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Atheists/Agnostics/Skeptics! What are your sources of knowledge?

Infinitum

Possessed Bookworm
I have to admit "everything" sums it up pretty nicely. Depending on the topic I either prefer sources that are as close to the original information as possible (e.g. archaeological finds, original texts, scientific studies, etc) but when that isn't possible I try to look for sources that use these. When I read books I favour the ones that are written by people with a good academic reputation and that include references to the sources they've been using (so I can look up the information on my own if I feel the need to). I value writers who look at a subject from many perspectives, and who use logical argumentation to show why they've come to a certain conclusion. To sum it up, I like sources that allow me to assess the information myself instead of simply being told what's true or not.
 

Desert Snake

Veteran Member
As a skeptic my sources are different types of skepticism methods, everything from simple questioning of the 'source' of some information, to configuring possible arguments against a theory being presented.

Ps I noticed that wasn't quite the question you posed..My sources are all the usual and then some. With regards to religion, it is more about researching ideas and beliefs than trying to 'figure out' what the Scripture is saying.
 
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Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
I personally don't describe myself as a skeptic. I just realize and acknowledge, not just admitting and knowing, that I know nothing.
As for what is knowledge, everything we observe and take in is knowledge. There is something to be learned from everything.
 

paarsurrey

Veteran Member
Uh, is there any particular reason why our sources of knowledge would be different from anyone else's?

The believers of Religion have sources of knowledge like Word of Revelation from G-d in addition to the other sources available to the Atheists.

Regards
 

Ingledsva

HEATHEN ALASKAN
*
Great replies! I agree with most of you. :)

Paarsurrey - There is no way to prove the "knowledge" in religious texts is true.

However there are interesting things to learn in all religious and philosophical texts.

*
 

columbus

yawn <ignore> yawn
The believers of Religion have sources of knowledge like Word of Revelation from G-d in addition to the other sources available to the Atheists.

Regards

I have far too many sources of knowledge to list on an internet post.

By knowledge I mean " Beliefs I hold because the evidence is sufficient". The sources of that evidence are numerous and varied. A big factor in choosing them is the importance of the question.

But one thing I have noticed in my decades of life is that believers of Religion know less about reality than other people, in general. They are more likely to ignore evidence about what is true because it conflicts with something that they prefer to believe.

Tom
 

columbus

yawn <ignore> yawn
The Bible is among my knowledge sources. It was in fact, quite useful in helping me decide to be an atheist.

Me too.
When I realised that the Bible did not include Jesus explaining the Trinity or the Problem of Evil or Heaven/Hell/Judgement or anything, I realised that Christianity was made up by people who didn't have a clue.

Tom
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
Me too.
When I realised that the Bible did not include Jesus explaining the Trinity or the Problem of Evil or Heaven/Hell/Judgement or anything, I realised that Christianity was made up by people who didn't have a clue.

Tom

I don't quite understand. There isn't a single religion of which I am aware that defines itself solely by reading and interpreting a sacred text (literally or otherwise). Why does adapting itself and breathing beyond the confines of a book mean it was made up by clueless people? I'm really not following your logic here.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Everything but religious works, bodice rippers, manga, Chaucer, fashion magazines, & academic journals.
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
Everything but religious works, bodice rippers, manga, Chaucer, fashion magazines, & academic journals.
I forget what manga it was, but I saw one that made the claim that zombie movies do better during better economic times while vampire movies do better during sluggish economic times. I then done a search to see if this claim is true, and I found an academic journal that mentioned it. So while we may all have different scape goats for the economic recession, we can all throw our rage at it for paving the ground for Twilight.
 

columbus

yawn <ignore> yawn
I don't quite understand. There isn't a single religion of which I am aware that defines itself solely by reading and interpreting a sacred text (literally or otherwise). Why does adapting itself and breathing beyond the confines of a book mean it was made up by clueless people? I'm really not following your logic here.
Sorry I was unclear.

What I meant was the Bible was written by people who were clueless about the later claims that traditonal Christians would make, such as "Trinitarian Monotheism". Lot's of Christians still have a literalist view. Despite reading Genesis, for example.

The fact that so many Christians don't put too much stock in the Scripture is , I think, quite in line with Jesus' teaching. One of my favorites of His meta-messages is "Do what is right, not what some ancient teaching tells you".

Tom
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
Sorry I was unclear.

What I meant was the Bible was written by people who were clueless about the later claims that traditonal Christians would make, such as "Trinitarian Monotheism". Lot's of Christians still have a literalist view. Despite reading Genesis, for example.

The fact that so many Christians don't put too much stock in the Scripture is , I think, quite in line with Jesus' teaching. One of my favorites of His meta-messages is "Do what is right, not what some ancient teaching tells you".

Tom

Gotcha. That does clarify.
 
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