Q: is critical thinking at loggerheads with religion. As religion is an institution which bounds it participants to go by certain rules and if a person wants to think critically as well as adhere by the rules of the religion how would critical thinking take that as.
Will the person thinking critically but also using that thinking in a way which doesnt exclude him or her from the religious institution he she is following be excluded from the line of CRITICAL THINKERS?
what if at some point your critical analysis urge you to think against what you consider a religious virtue and you refrain from pursuing it further what will that be in the term of CT. will you be termed as a non critical thinker.
Sometimes, critucal thinking can also be good for strenghtning your belief. I mean, once we evaluate our religion through the modes of thinking, if the concepts that it teaches you works with solitude with the models, it makes you really think 'i'm on the right path'.
ReplyDeleteReligion is usually about 'blind faith', but I don't see it that way, which is why I choose to remain in limbo with regard to religion. I find it difficult to follow blindly, because I have thought critically about it. However, if you want to mesh the two, you must think critically about religion, and where you come to a dead end, do not abandon it, but recognize that there are things which do not completely add up; you may suspend doubts, but you should be able to pin point where you find gaps between religion and critical thinking; that in itself makes you a critical thinker. e.g. you may realize that a certain judgement you have is not completely justified, but choose not to abandon it. The fact that you aware of your thought process regarding it, makes you a critical thinker.
ReplyDeleteagreed that "The fact that you aware of your thought process regarding it, makes you a critical thinker."
ReplyDeletebut i'm just curious about that when we cling on to something that we know is not justified, what does that make us?
its called suspension as far as my understanding goes.
ReplyDeleteThis suspension is very frustrating.When 'Blind Faith' doesn't allow us to think rationally or logically, there isn't any logic in religion, You just have to follow the commands.
ReplyDeleteCT can be helpful in understanding our beliefs, but I am afraid it is serious threat to our beliefs as well. We can't judge ourselves when we are 'subject'.
@ Rachel: Isn't suspension more related to actions (as in physical) rather than beliefs? because if we keep unjustified beliefs won't it almost be like smoking while realizing that "smoking kills"? How is that suspension? (or may be my idea of suspension is distorted)
ReplyDelete@ Sarmad: I wouldn't exactly agree that there isn't any logic in religion. But yeah I would agree that CT can be a serious threat to beliefs but that would be when one has..probably unjustified beliefs or stuff that has only been indoctrinated. But that's just my thought.
@Adeel: Respectfully Agreed :)
ReplyDelete@Rachel,
ReplyDeleteDo you think people can benefit from religion without having "faith" in it? How? or Why not?
Regards,
Faheem
Tough one for me, Never thought about it.
ReplyDeletehmm good debate over the issue but sarmad i dont agree wid u dat religion is illogical....
ReplyDeleteand as such as the question for blind faith i think that we believe in certain blind faiths becuz dey give us some rational objectives to follow... we follow in the blind faith of Gods existance so that we follow the objective commands of making and developing peace in the world or following whateva we have as our commandments....we believe in the blind faith becuz it leads to some rational existance...\
and yeah rachael i agree wid u da realization of gaps can definitly make u a critical thinker as the answer for most of the unanswered questions is religion as it is the most earliest realised source of ultimate knowledge..
@Rida,
ReplyDeletePlease use correct English. There's no such words as 'u', 'da', 'becuz'... I don't want this abuse of language in my forum.
Please re articulate your point (s).
1. Why do you disagree that religion is illogical?
2. What rational existence are you talking about?n Can you please use the SEE-I concept to explain?
Regards,
@ Rida
ReplyDeleteI'll respond to your original question tomorrow.
Regards,
Faheem
@Faheem
ReplyDeleteI think that religion is a concept/world view that is passed down from parent/guardian/society to the individual; People choose to abide by the rules of religion, but there is nothing wrong with questioning it.
Let's illustrate here:
You have guidelines for writing an essay, but there is no perfect or absolute way to write one; you may follow the format, but you may also question it, and choose to come up with one of your own, which makes more sense to you.
You either choose to accept other people's conclusions, or you work towards making one for yourself.
Sir, in relation to this topic I have a question based on applying a specific standard: sufficiency to a specific element: information. To think critically would require basing our beliefs on sufficient evidence and information to support these beliefs. However, in my personal experience, I do not have any information, let alone sufficient information, to support my beliefs. For example: I have no evidence to support my belief in one supreme God. Does continuing to believe in one supreme God make me an ineffective thinker, as critical thinking does not merely mean being aware of flaws in one's thought processes but also rectifying them. If so how do I consolidate my beliefs with rational thinking?
ReplyDeleteAyesha binte Rashid.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI would like to add to Ayesha's post in a different manner by questioning that; If I do accept the Existence of One God and I do believe in him to be Master of all the Universe and in my head i accept that this is my 'belief'. Like in the context of CT, I realize in my thought process that this is an assumption I am making then does that make me applicable for an 'effective Critical Thinker' ?
ReplyDeleteHeavy discussion going on here.
ReplyDeleteSince i have always been inclined to study theology and religions around the globe. This kind of interests me to interrupt here.
Umm, religion is a constant thought/belief/consciousness. I would like to quote Freud here as he said that 'Human mind posses a divine hole and if the hole realizes that there is no God, than that leaves an empty hollowness behind'.
So religion holds a firm pragmatic essence in anyone's life. The notion of supreme deity does not by any means limit our thinking, imagination or rationale, but it only further expands it, supports it and carries it forward.
While, in regard with the question given above, religion remains 'alive' in true sense only when rituals and practices are followed on somewhat regular basis. But rida in terms of any ritual activity or a virtue that someone finds out later, that it does not go along with that person's intellect than that's perfectly fine as you see, religion is supported through that supreme deity alone. It only makes your belief firmer not weaker. (:
Thanks,
Hifzaa