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Author Topic:   Fundamentalism versus Critical Thinking
BMG
Member (Idle past 209 days)
Posts: 357
From: Southwestern U.S.
Joined: 03-16-2006


Message 14 of 159 (386164)
02-19-2007 10:33 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Phat
02-19-2007 4:12 PM


I believe critical thinking is difficult to define. When researching the topic one comes to the conclusion that critical thinking could have several defintions, with all of them having some share of correctness.
Critical thinking could be a "tool of inquisition". A method of gathering evidence, weighing, analyzing, comprehending, synthesizing and eventually deciding whether the evidence is worthy to be accepted or rejected.
But critical thinking could also be defined by personality traits held by the critical thinker. A critical thinker is one who possesses a keen inquisitiveness and a hunger for reliable and accurate information. They are questioning but open to new and varied ideas.
Furthermore, critical thinkers are just as thorough and questioning of their own beliefs and conclusions as they are of others. They mitigate biases so as to keep an open-minded and honest outlook on information.
Sorry for the tirade, I'm a bit keyboard happy tonight.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Phat, posted 02-19-2007 4:12 PM Phat has not replied

  
BMG
Member (Idle past 209 days)
Posts: 357
From: Southwestern U.S.
Joined: 03-16-2006


Message 15 of 159 (386166)
02-19-2007 10:48 PM
Reply to: Message 11 by nator
02-19-2007 9:53 PM


And I think that you have taught that you need religion, but you don't really.
I don't know Schraf. If Phat and others feel comforted with a belief in an afterlife, a God, etc. then it seems a bit presumptuous to claim that "they don't really need it".
It just seems troublesome and difficult to tell people what they do or do not need in terms of emotional and/or spiritual support.
What people need is their basic needs met, and a good moral code. Religion is not needed for either of these things.
But if people rely on an organized or "disorganized" religion for a "good moral code" then who are we to tell them "religion is not needed for...these things"?
Please don't get the wrong idea, Schraf, I far too often agree with your posts; including this one, to a certain extent.
Edited by Infixion, : Change in second sentence.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 11 by nator, posted 02-19-2007 9:53 PM nator has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 28 by nator, posted 02-20-2007 3:58 PM BMG has replied

  
BMG
Member (Idle past 209 days)
Posts: 357
From: Southwestern U.S.
Joined: 03-16-2006


Message 63 of 159 (386493)
02-22-2007 3:10 AM
Reply to: Message 28 by nator
02-20-2007 3:58 PM


The comfort that people get from religion is often a crutch that keeps them from giving themselves credit for their own strength and allows them to make excuses so that they may avoid dealing with reality.
If "avoid dealing with reality" you mean those fundamentalists that, in spite of the evidence to the contrary, believe the earth was created in seven days, or that there was a global flood and Noah herded two of every animal onto an arc, then yes, I agree with you.
As we become older, we are expected to become more and more independent. It would be strange, would it not, to see a 22 year old man run crying to his mother when he stubbed his toe, wouldn't it?
Of course it would. Those that pray to their Lord for what appear to me to be superficial or trivial matters, such as "stubbing one's toe", would be strange.
But what if a worshipper, raised in the climate of their religion and believed in the power of prayer, didn't stub their toe? rather they lost their wife or husband? daughter or son? a family member or friend very dear to them?
They are under excessive stress, pain and suffering. Their head throbs and heart aches. They pray to whomever they pray to to relieve some of the pain. Regardless if they believe their prayers are answered or heard, the fact is when they cite what troubles them, they are often using a form of intropection. They come to better understand themselves and how they feel. This may very well calm them and give them some sort of solace; just a moment's peace.
Are we to tell them that they should "be more independent"? To "stop making excuses and avoid dealing with reality"?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 28 by nator, posted 02-20-2007 3:58 PM nator has replied

Replies to this message:
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