In Reply to: Re: Speaking of humanistic posted by Carol on October 02, 2004 at 09:15:29:
While I accept that a belief based solely on a subjective spiritual experience might possibly have validity for the person who holds that belief, examining that belief objectively could result in a finding that the belief is either right, wrong, or there is simply no way of knowing at the present. If my cultic experience taught me anything it is that I should never base my beliefs solely on the subjective, unverifiable believes of others.
When you say that "human faith creates a reality", do you mean a reality that only applies to that person or to everyone? If the latter then I'm a bit puzzled by how someone else's faith in the supernatural could create a reality that includes me. I think it's possible for me to reject and dismiss someone else's faith without rejecting or dismissing their right to believe what they do, and without necessarily disrespecting them as a person. Where I come to disrespect persons of faith is when their personal, subjective beliefs cause them to disrespect and impose their beliefs on others.
I'm still trying to sort out whether I would classify myself as an agnostic or atheist. At the moment I'm probably the former, though definately closer to atheism than theism. I'm certainly a skeptic. So in that context, I would agree that perhaps we should not categorically dismiss or reject the object of someone's faith, at least not without careful scrutiny. However, I hope that I will never again be beguiled by the transcendental temptation to believe in magical thinking and the supernatural. I now prefer a naturalistic explanation for all phenomena in the universe, even for those that are yet unexplainable.
Btw, Carol, while I'm writing this I have a song from a Robbie Robertson album playing called Cherokee Morning Song. Robbie doesn't sing on this song; instead it is all women. It is a beautiful chant, and I thought of you and your choral group. You should download it and have a listen.