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Alway ask questions before acceptance

J

JJ50

Well-Known Member
I never accept anything before asking relevant questions first. For instance, my eldest daughter and I required new laptops, when we went to the computer store this afternoon we quizzed one of the managers with a myriad questions before we bought the ones which ticked all the right boxes for us.

I think asking questions about the credibility of the religious faith is extremely important, before deciding to accept it. I wish my parents had asked questions about the Christian version of faith they forced upon my siblings and I as children, it certainly spoilt my childhood. I am so glad when I was old enough to ask questions I saw through it and consequently lost my faith. My husband and I always encouraged our children too question everything, including religion. They decided to take on board the Christian religion but a moderate version of it, the are not Biblical literalists, thank goodness.

Are you a questioner or acceptor?
 
sun rise

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
JJ50 said:
I never accept anything before asking relevant questions first. For instance, my eldest daughter and I required new laptops, when we went to the computer store this afternoon we quizzed one of the managers with a myriad questions before we bought the ones which ticked all the right boxes for us.

I think asking questions about the credibility of the religious faith is extremely important, before deciding to accept it. I wish my parents had asked questions about the Christian version of faith they forced upon my siblings and I as children, it certainly spoilt my childhood. I am so glad when I was old enough to ask questions I saw through it and consequently lost my faith. My husband and I always encouraged our children too question everything, including religion. They decided to take on board the Christian religion but a moderate version of it, the are not Biblical literalists, thank goodness.

Are you a questioner or acceptor?
Click to expand...
I certainly had questions and things to think about. Before accepting a faith, a spiritual path or a teacher,

I've known people who got very enthusiastic about a path, adopted it for a short time and then left. What can happen is that someone's faith or belief wavers as it did for me. Without a solid background, it's easy to let an emotional breeze cause someone to drift away. I was able to quickly run through my thought process and reaffirm my decision even though I was not feeling it for a time.
 
Twilight Hue

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
JJ50 said:
I never accept anything before asking relevant questions first. For instance, my eldest daughter and I required new laptops, when we went to the computer store this afternoon we quizzed one of the managers with a myriad questions before we bought the ones which ticked all the right boxes for us.

I think asking questions about the credibility of the religious faith is extremely important, before deciding to accept it. I wish my parents had asked questions about the Christian version of faith they forced upon my siblings and I as children, it certainly spoilt my childhood. I am so glad when I was old enough to ask questions I saw through it and consequently lost my faith. My husband and I always encouraged our children too question everything, including religion. They decided to take on board the Christian religion but a moderate version of it, the are not Biblical literalists, thank goodness.

Are you a questioner or acceptor?
Click to expand...
Sometimes a good hard dose of reality and circumstances also leads you to questions as well.

That's what happened to me and Christianity when I left the faith.

When reality and fantasy clash, there's no contest.

Bottom line it's always good to ask questions, be skeptical and inquisitive to help keep the boots on the ground.
 
J

JJ50

Well-Known Member
Nowhere Man said:
Sometimes a good hard dose of reality and circumstances also leads you to questions as well.

That's what happened to me and Christianity when I left the faith.

When reality and fantasy clash, there's no contest.

Bottom line it's always good to ask questions, be skeptical and inquisitive to help keep the boots on the ground.
Click to expand...

Good post, it is sad some people are so indoctrinated they can't see the wood for the trees.
 
Samana Johann

Samana Johann

Restricted by request
The Shorter Analysis of Action

..."There is the case where a woman or man when visiting a brahman or contemplative, does not ask: 'What is skillful, venerable sir? What is unskillful? What is blameworthy? What is blameless? What should be cultivated? What should not be cultivated? What, having been done by me, will be for my long-term harm & suffering? Or what, having been done by me, will be for my long-term welfare & happiness?' Through having adopted & carried out such actions, on the break-up of the body, after death, he/she reappears in the plane of deprivation... If instead he/she comes to the human state, then he/she will be stupid wherever reborn. This is the way leading to stupidity: when visiting a brahman or contemplative, not to ask: 'What is skillful?... Or what, having been done by me, will be for my long-term welfare & happiness?'

"But then there is the case where a woman or man when visiting a brahman or contemplative, asks: 'What is skillful, venerable sir? What is unskillful? What is blameworthy? What is blameless? What should be cultivated? What should not be cultivated? What, having been done by me, will be for my long-term harm & suffering? Or what, having been done by me, will be for my long-term welfare & happiness?' Through having adopted & carried out such actions, on the break-up of the body, after death, he/she reappears in a good destination... If instead he/she comes to the human state, then he/she is discerning wherever reborn. This is the way leading to discernment: when visiting a brahman or contemplative, to ask: 'What is skillful?... Or what, having been done by me, will be for my long-term welfare & happiness?'...​
 
J

JJ50

Well-Known Member
Ask questions then think about what you have been told to see if it makes any sense. Where religion is concerned never assume the religious leader knows what they are talking about.

