27 sept 2011
Bad arguments: True Because I Want It To Be
A lot of people want their religion to be true. They desire what they believe to be true to actually be true. This desire, however, has no effect on the actual truth. Wishes have no weight here, even if the alternative makes you upset or drives you to despair.
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But the real question is: is it important whether it's "true"? There is a difference between one's own psychological truth and the kind of truth that tells us today is Tuesday. For instance, I know for a fact that my partner is the most attractive person in the universe. For most people, this will not be true. But in terms of my personal reality, this truth is eminently real.
Religion is one of the greatest methods of psychological hygiene. And as long as it serves that purpose for an individual, then for that particular person it is very true and real.
And this is my own truth about religion. :-) I love this series of posts.
Yes, I wish everyone were that honest and realized that a personal conviction about religion is as valid as one about the attractiveness of one's sexual and romantic partner.
Of course, those who really really need to convince others of the validity of their religion (the same as those who bug their friends with comments like "But he is really cute, right? Isn't he just so cute?) are people who don't really believe. :-)
Ever hear of organized religion? It's an organized enterprise that promulgates the faith to the next generation. Propagating the faith is a big part of it. That's where the word "propaganda" originates. By your definition most believers of the most fervent type don't really believe at all. Not that I have a problem with that, if that's really the argument you want to make.
This is exactly the argument I want to make. :-) "Organized religion" is am oxymoron, in my opinion. Especially, if we are talking about Christianity. (I'm simply not knowledgeable enough about other religions.)
These "bad argument" posts are too easy. You need to engage good arguments, if there are any. The only good argument I can think of has to do with the nature of reason—whether reason trumps all other ways of knowing. I doubt it—as much as I doubt the existence of this or that deity....
I will be engaging with any good arguments that I do come across. I've heard yours in some version or another, and also the idea that reason will eventually lead to Catholic dogma.
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