Comments on: Universal truth and the art of deep-sea diving http://joshmock.com/2010/universal-truth-and-the-art-of-deep-sea-diving/ Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:26:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Faith is just that | Josh Mock http://joshmock.com/2010/universal-truth-and-the-art-of-deep-sea-diving/comment-page-1/#comment-7542 Faith is just that | Josh Mock Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:25:59 +0000 http://joshmock.com/?p=1113#comment-7542 [...] been rolling around in my head for my long absence from blogging here — originally seeded in a growing and poorly-worded curiosity about the validity of the other major religions — boils down to this: faith is just [...] [...] been rolling around in my head for my long absence from blogging here — originally seeded in a growing and poorly-worded curiosity about the validity of the other major religions — boils down to this: faith is just [...]

]]> By: Life of Pi | Josh Mock http://joshmock.com/2010/universal-truth-and-the-art-of-deep-sea-diving/comment-page-1/#comment-7128 Life of Pi | Josh Mock Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:43:11 +0000 http://joshmock.com/?p=1113#comment-7128 [...] it for that alone), I was disappointed at the lack of religious exploration, what with it being a recurring topic for me these days. But I could hardly say it was a disappointing read, just not what I had [...] [...] it for that alone), I was disappointed at the lack of religious exploration, what with it being a recurring topic for me these days. But I could hardly say it was a disappointing read, just not what I had [...]

]]> By: Matthew Moore http://joshmock.com/2010/universal-truth-and-the-art-of-deep-sea-diving/comment-page-1/#comment-6734 Matthew Moore Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:45:22 +0000 http://joshmock.com/?p=1113#comment-6734 If you want sage advice, look no further than The Episcopal Church. Their Presiding Bishop says that Jesus is their "vehicle" (Read: Magic School Bus) to the divine. But seriously. I think you're wrong, and a comment box is not really the place to discuss it. But I think your working definition of Universal Truth is wrong ( at least how you've discussed it here) and largely you're reacting against 25 years of dogma as <i>your church</i> has sought to teach. I love you still, though. If you want sage advice, look no further than The Episcopal Church. Their Presiding Bishop says that Jesus is their “vehicle” (Read: Magic School Bus) to the divine.

But seriously. I think you’re wrong, and a comment box is not really the place to discuss it. But I think your working definition of Universal Truth is wrong ( at least how you’ve discussed it here) and largely you’re reacting against 25 years of dogma as your church has sought to teach.

I love you still, though.

]]> By: The World’s Religions | Josh Mock http://joshmock.com/2010/universal-truth-and-the-art-of-deep-sea-diving/comment-page-1/#comment-6670 The World’s Religions | Josh Mock Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:15:07 +0000 http://joshmock.com/?p=1113#comment-6670 [...] I have my own struggles with relative and absolute truth, and I have yet to decide if this book helped or harmed in my exploration, but I appreciate all [...] [...] I have my own struggles with relative and absolute truth, and I have yet to decide if this book helped or harmed in my exploration, but I appreciate all [...]

]]> By: Jay http://joshmock.com/2010/universal-truth-and-the-art-of-deep-sea-diving/comment-page-1/#comment-6455 Jay Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:42:39 +0000 http://joshmock.com/?p=1113#comment-6455 Eesh, Josh. This is a tough one. I honestly don't see the merits in inviting doubt since it happens of its own accord, and be careful not to assume that it never passes over anyone else. It almost always does, but when we're in its stranglehold it can seem impossible that anyone else has felt the same way. What counts is how we handle the hand dealt out to us when the time of doubting comes - even when the doubt is as fundamental as objective truth. But whatever kind of doubt comes, we never seem to doubt our own faculties. Why is that? Even if we make a pretense of calling into question our mind's aim towards the truth, whatever conclusion we come to about anything involves accepting the premise that our mind is operating correctly. How would our doubt carry epistemic weight otherwise? - heck, even taking the first step towards running our reasoning through the ringer is a pre-defeater for the fact that your reason is faulty; it is essentially self-contradictory. The race is lost right when the gun is fired. I don't know what Bible verse I should be quoting right now or what Christian fortune cookie you need to hear. I guess I should say that whatever one chooses to believe involves at least one unprovable premise, taken on faith. What are you willing to take on faith? Eesh, Josh. This is a tough one. I honestly don’t see the merits in inviting doubt since it happens of its own accord, and be careful not to assume that it never passes over anyone else. It almost always does, but when we’re in its stranglehold it can seem impossible that anyone else has felt the same way.

What counts is how we handle the hand dealt out to us when the time of doubting comes – even when the doubt is as fundamental as objective truth.

But whatever kind of doubt comes, we never seem to doubt our own faculties. Why is that? Even if we make a pretense of calling into question our mind’s aim towards the truth, whatever conclusion we come to about anything involves accepting the premise that our mind is operating correctly. How would our doubt carry epistemic weight otherwise? – heck, even taking the first step towards running our reasoning through the ringer is a pre-defeater for the fact that your reason is faulty; it is essentially self-contradictory. The race is lost right when the gun is fired.

I don’t know what Bible verse I should be quoting right now or what Christian fortune cookie you need to hear. I guess I should say that whatever one chooses to believe involves at least one unprovable premise, taken on faith. What are you willing to take on faith?

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