Does Pretending To Know Things You Don't Know Have Any Effect On Your Well Being (Physical Or Psychological)?

[birdie1971]

It has been suggested in a previous thread that pretending to know things you don't know leads to psychological problems.

Ref:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Society-and-Culture/Religion-and-Spirituality/Question1294123-2.html

“... I've recently read a book about religion, faith and all things spiritual in which the author suggests that the words “faith” and “religion” can often be replaced in a sentence with the phrase “pretending to know things you don't know” or variations on it. It works in almost all cases I can think of...”

[birdie1971]

Jeffa - “... ... billions of people... You just make it up as you go along, don't you!...”

Why would you say that? Are you unaware that there are literally billions of people on this planet who claim that an afterlife in heaven (or other such eternal place) is literally true and factually correct? That's what I mean when I say that billions of people are pretending to know something they don't know. Sheesh.. I didn't know I'd have to spell it out quite so clearly.

[idiosyncrasy]

Naomi//They do harbour unwarranted feelings of guilt and remorse, not only for insignificant acts resulting in a perception of disobedience or failure,//
I don't.

//they do appear to harbour illusions of superiority//
No. Jesus instructions were that Christians were to consider themselves the lesser one. Recall his lesson on humility with regard children!

Birdie@ I can assure you I have every confidence in my faith. I have tested it over and over again. Every single person on this earth is born in sin. Can you find me one single Perfect human being,? And I do mean perfect not someone who you think fits the bill!! The Biblical meaning of sin is - missing the mark of perfection. And not one person, apart from Jesus Christ has been born perfect. Adam and Eve were created perfect but they rebelled and hence became imperfect. Just as a cake tin with a dent cannot produce a perfect cake, neither can imperfect human produce perfect human.

Naomi thinks she knows, but she doesn't. And neither do you.

[goodlife]

It is certainly true that we have been brainwashed! Now we do not do harm to anyone; we are not thieves, drunkards, adulterers.

I have been through this “brainwashing” topic over and over again.

For those who have come to know the True God, change – even the worst, hardened criminal can be “brain washed” and can change their personality.

[andy-hughes]

Better pop down to Ian Watkins' cell then Goodlife - a serious project for you and your God is waiting ....

[jomifl]

Serious cases can have cosy careers in the church and if they get any worse then they can be institutionised in a cosy asylum where contact with the world can be avoided almost entirely. Don't you envy them? ...perhaps not.

[naomi24]

Idiosyncrasy, this makes me really angry!!

Can you find me one single sinful baby?!!

One thing I do know - people who spread the nonsense you’re spreading are dangerous! How dare you presume to impose such utter superstitious rubbish upon the minds of innocent children? Shameful!

Goodlife, yes, you most certainly do harm other people. The above applies to you too.

[jomifl]

Idiosyncrasy, you may think you know that what Naomi thinks she knows isn't true. You may also think that you know that what birdie thinks he knows isn't true. In fact you don't know what Naomi and birdie really think, you just think you do. I think you need to think more about your own thinking and not what others think. :o)

[sandyRoe]

I don't pretend and I don't know, I hope. The word, 'pretend' carries with it, in my mind at least, connotations of mendacity and falseness. A sincere belief/hope is hardly that.

[naomi24]

Jom, do you really think so? :o)

[jomifl]

Perhaps, what do you think?

[jim360]

It's true that babies if not brought up properly don't exactly turn into angels, and they can be quite selfish when young. On the other hand this ... well, is it being born in sin really? When you are young, vulnerable, defenceless, desperately in need of the attention of others, it's very important that you have the ability to get that attention and fast! A baby who thought "oh, I'm hungry, but it's a bit late so I'll let mummy sleep" probably wouldn't last all that long, really. It's not sin, it's survival.

[naomi24]

Mmm.... I'm thinking......

[naomi24]

^^ That was to Jom.

[jim360]

Sin, to me, means making a choice to do the wrong thing rather than the right one. Babies, toddlers and young children aren't really capable of making the choice, so can't really be said to "sin". Also there's no evidence apart from the Bible to suggest that the first two humans existed in the way said nor that they were "perfect". Indeed, given that they later sinned, were they ever perfect even in the original story? How can a perfect being be capable of countenancing sin?

[naomi24]

Thinking …. I recall the comedian, Dave Allen, saying that as a child, the nuns had told him he was a sinner. His confused response? “Why? Wha’d I do?”

That about sums it up.

[vulcan42]

Of course religious people consider themselves superior, whether they want to admit it or not. Each religion considers itself the true one and all the others are false. To declare they are right and everybody else is wrong is arrogance, definition: a display of superiority or self importance.

[jomifl]

Vulcan, if we humour them we can demonstrate our own superiority :o)

[sandyRoe]

Vulcan42, I think that there are many paths to Heaven. Why, I've often said in the very debating space, R&S, that many of the goodly unGodly will have a pleasant surprise in due course.

[goodlife]

Naomi@//the comedian, Dave Allen, saying that as a child, the nuns had told him he was a sinner. His confused response? “Why? Wha’d I do?” //

Idyo said, //The Biblical meaning of sin is - missing the mark of perfection.// So simple for some.

Can you not read!! Sin is not what you think sin is. So every single person even though they have done no actual wrong -is born a sinner. This is why the churches are so reprehensible and will be accountable to God for misleading the people.

Jim360//How can a perfect being be capable of countenancing sin//
Because they had been given free will and when commanded not to eat of the tree of knowledge - they chose to eat, therefore they were no longer perfect.

Take for example Idoysyncracy's illustration of the cake tin. When the cake tin is new and never used - it produces the perfect cake - no dents or flaws. However once the tin has been knocked or bashed it then contains a dent - therefore every cake produced from that tin now becomes imperfect. Simple!

As to brain washing - I no longer think as the majority of people think. I do not indulge in the immorality of this system, gamble, advocate war & violence etc.

But of course, it does not appeal to everyone as the comments on this forum show.

There is no guarantee I will be saved. But i certainly stand a better chance than some of you here.

[naomi24]

Goodlife, //Idyo said, //The Biblical meaning of sin is - missing the mark of perfection.//

Yes, I can read … and when I read this …

//And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. John 8:11//

… and this….

//For the wages of sin is death. Romans 6.23//

…and this…

//Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. Mark 2.17

… I wonder how I can rationalise it with what you and Idiosyncrasy say. Perhaps you’ll be kind enough to tell me.