atheism, philosophy and emotional immaturity

[jstrodel]

You made a very strong point in the last post. However, personally, I question a lot of things that don't make sense to me, even if all authorities practically have agreed upon. I understand society would not function as well, and our learning process would severely deteriorate if none of us learn from authorities. For example there is as much positive integers as negative and positive integers. However there is infinitely more real numbers then integers. This is what a mathematical theory aims to prove. I myself reject for various factors. It's set theory. I believe there is infinitely more real numbers then integer and believe set theory proves that, but I feel set theory doesn't prove there as much positive integers as there negative and positive integers. I feel this just inadequacy of the tool of set theory. It's useful way of thinking but it's limited in scope. I stoke to my intuition even though everyone in the class accepted it. This is mathematics. I maybe be wrong but I don't believe I am.

Unfortunately, we all do depend on authority. But as you see, it makes people think wrong all the time. Muslims will follow their authority. Jews their own. Hindus their authorities. Society doesn't function without it.

And our whole system of learning, the idea of citing sources, etc, is all based on appeal to authority and trust of authority. You are right in that sense. But we have the right to question the authority even if it will slow down "information" we believe in, for it will turn "information" we believe and happens to be true, into knowledge.

Thank you for the kind words. Very few things are are as certain as mathematics.

At the end of the day, everyone has to pick a side that they are on. Maybe atheism isn't belief, it is non-belief. I don't accept that.

But even if you accept the very dubious proposition that atheism is a non-rational rejection of a belief and not a belief and as such, requires no support for its truth claims, you still in the end must trust someone.

If you are an atheist, you have to trust someone. You must have faith, otherwise you would not be able to get through the day. No one lives out their life based on mathematical theorems. The argument from authority is a reality for all people, that all must recognize that their very lives are in others hands, and that they must trust others and accept that they don't know everything, and can't know everything. This is a scary process, actually, it is terrifying. But the anxiety is equal on theistic and atheistic sides.