Easter Questions

[thir]

It is true that knowledge can set us free from some fears, but they can start others - like when will the vulcano in Yellowstone pop? When will worldwar 3 start? When will the virus come that will kill us all? And other sunny ideas...

Would being ignorant of these possibilities make them any less likely?

Of course not - well, maybe ww3..but you said knowledge freed us from fear, and I just said there are always threaths, we cannot be freed from fear, it is part of any life, religious or not.

The other argument was that our technology is incredible and can create many things, but without any wisdom on what to do with it. So though knowledge is not evil in itself it can be turned to evil, and so often is. Maybe we are not ready so have so much knowledge.

This is, and will always be, the flip side of the knowledge coin. When the first spear was invented, it's purpose was to aid men in hunting, making for safer, surer kills, and a steadier food supply. But that spear was just as effective at killing men. Should we have remained ignorant beasts grubbing our way across the plains, feeding on the scraps left behind by the lions and jackals? I think that the positives of knowledge and advancement almost always outweigh the negatives. If our neighbor insists on making swords, perhaps we can learn to make shields.

I do not think they always do, but let's agree do disagree here, I cannot ad anything new.

[Thorne]

we cannot be freed from fear, it is part of any life, religious or not.

True, we should be fearful of being struck by lightning. Scientific knowledge lets us deal with that fear by finding ways to prevent it from striking us. It eliminates the fear that some supernatural bogeyman will strike us down if we eat meat on Fridays, or have bacon for breakfast, or some equally inane religious prohibition gets broken.

I do not think they always do

I did say almost always.

[thir]

True, we should be fearful of being struck by lightning. Scientific knowledge lets us deal with that fear by finding ways to prevent it from striking us. It eliminates the fear that some supernatural bogeyman will strike us down if we eat meat on Fridays, or have bacon for breakfast, or some equally inane religious prohibition gets broken.

What I mean here is that fear is part of our defense system, and we need it.

[Thorne]

What I mean here is that fear is part of our defense system, and we need it.

Of course we need it. But to be afraid of imaginary things is a waste of energy. Save your fear for the things that can REALLY hurt you.

[thir]

I did say almost always.

Sorry about that, my mistake.