WKL815 said:
We could all begin listing what we think constitutes a particular factor in this theoretical equation, and I think this is where people's views of relativism come in - but the factors themselves are absolute and unchangeable by our mere perceptions - we were either right or we were wrong.
As such, we as mere individuals can not know the absolute answer, yet still understand there is one. And we can not be sure of how a factor comes to be derived, but that it is - is still absolute. I think it was Descartes who said "I think therefore I am" which then lead him to believe that there was a God because we as humans could conceive of one. When I studied him, I thought he was mental lightweight. Now I get it.
I enjoyed your post WKL815. I like hearing people think. Even though you believe me to be a silly liberal twisting in the wind.
I think, therefore I am...compelled to be skeptical of the concept of absolutes. Physics has shown that even things we take for granted like shared perception and the nature of matter, time and space are not as absolute as we once believed.
Of course there are an abundance of ideas, concepts, values that I would love to believe into absolution, but skepticism, even my own, won't allow it. There is too much evidence in the world to counteract faith in any concept of "the absolute" and in addition there is still so much that we
don't know.
Still there are people who hold onto their faith in absolutes in the face of any challenge, regardless of its compelling or monumental nature.
Did anyone read the article (Time or Newsweek?) about the "spirituality gene," and does anyone have an opinion on that concept?
Do you think that some people are driven to faith (any faith) due to an unconscious compulsion for absolutes? Answers? Meaning?
Could the "spiritually lazy" among us simply be lacking a genetic component that our religious neighbors have?
And if so, the controversial question is, what does it mean in light of the theory of evolution?
Just thinking out loud....of course, there are no answers.