Does belief preclude possibility of being wrong?

Discuss religious, spiritual, and theological issues concerning Christianity, Judaism, Islam, or any other religion.

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  • View Poll Results: Whatever your belief, if it possible you're wrong?
    I'm theist, and I'm certain I'm right
    3 15.79%
    I'm atheist, and I'm certain I'm right
    0 0%
    I'm theist, and I might be wrong
    5 26.32%
    I'm atheist, and I might be wrong.
    11 57.89%

  1. zeropoint's Avatar
    • Adored and Respected Member
    • Location: Clitheroe, Lancashire
    • Posts: 580
    Does belief preclude possibility of being wrong?
    Whether you're Atheist, Christian, Muslim or any other 'believer' in some state of affairs, does that belief mean you are certain beyond the possibility that you may be wrong?
  2. Pinkhead's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Location: Houses of the Holy | Posts: ∞
    Re: Does belief preclude possibility of being wrong?
    Of course not, no one can claim absolute certainty about anything, especially not regarding a god.

    However, I cannot know with absolute certainty that It's not possible to know anything with absolute certainty.
  3. Tahooper's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Posts: 2,395
    Re: Does belief preclude possibility of being wrong?
    Anybody who picked "I'm certain I'm right" should be ashamed.
    Last edited by Tahooper; 03-08-2012 at 18:50.
  4. Cephalus's Avatar
    • Banned
    • Location: Gallifrey
    • Posts: 2,983
    • Warning points: 1000
    Re: Does belief preclude possibility of being wrong?
    I'm theist. It's arrogance to say you know 100% that you're right
  5. james22's Avatar
    • Peer Of The TSR Realm
    • Posts: 1,989
    Re: Does belief preclude possibility of being wrong?
    I am an athiest. I am absolutely certain that I am right in my belief that the belief in a deity does not stand up when subjected to the scientific method.
  6. Perseveranze's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Posts: 2,442
    Re: Does belief preclude possibility of being wrong?
    'Ali ibn Abi Talib(ra), among others, would say:

    "Even if the veil of the Unseen were lifted up, my certainty would not increase."
    ('Ali al-Qari, al-Asrar al-Marfu'ah, 286.)


    Make of that what you will, but that's how many Muslims feel.
  7. mariachi's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Location: Nihilobstadt
    • Posts: 2,645
    Re: Does belief preclude possibility of being wrong?
    I'm some sort of atheist - meaning that I don't think that the idea of a "God" even makes sense

    but, of course, there is some very small possibility that I may be wrong

    why, there is even a small chance (say, about 1 in a billion billion billion) that e.g. Islam or Christianity might be correct, and that I will have to spend an eternity in Hellfire

    however, the possibility is so small that it's not worth loosing any sleep over it
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