I was about 14 when I asked the YEC pastor of the Pentecostal church I attended where dinosaurs fitted into his young earth creation belief, as they were much older than his supposed age of the earth. When he told me that god had put them there as a test of faith, my faith went on the skids until I lost it by the time I was 19.
 
ChristineM

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
JJ50 said:
I never accept anything before asking relevant questions first. For instance, my eldest daughter and I required new laptops, when we went to the computer store this afternoon we quizzed one of the managers with a myriad questions before we bought the ones which ticked all the right boxes for us.

I think asking questions about the credibility of the religious faith is extremely important, before deciding to accept it. I wish my parents had asked questions about the Christian version of faith they forced upon my siblings and I as children, it certainly spoilt my childhood. I am so glad when I was old enough to ask questions I saw through it and consequently lost my faith. My husband and I always encouraged our children too question everything, including religion. They decided to take on board the Christian religion but a moderate version of it, the are not Biblical literalists, thank goodness.

Are you a questioner or acceptor?
Click to expand...

I think you are very brave going on the word of a store manager responding to technical questions. Most are trained in general answers that will promote a sale, very few actually have technical nous.

Personally i research what i want, both on the internet and where possible querying people with specific knowledge.

Then i will go to a store, if they don't have what i have decided on then its no sale and i will look elsewhere.
 
J

JJ50

Well-Known Member
ChristineM said:
I think you are very brave going on the word of a store manager responding to technical questions. Most are trained in general answers that will promote a sale, very few actually have technical nous.

Personally i research what i want, both on the internet and where possible querying people with specific knowledge.

Then i will go to a store, if they don't have what i have decided on then its no sale and i will look elsewhere.
Click to expand...

Like you we research a product first. We bought some new laptops last week having thoroughly researched them first on-line. The sales person at the store was ready with his sales spiel, and was a bit shaken when challenged as we obviously knew more about it than him.
 
W

Wasp

Active Member
There are questioners who are able to look at religion critically and yet have faith. Then there are questioners who are unable to even temporarily, hypothetically accept anything. There are acceptors who accept whatever is told by someone who seems to know about religion. And acceptors who accepted their schoolmates' explanation on fourth grade about why there can't be a God.

A "religious leader" - if they really are that - should certainly be respected and their words considered, but not blindly accepted. Most people who criticize them don't know anything about religion, but they're absolutely sure whatever they said must be wrong - because it doesn't fit with their prejudices.

So while questioning it's better not to make a fool of oneself.
 
J

JJ50

Well-Known Member
Wasp said:
There are questioners who are able to look at religion critically and yet have faith. Then there are questioners who are unable to even temporarily, hypothetically accept anything. There are acceptors who accept whatever is told by someone who seems to know about religion. And acceptors who accepted their schoolmates' explanation on fourth grade about why there can't be a God.

A "religious leader" - if they really are that - should certainly be respected and their words considered, but not blindly accepted. Most people who criticize them don't know anything about religion, but they're absolutely sure whatever they said must be wrong - because it doesn't fit with their prejudices.

So while questioning it's better not to make a fool of oneself.
Click to expand...

Far better not to accept anything, especially about religion, unless it has answered all your questions in a satisfactory manner.
 
W

Wasp

Active Member
JJ50 said:
Far better not to accept anything, especially about religion, unless it has answered all your questions in a satisfactory manner.
Click to expand...
If you don't accept things temporarily /hypothetically, your questions can't be answer. It becomes a merry go round. That's why sworn atheists are impossible to convert without some kind of a "miracle".
 
Willamena

Willamena

Just me
Premium Member
JJ50 said:
I never accept anything before asking relevant questions first. For instance, my eldest daughter and I required new laptops, when we went to the computer store this afternoon we quizzed one of the managers with a myriad questions before we bought the ones which ticked all the right boxes for us.

I think asking questions about the credibility of the religious faith is extremely important, before deciding to accept it. I wish my parents had asked questions about the Christian version of faith they forced upon my siblings and I as children, it certainly spoilt my childhood. I am so glad when I was old enough to ask questions I saw through it and consequently lost my faith. My husband and I always encouraged our children too question everything, including religion. They decided to take on board the Christian religion but a moderate version of it, the are not Biblical literalists, thank goodness.

Are you a questioner or acceptor?
Click to expand...
You are holding acceptance to a higher standard than it deserves. All it is is "yes," and I'm guessing you have a lot more "yesses" in your day than you have the time to question. I'm an acceptor.

Questioning the existence of a god before answering, "yes," is all well and good, but doubting is better. Doubt is "have I answered correctly?"
 
J

JJ50

Well-Known Member
Wasp said:
If you don't accept things temporarily /hypothetically, your questions can't be answer. It becomes a merry go round. That's why sworn atheists are impossible to convert without some kind of a "miracle".
Click to expand...

I would never be stupid enough to accept anything unless I had good reason to do so.
 
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