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I guess it should come as no surprise that the comments section for an article called “facts don’t change our minds” would be so disappointing. For me, this ar

I guess it should come as no surprise that the comments section for an article called “facts don’t change our minds” would be so disappointing. For me, this article — and many like it that point out how whimsical and feeble our natural, undisciplined cognitive capacities are — are a rally cry to continue the enlightenment project, as best we can and in as personal a way as we can. Years ago I learned that my family motto from way back was “through faith we are free”. I found that immediately alienating because for me it was always “through doubt we are free.” From this article to my comment to current events: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/28/opinion/the-enlightenment-project.html?_r=0 https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/28/opinion/the-enlightenment...

DoofusOfDeath 10y ago
> Years ago I learned that my family motto from way back was “through faith we are free”. I found that immediately alienating because for me it was always “through doubt we are free.” From my own experience as a reluctant religious agnostic, I see the faith/doubt-freedom issue as less clear-cut. Some Christians I know appear capable of doing things that I, as an agnostic, cannot. The first thing that comes to mind is showing care for people I find unlovable. For those Christians, either their faith or (if real) the Holy Spirit in whom they have faith allows them to act in a selfless way towards such people. Those Christians have a freedom that I don't. OTOH, their faith (or the Holy Spirit, if real) also constrains their actions and thoughts in ways mine aren't.
- rustynails 10y ago
  "The first thing that comes to mind is showing care for people I find unlovable." Most of my friends describe me as more religious/spiritual than most religious people they know, yet, I consider myself closely aligned to atheism. One of my good friends (an Anglican) told me about a community activity to promote girls only. I asked why the church was so sexist and he said nobody had challenged it (supposedly they ONLY get government grants if ONLY females are helped!!). Needless to say, he kicked up a fuss and the church is now split fairly evenly on the topic of "should boys be given ANY support". When you said about religious people acting selflessly, I had to chuckle. I know some lovely religious people and some prejudiced people. Religion is no judge of character or empathy.
PetoU 10y ago
I see this events roughly the same. The romantic emotional turn against rational enlightenment, can be seen nowadays. In a broader picture, you could see this oscillation of rational / irational (objectivists / subjectivists ) cycles all over history. Someone surprised by this events seems ignorant of history, and how people can actually behave.

DoofusOfDeath 10y ago

> Years ago I learned that my family motto from way back was “through faith we are free”. I found that immediately alienating because for me it was always “through doubt we are free.” From my own experience as a reluctant religious agnostic, I see the faith/doubt-freedom issue as less clear-cut. Some Christians I know appear capable of doing things that I, as an agnostic, cannot. The first thing that comes to mind is showing care for people I find unlovable. For those Christians, either their faith or (if real) the Holy Spirit in whom they have faith allows them to act in a selfless way towards such people. Those Christians have a freedom that I don't. OTOH, their faith (or the Holy Spirit, if real) also constrains their actions and thoughts in ways mine aren't.

rustynails 10y ago
"The first thing that comes to mind is showing care for people I find unlovable." Most of my friends describe me as more religious/spiritual than most religious people they know, yet, I consider myself closely aligned to atheism. One of my good friends (an Anglican) told me about a community activity to promote girls only. I asked why the church was so sexist and he said nobody had challenged it (supposedly they ONLY get government grants if ONLY females are helped!!). Needless to say, he kicked up a fuss and the church is now split fairly evenly on the topic of "should boys be given ANY support". When you said about religious people acting selflessly, I had to chuckle. I know some lovely religious people and some prejudiced people. Religion is no judge of character or empathy.

PetoU 10y ago

I see this events roughly the same. The romantic emotional turn against rational enlightenment, can be seen nowadays. In a broader picture, you could see this oscillation of rational / irational (objectivists / subjectivists ) cycles all over history. Someone surprised by this events seems ignorant of history, and how people can actually behave.