xaxxat

You should at least read how the Levite barbeque mafia got its start and how it ruled over the Hebrews...

rfmwinnie

Because an educated person should not be afraid of knowledge.

Because if you want to witness to people who hold a different belief it is the highest form of arrogance to tell them "I don't need to read yours but you need to read and believe mine."

Because, if all true knowledge comes from god, what should you be afraid of?

Most importantly though it could help you to avoid making your faith look foolish and close minded. I'd give you a heck of a lot more credence if you said "Well, yeah I've read the Koran and the Book of Mormon and Darwin. I still hold to my beliefs." Why? Because I have taken the time to examine all those religious texts and scientific texts (and gobs and gobs more) because I wanted to see for myself what they said. So if someone such as yourself could say they have done the same then I wouldn't take them as an arrogant know it all. It would show some humility and intellectual curiosity. I might actually want to debate and discuss with that person because we would have a similar knowledge base.

So for a compelling reason: if for no other reason it would give you credibility when you witness for your Lord.

Dave Hawkins

I'm not afraid of knowledge. I'll read anything if someone gives me a good reason to read it. The problem is ... no one has yet.

khalimirov

The Koran is the Word of God. There, is that a good enough reason for you?

xaxxat

Safe inside your little bubble, eh?

I think you're scared to question your beliefs. It's o.k. to question them. We did we're the better off for it...

Take the plunge, Dave. Look your deepest, darkest fears right in the eyes.

GenesisNemesis

You'll read anything if someone gives you a good reason to read it? Well, here's one:

Knowledge is everything.

Dave Hawkins

Cali, this is one thing I have against you ... you wax very eloquent in criticizing me, however, it seems you don't pay much attention to what I say. I have said on numerous occasions that I am not the least interested in religion. I am interested in TRUTH. What is the truth about reality? That is the fascinating question to me. Can the Koran help me understand the truth about reality? If someone can convince me that it can, then I will read it. Can Darwin's Origin help me understand the truth about reality? Well ... maybe it can help me understand the truth about the reality of adherence to dogma in the face of contrary evidence, but I don't think I need to be convinced about that reality any further. And I'm becoming quite convinced that it CANNOT help me understand the truth about reality WRT the Origin of Species.

GenesisNemesis

Are you talking about "Ultimate Truth" or something like that?

shirley knott

THAT is beyond absurd.
The way the search for knowlege is done, the way a love of knowlege manifests, is to read everything that doesn't come with a strong rationale for being bypassed. And even that needs to be justified.
How can you possibly assert that you have any insight into the 'best' theology, history, geology, physics, astronomy, morality, ethics, theory of knowlege, etc., etc., et bloody cetera, without reading widely and deeply in those fields? You cannot rely [primarily] on paraphrases and assertions by secondary authors as to the truth or even content of the work of primary authors. Still less when the secondary authors have a deomnstrated axe to grind and are demonstrably dishonest and misleading.
And even when you read the primary authors, you cannot accept anything on their say-so. If you cannot follow the reasoning from "first principles" or "clear and distinct direct experience", and if you do not know why the rules of deduction are valid, and when and how the rules of induction produce valid results, you have no basis for any claim to knowlege whatsoever.
What you have is a fraud.
But then, that would be exactly what you have, isn't it?
sigh.

no hugs for thugs,
Shirley Knott

rfmwinnie

The reason I've given you -- that I would take your religion more seriously if you would actually read something that would add depth to your knowledge has no weight? Evidently you don't care about my salvation then which tells me all I need to know about you.

Heck, I grew up Jehovah Witness and I read lots of other religious texts -- we were encouraged to so that when we witnessed to others we would understand their beliefs. I mean it says a lot about you when JWs are more open then you!

I'm frankly astonished!