Knowing what you believe and why is at least as important as the believing itself. |
Thats hardly a simple question and you know it...otherwise you wouldn't have asked it. I don't have an answer to your question. I'm sure there is a better argument out there, but for myself, I can only say that religion gives meaning to philosophy. This is not why I believe in my religion but it is one strong part of it. Where do philosophical rights come from? If there is no judgment, if there is no God who laid down these rules for our weak developing minds (lets face it, these philosophical laws exist in more species than humans), then why can't I kill you because you disagree with me? (just hypothetical of course ;) ) Today it is because the state would arrest me and judge me accordingly, but the state was not always there. People are social animals and have banded together and followed similar philosophical rules for ages, even perhaps before we had the capability to speak. Would you argue that these rules are inherent in our nature simply because we evolved into them as the best way for our species to survive? That is the best argument I can think of. Even though it leaves war and selfishness among many other things quite unexplained. But personally, and this is where faith loses so many, that isn't enough for me. I've felt the presence of God, I haven't experienced any miracles or anything like that, I just know, when I quiet myself down and focus on it, I know exactly where these rules came from. |