What IS good, and how do we determine it?

[Jenny A]

That, right there is what I have against religion in general and Catholic church in big capital particulars.   If my thinking contradicts a recognized authority of some kind, or the opinion of someone I respect, I will listen to them and reexamine my thinking.  But I would never presume that anyone, anywhere, or any institution anywhere is always right.  If there is a god he gave us brains to use them.  And if as I think vastly more probable there isn't one of the many things that distinguishes humans is our ability to think critically.  Either way, it's a gift everyone should exercise regularly.

Let me put this in different terms to see if it makes more sense. Suppose you were a student at a major university, and you were studying some topic under a truly brilliant professor. In fact, the entire department is internationally recognized as being the best of the best. So, one day, your professor is chatting with you and a group of students about some research he has been doing, and he makes a statement that surprises you because it's counter to what you have been assuming about the topic.

Do you think, "Wow...Dr. Brightlight is the world's leading expert on this. But I can't trust what he says without verifying it for myself...even though I have no lab, no funding, no real expertise..."?

Or do you adjust your own thinking?

That's where you didn't read and perhaps didn't put into your original post, the fine print:

" I will listen to them and reexamine my thinking.  But I would never presume that anyone, anywhere, or any institution anywhere is always right. "

If the professor really is right, and he often is, then I'm going to change my mind. I will probably assume his data is accurate, but the reasoning I look at on my own.  The interesting thing is though, if he didn't change my mind, I've never had a brilliant professor not respect a rational rebuttal.  Twice, just twice, I've changed a professor's mind.