Comment by Akshay Bist on July 17, 2011 at 6:30am

I think it was in the movie Annapolis, the cadets or plebes couldn't say they didn't know the answer to a question they were asked. If they didn't know, then they'd reply that they'd find out.

I think this is a good practice. 1 - because its an honest answer, 2 - because you will(hopefully) look for the correct answer instead of inventing some BS & never finding out what the real answer was.

Comment by Rev. Chris Pagan on July 17, 2011 at 6:35am

I'm a huge proponent of saying "I don't know, but I'm willing to find out." It truly is an honest answer, and probably the most true thing any person can ever say.

Comment by Robert Karp on July 17, 2011 at 8:10am

Chris, or Rev if you prefer, I totally agree with you. I think this also applies to people who are struggling with difficult times in their lives. In the answers to; what to do, where do I go now, how should I feel, "I don't know" is not only an acceptable answer but a good one as well. We shouldn't have all the answers and we don't need to. Society programs us otherwise, that is why it's so hard to say "i don't know".

Comment by Rev. Chris Pagan on July 17, 2011 at 8:37am

Thanks, Robert. Rev or Chris works, but that's beside the point. I would love to create a simple survey that could be taken online, asking pretty simple questions about how the world works, asking open ended questions, and seeing how many questions people answer "I don't know," or "God did it," and the spectrum in between. I think the results would be interesting, but that's just me.

Comment by Akshay Bist on July 17, 2011 at 9:09am

That is an interesting idea Chris. Go for it & share the results

Comment by The Doctor on July 17, 2011 at 3:20pm

I wouldn't be an Atheist today If I did the classic theistic tactic of "I don't know, but god does". I would even argue that those who are affraid to say those scary words are prone to fill the missing gaps with a supernatural glue. Science wouldn't exist if there was never those cynics saying "Why don't we know? More importantly "How do we find out?" I think too many people are affraid of finding out there beleifs are wrong. You could pose a question to atheists, If a single notion of god was proven unfalsifiable would that scare you?

Comment by Misty: Baytheist Living! on July 17, 2011 at 3:35pm

Concerning theists: 

I don't want their 'knowledge.' 

I want their evidence. 

Comment by The Doctor on July 17, 2011 at 3:59pm

My point in this is, (as my monicker suggests) religeon/superstion existed in some fashion since humans were cognitive enough to create it, likewise, there have been those that challenge these notions and thus advance understanding. Research demands inquiry, and unbiased acceptance of the outcome.

Comment by Boatman on July 18, 2011 at 8:22am

Sometimes, when we say "I don't know", we have no choice but to "find out";

 

"There is no conclusive evidence for life after death, but there is no evidence of any sort against it. Soon enough you will know, so why fret about it?"

 

- Robert Anson Heinlein

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