KNOWING THE TRUTH

[comoballer1121]

I don't call myseft all-knowing and confident in my capibilities like many do on this section of the forum. So please don't try to pick out my ignorance or stupidity. I am accually trying to educate myself. I have come across something that makes me wonder. When searching for the truth about any subject, can you be sure what you read or hear is fact? I know that much on the internet is not reputable but even newspapers and the radio could be telling a lie. Many conspire that people atop the heirarchy of society can accually change or invent ideas and news. The bottom line is that you can never be sure that what your hearing is true or fact unless maybe you witness it yourself. This reminds me of a discussion I once had about faith. The main point I gained from it is that you can either try to know all the wonders of the universe(only god), or you must have faith in a supreme being. Even though I believe that in spite of this thinking, people should still try to learn all that they can(knowledge is power.) But how deep must you go before you can be absolutely sure it is fact? And to add to that, What have you learned about obtaining knowlege during your lifetime? I just wanted to see some thoughts. Thanks.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

As far as politics goes, it is a very difficult task to determine who is telling the truth and who isn't. When researching on the internet, you definitely have to take things with a grain of salt. Visiting credible websites and reading credible sources/writers/newspapers etc. is good start. Stay away from extreme sites such as newsmax.com or prisonplanet.com, which always distorts facts and often, flat out lies.

You're right in a sense about not truly knowing something unless we've experienced it. However, that does not mean we cannot gain knowledge. Someone on this board once said something along the lines of, "just because I haven't been to New York, doesn't mean it does not exist."

Knowledge can only be gained by facts and supporting evidence. Using logic and reason will help you determine what fact is and what fiction is. Using the Scientific Method will help you with questions regarding god/evolution/creation or any other phenomena.

Personally, I have a big problem with faith. Faith is belief without, or in spite of, REASON.

An idea or belief in ones mind does not constitue knowledge. One can have false ideas and false beliefs. If man is to acquire knowledge, he must have a method of distinguishing fact from fiction. To qualify as knowledge, a belief must be justified. It must warrant acceptance by rational standards. If a belief meets the requirements of these standards, it is a rational belief. If a belief cannot meet these requirements, it is an irrational belief.
"A. a belief must be based on evidence
B. a belief must be internally consistent
C. a belief cannot contradict previously validated knowledge with which it is to be integrated. "

If a belief fails to meet any or all of these, it cannot be considered knowledge.

I see that 916 occasionally throws in the word "reason" or "logic" from time to time. But the simple fact remains that all versions of religion eventually fall on the concept of faith. Through faith theists claim to transcent reason and gain knowledge. "To embrace faith is to abandon reason."
"Faith: The commintment of one's consciousness to beliefs for which one has no sensory evidence or rational proof."

 

[shep]

well put 2-0

 

[WHITE DEVIL]

I believe the truth is what exists when you take multiple sources and find the mean.

Example: Liberal Source says "Bush majorly fucked up"

Middle-of-the-road source "Bush fucked up"

Bush adminsitration "We may have made some small errors"

Cut out the top and bottom source, and you come to the conclusion that Bush fucked up.

 

[WHITE DEVIL]

Yes, everything is relative, and articles/sources/quotes/ideas/occurences can be faked, but I believe when you truly examine multiple sources you will begin to see facts and commonalities coalescing. Basically don't trust any single source. Keep searching. Don't hear it from Al Franken or Bill O'Reilly and be done with it. That is what the cretins do.