That’s true. And to the extent to which I am deficient in acquiring and then sustaining those skills, I am clearly open to legitimate criticism.
But my focus here is always on the distinction between those things/relationships for which “the truth” is in fact applicable objectively, and those things/relationships which may well be embodied subjectively/subjunctively in but points of view for mere mortals in a No God world.
All I can do then is to ask those who do claim to have acquired the necessary skills, to bring them out into the world of conflicting human behaviors; such that we might explore any possible limitations in regards to the tools philosophers use in their search for the truth.
But [existentially] what is really the point of believing in God and religion?
1] to ground one’s behaviors in a moral narrative on this side of the grave and
2] to secure one’s immortality and salvation on the other side of itAnd here could the stakes possibly be any higher?! So, of course when discussions head in that direction, and the stakes do begin to mount, there will be more potential for friction, for fractious exchanges.
The stakes are high.
Do you care if what you think is true or false?
I care about the extent to which anyone who claims that what they think they know is true or false about God and religion is something that they can in turn demonstrate that all rational men and women are obligated to think they know is true or false about them too.
What else is there? The rest revolves around faith.
Is it better to move towards the truth or to fortify yourself in a potentially false belief?
What particular truth in what particular context? Isn’t that where I always take the exchanges?
The ‘modern’ idea that everyone has their own truth and he/she lives in his own reality.
So, is there a postmodern mathematics? a postmodern science? a post modern set of empirical facts? a post-modern logic?
Again: What particular “reality” is being discussed?
I disagree. I think the reality is outside of me and I need to interact with it. That means talking to other people. It’s how I’m going to learn about reality and truth.
I need to shed my errors in order to grow.
In other words, outside of you and I and everyone else here, there is this a-historical, a-cultural, a-experiential thing that is Communism or abortion.
And the “reality and truth” about them [for now] still revolves around the manner in which you think about them.
And that at least offers some measure of comfort for you. Others may not share your own moral narrative or political agenda about them but to the extent that they don’t is the extent to which they are further removed from that “reality and truth”.
And we just continue to “get” this is different ways.