Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgaryborn
Well I don't like the word "belief" for the same reasons you dislike the word "know": It can be misinterpreted. A ten year old boy can express a belief in Santa Claus because the concept is pleasing to him. Yet he knows that someone could prove that Santa Claus doesn't exist. Many folks believe that there is a God and a heaven because it is a comfort too them. Yet these people wouldn't want you or I to try to convince them that their belief is true or false. You would rob them of their comfort by planting doubts in their minds. I would show them a God that they are accountable too. Both of us would take them from their happy place and probably not be invited back to their dinner party.
How about the word "confident". I'm confident that there is a God and a judgment and a heaven and a hell. You are confident that these things don't exist. Agreed?
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Fair enough, and probably true enough that we wouldn't be invited back. Finding the right single word is difficult I realize.
I would agree with confident on your side, but I wouldn't say I'm confident at all though. While I usually debate from the one side, often it's not because I'm totally confident in the position, but a lot of times the position poses the same questions that I myself have developed over the years. I wouldn't say I've got my fleece out, but I've got my fleece out of storage. EDIT: But someone who is stronger on that position would be confident yes.