# Don't Ask ----- Don't Answer **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 6, 2007, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-dont-answer/402997 "2007-05-06T17:09:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-dont-answer/402997/81 "2007-05-10T17:57:36Z")
[QUOTE= hotflungwok] Um, I was raised Catholic. Last I checked, priests were an acknowledged source of info for the religion they devote their lives to. So when I hear a Catholic priest say something about the Catholic church, I’m going to assign it more weight than I would someone else. [/QUOTE] These aren’t impressive academic credentials either. Perhaps you should read some papal encyclicals or other learned treatises and assign them the appropriate weight. Polycarp, for example, is not a Catholic priest, but I would assign his opinion more weight than I would one of the deaconas or some of the priests at my hometown parish church. And plenty of people are raised Catholic and know very little about Catholicism. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-dont-answer/402997/82 "2007-05-10T18:35:41Z")
Can I get a link to Hitler’s painting of the Madonna, by any chance? ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-dont-answer/402997/83 "2007-05-10T22:03:37Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Scrappy Hero Pup] These aren’t impressive academic credentials either. [/QUOTE] Um, so? I didn’t know I had to have a PhD to express a reasoned opinion. > [@](#): > > Perhaps you should read some papal encyclicals or other learned treatises and assign them the appropriate weight. Way ahead of you. > [@](#): > > Polycarp, for example, is not a Catholic priest, but I would assign his opinion more weight than I would one of the deaconas or some of the priests at my hometown parish church. If Polycarp can be shown to have much more education/intelligence or the deacons shown to be poop flinging monkeys, then yes, I might have this opinion too. Because I don’t know Polycarp’s or the deacons education/knowledge level I’m going to go ahead and stick with what I do know. > [@](#): > > And plenty of people are raised Catholic and know very little about Catholicism. And I am not one of them. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-dont-answer/402997/84 "2007-05-10T22:20:50Z")
[QUOTE=capybara] Can I get a link to Hitler’s painting of the Madonna, by any chance? [/QUOTE] Not a great image but here it is: [http://nobeliefs.com/gifts/HitlerPainting.gif](http://nobeliefs.com/gifts/HitlerPainting.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-dont-answer/402997/85 "2007-05-11T17:22:02Z")
[QUOTE=hotflungwok] I’m not so sure. From what I’ve seen, close rational examination of religious tenets without preconceptions or assumptions, especially those held up as indisputable fact, tends to end with even more doubt about the tenet, and the religion itself. People trying to tell me that the Noah’s Ark story was real and factual was a big reason for my investigation into Catholic dogma, and my subsequent dismissal of it. [/QUOTE] Examining things closely has only strengthened my beliefs. I don’t believe in things like YEC or a worldwide flood anymore, and yet my connection to God has become immensely more personal and powerful. I [tested everything and held on to the good](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%205:21;&version=31;), if you will. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-dont-answer/402997/86 "2007-05-11T17:26:02Z")
[QUOTE=Lord Ashtar] Examining things closely has only strengthened my beliefs. [/QUOTE] > [@](#): > > I don’t believe in things like YEC or a worldwide flood anymore, Um, did you read this before you hit Submit? Cuz these look awfully contradictory to me. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-dont-answer/402997/87 "2007-05-11T17:36:29Z")
[QUOTE=hotflungwok] Um, did you read this before you hit Submit? Cuz these look awfully contradictory to me. [/QUOTE] Please to explain the contradiction. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-dont-answer/402997/88 "2007-05-11T17:43:07Z")
[QUOTE=Lord Ashtar] Please to explain the contradiction. [/QUOTE] Well, first you say: > [@](#): > > Examining things closely has only strengthened my beliefs. Notice the lack of exceptions or conditions. So things you examine closely strengthen your beliefs. Then you say: > [@](#): > > I don’t believe in things like YEC or a worldwide flood anymore, Now I’m not sure what YEC is, but I do know what the worldwide flood is. So you don’t believe in it anymore. But you indicate that you used to, with the word ‘anymore’. So examining the worldwide flood made you lose your belief in it? But wait, it can’t, because, things you examine only strengthen your belief! Yeah, that’s called a contradiction. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-dont-answer/402997/89 "2007-05-11T18:51:32Z")
[QUOTE=hotflungwok] Well, first you say: > [@](#): > > Examining things closely has only strengthened my beliefs. Notice the lack of exceptions or conditions. So things you examine closely strengthen your beliefs. Then you say: > [@](#): > > I don’t believe in things like YEC or a worldwide flood anymore, Now I’m not sure what YEC is, but I do know what the worldwide flood is. So you don’t believe in it anymore. But you indicate that you used to, with the word ‘anymore’. So examining the worldwide flood made you lose your belief in it? But wait, it can’t, because, things you examine only strengthen your belief! Yeah, that’s called a contradiction. [/QUOTE] YEC = Young Earth Creationism, or the belief that God created the world approximately 6,000 years ago on a Tuesday in October. So you’re saying that disbelief in YEC and/or a worldwide flood can not coexist with belief in God? ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-dont-answer/402997/90 "2007-05-11T19:17:25Z")
[QUOTE=Lord Ashtar] YEC = Young Earth Creationism, or the belief that God created the world approximately 6,000 years ago on a Tuesday in October. [/QUOTE] Oh. > [@](#): > > So you’re saying that disbelief in YEC and/or a worldwide flood can not coexist with belief in God? No, I’m saying that you have attempted to claim that both 1) examining religious beliefs makes the belief stronger and 2) that you have lost belief in things you used to believe in (YEC and the flood) because of examination, and that’s a contradiction. Why don’t you believe in the worldwide flood btw? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-dont-answer/402997/91 "2007-05-11T19:54:37Z")
[QUOTE=hotflungwok] No, I’m saying that you have attempted to claim that both 1) examining religious beliefs makes the belief stronger and 2) that you have lost belief in things you used to believe in (YEC and the flood) because of examination, and that’s a contradiction. [/quote] Let me rephrase. Once I figured out that science and myth don’t have to match in order for me to glean positive things from both, I was able to focus on that which really matters: getting to know God personally without anyone or anything else getting in the way. > [@](#): > > Why don’t you believe in the worldwide flood btw? Where’d all the water go? ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-dont-answer/402997/92 "2007-05-11T20:26:51Z")
[QUOTE=Lord Ashtar] Let me rephrase. Once I figured out that science and myth don’t have to match in order for me to glean positive things from both, I was able to focus on that which really matters: getting to know God personally without anyone or anything else getting in the way. [/QUOTE] You know god personally? Whoa, that’s sweet! That’s gotta be really handy. > [@](#): > > Where’d all the water go? So what you’re saying is that it doesn’t make sense. So, do you believe Jesus was killed and resurrected? Or that he turned water into wine? Or that Lazarus was ressurected? Or that god killed all the firstborn of Egypt in one night? Or that Noah lived to 800 years old (or whatever, the exact number escapes me)? Etc ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-dont-answer/402997/93 "2007-05-11T21:07:17Z")
[QUOTE=hotflungwok] You know god personally? Whoa, that’s sweet! That’s gotta be really handy. [/quote] Yeah, it comes in handy. > [@](#): > > So what you’re saying is that it doesn’t make sense. So, do you believe Jesus was killed and resurrected? Or that he turned water into wine? Or that Lazarus was ressurected? Or that god killed all the firstborn of Egypt in one night? Or that Noah lived to 800 years old (or whatever, the exact number escapes me)? Etc I think I’ll leave any further discussions of my beliefs out of this thread, as it’s hijacked enough already. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-dont-answer/402997.md?page=4)