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From: lenf@netcom.com (Len Freedman)
Subject: Re: Please give me your opinion about doubts !?
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Date: Tue, 14 Mar 1995 07:20:33 GMT
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F.P. Nezavdal (u9301732@muss.cis.McMaster.CA) wrote:

: Hi, I'd like to know your thoughts on whether or not it is possible to 
: doubt everything, and why?  Any responses are greatly appreciated! Thanks...

: Frank

I think all this talk about doubting-what-you-doubt is glib but
ill-considered baloney.  It doesn't really help the discussion or shed
light on the question. 

I think doubt is very important.  I believe in skepticism.  Even the Bible
tells us to 'test everything and hold fast to that which is good'.  Yet
fundamentalists (of any variety) seem to want to be -given- what to
believe. 

Humanism (imho) is based on principle, not doctrine.  Humanists should be 
circumspect, open-minded, pluralistic and tolerant and respectful of the 
well-considered opinions of others.  This requires a certain amount of 
self-doubt!  What Christians like to call 'humility'.  It requires 
more-or-less constant re-examination of both the evidence and the 
conclusions.

There are so many people I talk to on so many issues who simply swallow
whole rafts of ideas without thinking about them themselves.  They are not
really capable of discussing the issues because they have not manipulated
the concepts in their own heads, they only parrot slogans they've heard
that sound convincing at first but don't stand up to a little critical
thought. 

So yes, you doubt everything, including doubt itself--the only thing you 
can be sure of is that you can never be sure.

-- 
     Len Freedman                                (lenf@netcom.com)
