How should you respond when hearing something new, something you've never heard before? On what basis can we reject an idea? When we are skeptical, are we really ... More
How should you respond when hearing something new, something you've never heard before? On what basis can we reject an idea? When we are skeptical, are we really being intelligent, or is it simply an emotional hesitation?
Rabbi Friedman shares how skepticism can be a "bad habit" and helps us rethink our attitude when it comes to learning new things.
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Apart from the religious discussion, I think the message is when hearing new information keep an open mind (don't be ignorant by "ignoring" information). Question it, talk about it, make discussion, find ways that it could be correct, find ways that it could be wrong etc.
Stupidity, on the other hand, is bad judgment and irrational behavior (eg. taking the elevator to go to the gym).
Information may be true but if you create cognitive biases towards previous beliefs, progress will never be made and epistemic advancement never made.
Thus if you have bias towards something you may not be in a position to react (if, it is true, then...). Thinking for one's self still stands as the best policy for all situations.
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The reason to disagree is not the same as being skeptical , but it's walking on a very fine line with it. If a man would say " I am Moschiac!" What would you be: skeptical, would you have a reason to disagree, or......would you believe him?
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Trust has to be earned. It takes time. But if you trust and have faith in G-d, then in time you will see Him. If you understand that everything around us is a gift, our lives, our brains, etc. if you can see it as kindness, then you can see G-d and transcend the law of the jungle that says, get as much as you can for yourself, because tomorrow you may be starving, the world where kindness does not exist. Search for G-d and you will find Him. Remember, your world is the one you choose to perceive. Its always been subjective, you choose to see and believe in G-d, you will find Him. You choose not to believe in G-d, you will live in that godless world.
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I believe the point Rabbi Friedman was trying to make was not that one should believe everything that they hear. Rather, that one should not simply use the excuse that "I was not there" as the sole basis for rejecting something they were told. If one has a valid reason to question it fine, but that should not be your only reason.
In other words, do not be a skeptic just for the sake of being a skeptic.
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Dear Rabbi, I enjoy your other schiureym. This one leaves me with the question of discernment and trust?
1) I should trust Bernie Madoff?
2) Should members of a jury believe a witness without questioning?
3) If Israeli intelligence learns where Gilad Shallit is, should Israel risk sending soldiers to their deaths in attempt to bring Shallit back? Shouldn't we verify whether the source and info is are credible?
4) what is the need of "birur" (discernment),
if I am supposed to believe new information?
5) Am I not responsible to think for myself?
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Beautiful and friendly speech, no doubt and thanks for the positive and warming approach.
What you say is that if someone comes to you and says that G-d created the world, you deserve to be believed.
This means of course that if you say G-d exists, you deserve to believed as well. You don't have to prove that. Why should I be sceptical?
Well, if I came to you and said that G-d doesn't exist, implying that he could not have created the world, you would belive me as well. I woldn't have to prove anything. Why would you be sceptical?
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i think that beyond the reason you say someone can be skeptical is b/c they were lied to many times - personally, i think that it is also b/c a new idea might mean that i might have to change myself, makes changes - which could be very uncomfortable, incovenient or painful - skeptisism does not require commitment - or to make up your mind -
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if someone says that the loch ness monster, or the big foot, is real --- it is not a natural response to just accept it.
most stuff we learn is confirmed.
if a guy says i just got picked up by a ufo, it is hard to believe.
if a guy tells me that JC's love will save me -- it is hard to believe.
This Rabbi, I mean no disrespect -- could be talking about any religion's claim. any person's claim.
some are believable because they are provable, others are less believable, some are totally not believable.
i believe what i wrote is pretty accurate.
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Rabbi Friedman brought a case of an EXPLORER. Meaning someone did something new that you could not do. (Not a tourist). And even so you would believe the explorer...
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Hearing about an animal in Australia that keeps its child in its pocket is not the same as hearing about G-d's existence. The kangaroo you can go and see for yourself... where do I go to see G-d?
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