BS: Interpret this, M*********rs.

Subject: BS: Interpret this, M*********rs.
From: frogprince
Date: 25 May 05 - 07:27 PM

(Interpret this, mudcatters)
Our local little free daily advertiser includes a few quotes
and thoughts for the day, ranging from kinda pedantic to wry
and fairly funny. I'm trying to make up my mind about this
one, though.
"To believe is to know you believe, and to know you believe
is not to believe"
Do you think this is plain gibberish, or is it somebody's take
on the nature of faith, or whaddaya think?

Subject: RE: BS: Interpret this, M*********rs.
From: Amos
Date: 25 May 05 - 07:40 PM

It is just a pun, FP. It takes advantage of two different meanings of "know". When you know something intellectually, it is just a set of data, like an article in the encyclopedia. When you have fully created a knowingness, it becomes part of your very viewpoint, transparent to you because it is integrated into your core perspective on existence. Similarly there is belief espoused because of agreement, such as is often mouthed by church-goers and party-liners, and there is the core created set of beliefs which make up your chosen nature.

When you truly believe something, it is not just data, it in fact filters and molds the range of experience that is available to you. This is why people who are deeply embedded in the "man-from-mud" belief system never have spiritual experiences. They are experiencing what they believe and won't experience any knowing outside that boundary.

There are LOTS of different ways to know and lots of different regions of knowing, Horatio.

But the quote above is just sort of a glib quip, and could easily be confusing if you didn't notice the different definitions involved.

Regards,


A

Subject: RE: BS: Interpret this, M*********rs.
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 25 May 05 - 07:41 PM

It's playing with two meanings of the word "believe". Believe can mean either to have an opinion, or to hold a very strong conviction.

"To know you believe is not to believe" could be restated as "To know that your belief is an opinion, not a fact, makes truly devout belief impossible."

Subject: RE: BS: Interpret this, M*********rs.
From: John O'L
Date: 25 May 05 - 07:47 PM

First of all, I love the M*********rs.

It's a trick IMO.
The first bit, "To believe is to know you believe" seems reasonable but is not. Believing is quite seperate from knowing. To know you believe "A" (for example) is a completely different process from the actual believing of "A"

The second bit "to know you believe is not to believe" is true, in fact it's what I just said, but when juxtaposed with the first bit (which is false) it seems to validate it, and the entire sentence.

It's a trick. Any others?

Subject: RE: BS: Interpret this, M*********rs.
From: Jeri
Date: 25 May 05 - 07:48 PM

I BELIEVE it's meant to be entertaining because of its silliness, but I KNOW somebody was trying much to hard to be witty.

Subject: RE: BS: Interpret this, M*********rs.
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 25 May 05 - 11:35 PM

Agree Jeri. Another triumph of presentation over content.

Subject: RE: BS: Interpret this, M*********rs.
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 26 May 05 - 02:22 AM

It could just be from somebody who wants to sound deep and profound but has no idea what he/she is talking about.

Subject: RE: BS: Interpret this, M*********rs.
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 May 05 - 03:46 AM

Perhaps it would help Lilyfestre sleep, sure bores the hell out of me!
G..

Subject: RE: BS: Interpret this, M*********rs.
From: Davetnova
Date: 26 May 05 - 03:47 AM

It depends what you mean by "is".

Subject: RE: BS: Interpret this, M*********rs.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 26 May 05 - 04:31 AM

Complete b*******

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Interpret this, M*********rs.
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 26 May 05 - 04:37 PM

It's a virus to make you waste part of your life pondering it. Clever. Evil. Religious.

Subject: RE: BS: Interpret this, M*********rs.
From: fat B****rd
Date: 26 May 05 - 05:26 PM

..the statement on the other side is false........

Subject: RE: BS: Interpret this, M*********rs.
From: Ebbie
Date: 27 May 05 - 05:24 PM

To be awake when you believe you are asleep is the same as being asleep and believing you are awake.

See?

Subject: RE: BS: Interpret this, M*********rs.
From: John O'L
Date: 28 May 05 - 10:07 AM

Are you sure...?

Subject: RE: BS: Interpret this, M*********rs.
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 May 05 - 12:47 PM

To be sure when one should not be sure is being sure in uncertain times. OK?

Subject: RE: BS: Interpret this, M*********rs.
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 May 05 - 04:31 PM

Some of my best friends are uninterpreted.
G..