- science, but SCIENCE! God in no longer the unquestionable authority behind a contention (you must do this because god says so). The new excuse to force others to do what you want them to do is SCIENCE! We must do this/ we must pass a law /we must raise awareness because studies show ... (You can spot belief being presented as a conclusion backed up by SCIENCE, because with actual science, if irrefutable evidence is presented the conclusion changes. Not so with belief. In fact, SCIENCE! is used to dismiss, ignore or minimize the significance of the new evidence.) Im beginning to suspect the biggest problem with dismissing belief isnt that it sets an unrealistic standard, but how easily it allows us lie to ourselves. We dont even recognize how much of what we consider rational conclusions are in fact, our personal beliefs. Beliefs that are just as unfounded as the beliefs of those we despise for what -- we claim -- they believe.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 20:25:55 +0000
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