Quote:
Originally Posted by ratbastid
All me. Glad you like.
I'm not being entirely clear, I don't think. I'm not hypothesizing anything in particular about spiritual experience. I've had them, I'm for them, they're powerful and empowering and life-bringing things.
I'm saying that I can see why the fundamentalist, literalist, "my beliefs are fact"-ist faction would be having a shit fit, given the sorts of things science is poking its nose into these days.
The real thing I don't understand about fundamentalism is why a person would put your faith on such a tenuous foundation as "fact". Facts change as our understanding of the world changes. Faith is powerful and unshakable.
|
Ah! Now I understand you. Sorry for being dense.
Yes, I agree entirely. But if one is going to be so foolish as to adopt a viewpoint that is so inflexible and so fragile that it can tolerate no other truths, and suffer no questioning-- even the metaphysical "introspection" of its members, then it is all too likely one will frequently find oneself in the uncomfortable position of attempting to shut out the world entire, to say nothing of more than occasionally being hoist upon one's own petard. It is unfortunate, but, I confess, draws little sympathy from me. This is what comes of presuming that religion is there to provide one with Answers, rather than to function as a guide and support in ensuring that one is able to ask the right questions to arrive at one's own answers.
Perhaps I should feel more sympathetic-- or at least charitable; but I don't. Fundamentalism is an abuse of religion and of reason, and if its endangerment is stressful for its adherents, they have none to blame but themselves.
...IMHO....