What Does Critical Thinking Mean To You?

Is evidence the only prerequisite for belief?

In most cases, yes.

You are quite the critical one, aren't you. I am a living example of "no".

There is no endless stream of "reallys" needed. Either you believe or you don't.

so define "valid"....here better yet, I'll do it: To one man, evidence may be well grounded yet may not be justifiable,relevant, or meaningful. Neither be it appropriate to the end in view.

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Saying, "I don't know," is the same as saying, "Maybe."~ZombieRingo

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It's easy to see the speck in somebody else's ideas - unless it's blocked by the beam in your own.~Ringo

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If a savage stops believing in his wooden god, it does not mean that there is no God only that God is not wooden. (Leo Tolstoy)

in matters of belief, my evidence is subjective. Objective evidence regarding belief is best left to stodgy,arrogant Cambridge Professors, in my opinion. Then again, I may just be a sore loser.

I already addressed this basic issue here.Perhaps I do have a desperation and need to believe---precisely the one thing you lack. Were I to put aside this anxiety for "10 minutes" (as well as my belief itself) my mind would already have changed...for ten minutes at least.

Did the Tornado actually happen in The Wizard Of Oz?

In the Bible Story, did the Flood actually happen?

It appears that Jon states that he has certain beliefs, irrational though they may be, and that they are likely not the absolute correct actuality given that the actuality is likely greater than human capability of comprehension.In other words, I believe X as I understand X yet the actual breadth and scope of X is likely beyond what I can understand...thus my answer(my belief) is incomplete at this time.

There is a difference--at least in my mind--between being wrong and being incomplete.Take the belief in GOD, for example. I have a high degree of reasonable belief that GOD exists. I could well be wrong, but since I believe it, (and most certainly because I took a stand on belief versus perpetual uncertainty) my educated guess is over 50% certain that GOD exists.I have reasons. They are personal to me.Perhaps it is irrational of me to assign a percentage to such a question, I dont know.I am more likely leaning towards the idea that my perception, feeling, and logic is incomplete. As I am driving up the "road" the map shows a bridge, but I can only trust my senses,emotions, and feelings. Evidence is not needed because I have driven this road many times, the weather is nice thus there is no logical reason the bridge may be out. Would you not say that my absolute knowledge of whether the bridge is intact is incomplete, rather than "likely wrong"?

Seems the bridge(between Minnesota & S.Dakota) is indeed there. Good thing I prayed before finding out the hard way. Our arguments are often circular here at EvC. May as well sit back and enjoy the coffee rather than spilling it trying to prove a point.

Your theory is only correct if God does not in some way interact with humanity. God is not merely some unknowable Being whom we "test" in regards to our reactions concerning said concept. God is alive.

Perhaps when He smites some of us it is Him using critical thinking on us. Perhaps natural selection is similar to random smiting.

The evidence would support your assertion.