The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #164109   Message #3924663
Posted By: Steve Shaw
15-May-18 - 10:25 AM
Thread Name: Catholic sexual abuse & climate denial
Subject: RE: Catholic sexual abuse & climate denial
They are my opinions, not my beliefs. Beliefs are held without reason or evidence, usually with a degree of unshiftable conviction or certainty. I'll justify my opinions to you any time you like. When I do, you may think I'm wrong, and I may be wrong, but that means there were flaws in my reasoning or gaps in the evidence that I underestimated. But beliefs, never. In this context the word has a specific meaning. You believe in God despite the fact that there's no evidence and that you've abandoned reason. It's no different to believing in Santa or the tooth fairy or your guardian angel. Objectively, it's just as childish. I have no beliefs that I can try to impose or not impose, but I do have opinions that I put forward for anyone to consider if they want to. I respect opinions opposing mine, as long as they're measured and free from hidden motives. Can't say much fairer than that.