Rational free thinking versus beliefs

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DJAdo's picture
Rational free thinking versus beliefs

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Cognostic's picture
The topic makes no sense.

The topic makes no sense. Rational free thinking leads to beliefs that are rational. Non, rational thinking leads to beliefs that are non-rational. Is there something else you need to know? Everything you hold to be true is a belief. It is a belief, whether or not it is rational.

boomer47's picture
@DJA

@DJA

Might be interested in replying to a claim or argument .

What is your position on the topic and why?

David Killens's picture
With beliefs, one begins with

With beliefs, one begins with a presupposition, and works towards rationalizing it. In free thinking, one follows the evidence and logic to arrive at a conclusion, regardless of the expected outcome.

algebe's picture
DJA: Rational free thinking

DJA: Rational free thinking versus beliefs

Did you forget to include your argument?

Your title is synonymous with "commitment to truth versus make-believe".

Tin-Man's picture
My response to OP...

My response to OP...

Mike Tyson vs. Pee Wee Herman.

Old man shouts at clouds's picture
John F Kennedy VS Donald

John F Kennedy VS Donald LeTrump

William T.G. Morton vs Mary Teresa

Madame Curie vs Eva Braun

Tin-Man's picture
Bullwinkle and Rocky vs.

Bullwinkle and Rocky vs. Batman and Robin

Robocop vs. Terminator

Three Dog Night vs. 3 Doors Down

Orca vs. Flipper

Edit to add:

Little Rascals vs. Keystone Cops

Sheldon's picture
As Cognostic says a belief

As Cognostic says a belief can be rational or irrational, it's the affirmation of a claim, how you arrived at that conclusion determines the validity of a belief.

The more objective evidence one has the more credence one can assign the belief. Contrary evidence, no evidence or irrational claims made to support the belief should mean we attach less credence to it. If of course we care whether what we believe is true or not.

algebe's picture
For a rational thinker,

For a rational thinker, belief is tentative knowledge that is subject to revision as more facts are learned.

Belief in a religious context is specifically the act of holding contradictory ideas in one's mind simultaneously without being aware of the contradiction. Educated believers are aware of the real world and how it works, but they also hold the idea that it is magically controlled and manipulated by an invisible sky-spook. They know that consciousness depends on a functioning brain supported by a living body, but they also believe that they will somehow survive death.

George Orwell coined the name "doublethink" for this phenomenon in "1984".

xenoview's picture
@OP What is your belief?

@OP
What is your belief?

chimp3's picture
This reminds me of the Mike

This reminds me of the Mike Myers "Coffee Talk" skit on SNL:

"Rational free thinking versus belief. Talk among yourselves!"

Tin-Man's picture
Why are so many profile names

Why are so many profile names getting changed all of a sudden???

Simon Moon's picture
Everyone has beliefs.

Everyone has beliefs.

The 'rational free thinker' and the irrational theist have beliefs.

A belief is simply, the psychological state in which one is convinced a claim, premise or proposition is true, or likely true.

In other words, if one is convinced a claim, premise or proposition is true, they have a belief.

The reasons one is convinced, is where the rational thinking part comes in.

Rational reasons for having a belief: demonstrable and falsifiable evidence, reasoned argument, and valid and sound logic.
Irrational reasons for having a belief: 'feelings'. ancient texts, fallacious arguments, raised with a specific belief, etc.

For some reason, it seems that the word "belief" became a dirty word among some atheists. As if, a belief is always irrational, or without evidential warrant. When in truth, there are good reasons to hold a belief, and bad reasons.

David Killens's picture
"For some reason, it seems

"For some reason, it seems that the word "belief" became a dirty word among some atheists."

Because when in conversation with some theists, that word is a trap. They confuse it with "faith".

Cognostic's picture
Obviously a theist troll out

Obviously a theist troll out for his first drive by post.

Randomhero1982's picture
Careful out there, those

Careful out there, those theists are aggressive drivers!!!!

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