Why Does Sincrety Make Everything Okay?

[Pyrrho]

Sincerity of belief, strength of belief, steadfastness of belief in no way justifies the content of belief. You can be sincerely wrong.  If you find yourself on the wrong road, you wouldn’t stay on that road just so people can give you credit for steadfastness.

Yes, but not everyone is a preaching sanctimonious prick. Most people just believe and leave everyone else in peace. Not everyone is a Randy, so to speak and who am I to pester them?

Yes, but someone can be insincere and not be a sanctimonious prick.  Being a sanctimonious prick is a separate issue.

Additionally, people can harm others without being sanctimonious pricks.  By the way they vote, for example, which affects others.  They vote the way they do because of their beliefs, and so what they believe is a matter than concerns others.

People don't believe things without it affecting their actions.  In fact, one measures the sincerity (reality) of belief by one's actions.  In the OP, we judge the boy's beliefs by his actions.  If he had been unwilling to jump, then we would know that he did not really believe that he could fly.

People's beliefs affect their actions, and their actions affect others.  Consequently, what people believe is something that affects others.

[Rhondazvous]

I suppose someone who isn't capable of realising they are wrong is "better" than someone who knows they are wrong but won't admit it. But it's not exactly a prestigious competition. I feel sympathy for the former, as they are a vulnerable person.

I'm sure they have some kinda pills for those who're incapable of knowing they're wrong. What would you call something like that? RBSD (Reflexive Blind spot Disorder)

[Aroura]

I don't know about sincerity, but perhaps this relates to honesty.

I would rather someone tell me the truth, for instance, that they disagree with gay marriage, than to lie and say they aren't coming to the wedding because they are busy. I guess because the honest bigot is willing to have a dialogue, I have hope that their minds can one day be changed. The liar will smile to your face, then go badmouth others begin their back to their in group of known bigots. They are less able or willing to change.

Yeah, and also so I know who is who, I prefer the honest jerk to the dishonest one, any day.

[Rhondazvous]

Sincerity of belief, strength of belief, steadfastness of belief in no way justifies the content of belief. You can be sincerely wrong.  If you find yourself on the wrong road, you wouldn’t stay on that road just so people can give you credit for steadfastness.

Yes, but not everyone is a preaching sanctimonious prick. Most people just believe and leave everyone else in peace. Not everyone is a Randy, so to speak and who am I to pester them?

That's true. But I'm not talking about the average Joe who leaves peole in peace. I'm talking about people who do crazy things because they sincerely believe they are supposed to take there holy book seriously. These people are often praised for their sincerity. And I'm asking why should we overlook the craziness of their actions just because they were sincere.

[abaris]

These people are often praised for their sincerity.

These I would praise for their obnoxious ignorance and certainly not for the sincerity. And I certainly don't cut them any slack.

[Rhondazvous]

Yes, but not everyone is a preaching sanctimonious prick. Most people just believe and leave everyone else in peace. Not everyone is a Randy, so to speak and who am I to pester them?

Yes, but someone can be insincere and not be a sanctimonious prick.  Being a sanctimonious prick is a separate issue.

Additionally, people can harm others without being sanctimonious pricks.  By the way they vote, for example, which affects others.  They vote the way they do because of their beliefs, and so what they believe is a matter than concerns others.

People don't believe things without it affecting their actions.  In fact, one measures the sincerity (reality) of belief by one's actions.  In the OP, we judge the boy's beliefs by his actions.  If he had been unwilling to jump, then we would know that he did not really believe that he could fly.

People's beliefs affect their actions, and their actions affect others.  Consequently, what people believe is something that affects others.

The only things that grow without any effort on our part are weeds and dust bunnies.

I agree with Gandhi that the Hottest Places in Hell Are Reserved for Those Who in a Period of Moral Crisis Maintain Their Neutrality. Sometimes silence is betrayal.

You don't have to believe in a literal hell to appreciate what he is saying.

[Thumpalumpacus]

The zeal of one's convictions says nothing about the morality of those convictions.