Well, this has shown just the point I had been making...in one way...and, in another way, brings out another point or two which I have been working on trying to get across, and plan on doing more with in the future.
Now I do understand that there will always be people who do not feel comfortable with logic, who have not given as careful a consideration of just what that principle is, and who thus may not be willing to delve into it more. Again, not pointing fingers nor spotlighting anyone, it is an inescapable conclusion that in cognition, logic rules--even, if nothing else, due certain principles of nature that 'conduct' basic natural operations...say the laws of thermodynamics, or gravity (mass attraction), or so on.
Take this statement, for example:
but when religion. or faith gets involved you can't discuss logically anymore.
Here we have a positive claim (and this is in no way to pick on you Goldiegirl, I'm just using this as a tool in trying to get a 'hard copy' example across...in order to enhance understanding) in the absolute. It can be outlined as follows:
When A event happens, B event cannot happen.
Now that the former sentence can be reduced to the above analytical statement, is a fact of logic...and a fact of universal reality (as far as we understand the universe in which
we live. Would anyone deny that?
Of course not!
Then, it cannot be denied that in that there is language, there is logical conclusion--deduction/induction--due to the fact that symbols (words) are arranged in syntactical patterns (grammer, collocation, colloquialisms) automatically forming a context, and meaning and definition is decided by this context. It is in this means and vehicle that conception occurs--
even in cases where the actual things symbolized by words are used...as when a person or animal does not have any highly developed language tools/skills. Would anyone deny that?
I am very certain that it would be extremely difficult to deny that.
Putting the topic of faith, religion (in the sense of religiosity) and even religious belief-systems aside, the point I had been presenting is based on the above, and still stands--until proven to be inaccurate.
A positive and absolute claim of nature A, will, by the operation of natural logic deny a positive and absolute claim of nature B, when it cannot be shown by any other claims that the nature of the two claims can be one and the same.
This, is simple fact.
This, cannot be denied.
And so in order to keep peace, we should all make great effort to understand this basic natural logic, and to make application of it !!
Now, Goldiegirl, as regards your claims made in your post just under my previous one, you see, you would have to provide precise and concrete definitions of your terms used (faith, religion) in order to substantiate the validity of your claim. If by
faith and
religion you mean
religious belief-system, then I can easily show that claim to be false. Religious belief-systems are build on logic too...something which far too many people in our world, for far too long, have been 'blinded by the light' (to make sarcastic use of Steve Miller's song) to understand this simple and natural fact. I encourage further thought and discussion here...but only in the Serious Discussions section. How's 'bout it?