On 5 May 2005, at 10:01 pm, Warren Ockrassa wrote:
On another list there's been a discussion in the last few days about the findings of science, and particularly how many of us simply accept them without question.
For example many adults know that our solar system is heliocentric and Earth is roughly spherical, but how many of them can actually explain *why* that is true?
More to the point, what is the difference between accepting -- without question -- the statement "Sol lies at the center of our solar system" versus accepting -- again without question -- the statement "God lies at the center of our lives"?
When you comment that "People capable of believing in gods are capable of believing any crazy nonsense", you overlook a significant point, I think, and that is that it is *human nature* to believe something we've been told, particularly if it seems to descend from authority. This is probably innate; as children we'd damn well better believe what the adults tell us, or else we might get eaten by a predator.
I've been disregarding authority figures my entire life. I learned that 'hot' really was bad by sticking my hand in a fire when about two. I've argued with teachers all the way through school and university, and been flung out of a few classes taught by those who couldn't stand having their authority questioned. I'm the guy who corrects the error in what the lecturer just wrote on the board. The idea that I might accept something just because somebody said so is hilarious!
I think the tendency persists, and it's hard to counter its effects sometimes. This suggests to me that those who do not believe in a deity are no more proof from believing wacky things than those who do,
It's true that many people are gullible and credulous and easily taken in by charlatans, and that this is a good explanation for the frequency of religious belief.
and (in my estimation) it is profoundly intellectually arrogant -- as well as probably disprovable -- to suggest that atheism is an insulation against nonsense.
I don't think atheism is insulation against nonsense. I think atheism is an indicator that someone is insulated against nonsense.
-- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/
"The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible."
- Bertrand Russell
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