Question Home

Position:Home>Philosophy> Have you ever been so certain about something? ?


Question: Have you ever been so certain about something!? !?
Only to later on begin to doubt that it is true!. Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
A lot of times!.!.!. A lot of times!.!.

Like when I joined the lottery and I was so sure that I was gonna win the pot money!.!. only when the first number came!.!. Uh-oh!.!. And the second number!.!. Hmm!.!. Third, what the!? Fourth!.!. Well, better luck next time for me!. =)Www@QuestionHome@Com

Anything that can't be received by the senses is potentially doubtable!. From complex things like ideologies to simple things like items in our memory systems; and also extremely significant things like the existence of God!.

People change their opinions about such things all the time because our perception of them is dependent on our indirect understanding of them through those things we do have certainty of; because these things themselves are not testable!.

One's certainty in the existence of God might fluctuate for example, as our scientific understanding of the world increases!. An atheist persuaded by the theory of evolution might learn about the complexities of biological organisms and come the conclusion that evolution is inadequate in explaining them!. On the other hand, a theist might be certain of God' existence due to the mesmerizing design that is apparent in those biological organisms; only to be persuaded later on that natural selection as a mechanism provides a decent enough explanation for such designs!. None of them are a test for the existence of God!. He might exist even if evolution is a fact, and not exist even if things are apparently designed!. Nevertheless, people still use their understanding of such tangible knowledge, to make sense of the more abstract, which in this case is God!. This inevitably leads to differing opinions about those untestable things in different parts of your life, which will be the result of your knowledge about those things that are certain, at a given time!. I used God and science as my example, but you can adapt it to different things!. The ideology of Communism for example, might have been believed in by its followers, but they might have rejected it after they saw the empirical effects of its implementation!.

I!.e!. Yes, people change their minds!. But not always to the correct view!.

Www@QuestionHome@Com

Many who have a belief has times of doubts and uncertainity!.Belief has attained the level of faith when it motivates life and shapes the mode of living!. The acceptance of a teaching as true is not faith; that is mere belief!. Neither is certainty nor conviction faith!. A state of mind attains to faith levels only when it actually dominates the mode of living!. Faith is a living attribute of genuine personal religious experience!. One believes truth, admires beauty, and reverences goodness, but does not worship them; such an attitude of saving faith is centered on God alone, who is all of these personified and infinitely more!. Belief is always limiting and binding; faith is expanding and releasing!. Belief fixates, faith liberates!. But living religious faith is more than the association of noble beliefs; it is more than an exalted system of philosophy; it is a living experience concerned with spiritual meanings, divine ideals, and supreme values; it is God-knowing and man-serving!. Beliefs may become group possessions, but faith must be personal!. Theologic beliefs can be suggested to a group, but faith can rise up only in the heart of the individual religionist!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I can honestly say to those things I said were for certain in my past, I said out of want and desire to believe in those things and people at that time!.


But now as I have grown, in life and have come to a clearer understanding of what my values in life are, these things are the things that matter!. For these things I do know for certain!.

Although it has been challenging to prove to myself I am content in my decisions and embrace any change to myself that will instill in me better more deeper and sincere qualities!.

In life we are to lean on each other and walk side by side when we can, never two feet in front or even behind!.!.!. Even the times we need to lean or be leaned on it is still side by side!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

yes!. absolutely!. when i used to be a Catholic it was part of my worldview, that God, angels, and the Devil existed!. It was as true for me as I had grass in my backyard!. it was part of the world, and i believed in it truly!. then, of course i began so slowly over time doubt this more and more, when i got to college!. small things, here and there, just started building and building, then it finally snapped!. I no longer believed in God or angels, or demons, or the Devil!. I realized that it was all nonsense!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

John, that is just part of "live and learn", is it not!?
Many things I thought as a child do not serve me now!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

for sure!.about many things!.Www@QuestionHome@Com