Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
I'll refrain from over generalizing, but it certainly doesn't seem to be the case a lot of the time.
Even on this board, if you were to dig up all the religion/atheism debate threads, they are almost always started by atheists, and most of those are started with thinly veiled disdain and ridicule.
I recognize that there are zealots on both sides, but I don't see how the "believers" can be generalized as the ones who are always close minded
|
You misunderstood what I meant by "close-minded".
I meant it in the sense of a willingness to change one's view. Those that follow the scientific method will admit their past views were in error, if sufficient evidence shows that to be the case. A good example of this would be Albert Einstein, who was an ardent opponent of quantum mechanics when that theory was in its nascent phase. Later in life, Einstein would admit that his earlier views on the subject were erroneous.
On the other hand, many of those who believe in a god are unshakable -- their belief is set in stone, and no amount of evidence to the contrary will convince them otherwise. To them, their faith is beyond being questioned -- many will even acknowledge that they have no evidence to support their faith, but they continue to believe nonetheless.
The quotation I posted from Carl Sagan on the previous page explains this better than I can.