Questions to challenge the limits of dogma.

Started by Lord T Hawkeye, January 02, 2010, 10:04:13 PM

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As we all know, people will go to great lengths in the name of dogma, even going so far as to deny reality itself.  Sometimes I ask myself how far would they go?  brings to mind a lot of questions that put this to the test.

One was the big religious one that Penn Jillette asked: If your god asked you to kill your child, would you do it?


But it doesn't even need to be quite that drastic, it can be other things like...

If your god manifested and said that the bible was false, it was just written by opportunistic politicians who wanted to seize power in his name and wished to tell you the real story, would you listen?  Would you burn your bible immediately afterwards?

Better yet, if God came down...but it turns out not to be yours, would you still swear to it?


Trying to think of good ones for the statists and other dogmatists.  I hold out little hope any of them would actually answer any of these questions but it's still fun to think about.
I recently heard that the word heretic is derived from the greek work heriticos which means "able to choose"
The more you know...

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"Did you know that the hole's only natural enemy is the pile?"
"Dead Poets Society has destroyed a generation of educators."
  --The Simpsons, "Special Edna"

I've always found that the simpler question to ask is:  What evidence would it take to convince you that God does not exist? 

Not only is it an extremely simple question, but I always point out that there isn't an atheist that could not answer this question when phrased in the opposite.

Quote from: AHPMB on January 05, 2010, 09:05:56 AM
I've always found that the simpler question to ask is:  What evidence would it take to convince you that God does not exist? 

Not only is it an extremely simple question, but I always point out that there isn't an atheist that could not answer this question when phrased in the opposite.

I've tried it on the religious and the collectivists alike.  Every last one says it's a loaded question and they refused to answer it.  No exceptions.
I recently heard that the word heretic is derived from the greek work heriticos which means "able to choose"
The more you know...

What questions do you ask the collectivists?

Why, I ask them "Did you catch em all?". Oh wait, I thought you said collectionists

Quote from: Lord T Hawkeye on January 05, 2010, 12:36:12 PM
I've tried it on the religious and the collectivists alike.  Every last one says it's a loaded question and they refused to answer it.  No exceptions.

Then the conversation is over.  As I said, it's child's play for any atheist to answer the question.  Once they've demonstrated that they're going to dishonestly dodge questions they've proven they value dogma over truth and aren't worth debating.

Quote from: VectorM on January 05, 2010, 01:08:18 PM
What questions do you ask the collectivists?

What would convince you that socialized healthcare/the war on drugs/public schools/whatever else doesn't work?

I've often said that I challenge anyone to show me one replicatable case where collectivist ideas actually reaped the results they intended.  Nobody ever steps up to the plate.
I recently heard that the word heretic is derived from the greek work heriticos which means "able to choose"
The more you know...

Quote from: Lord T Hawkeye on January 06, 2010, 12:58:57 AM
What would convince you that socialized healthcare/the war on drugs/public schools/whatever else doesn't work?

I've often said that I challenge anyone to show me one replicatable case where collectivist ideas actually reaped the results they intended.  Nobody ever steps up to the plate.
I'd say that silence speaks volumes, you know?
"When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and tell the whole world—'No. You move.'"
-Captain America, Amazing Spider-Man 537

Quote from: Lord T Hawkeye on January 05, 2010, 12:36:12 PMI've tried it on the religious and the collectivists alike.  Every last one says it's a loaded question and they refused to answer it.  No exceptions.
Um...How exactly is that a loaded question?
"When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and tell the whole world—'No. You move.'"
-Captain America, Amazing Spider-Man 537

Quote from: surhotchaperchlorome on January 06, 2010, 01:03:44 AM
Um...How exactly is that a loaded question?

Long winded paragraphs which basically boil down to "Because I say so."
I recently heard that the word heretic is derived from the greek work heriticos which means "able to choose"
The more you know...

Quote from: Lord T Hawkeye on January 06, 2010, 02:14:57 AM
Long winded paragraphs which basically boil down to "Because I say so."

Sounds like my mother.