verklingen

most the time, when you hear someone describe himself as skeptical he means that he's always questioning the validity of ideas, evidence, etc. but if you analyze that behavior in an objective context, you find that he questions such things on the basis of their relation to his own ideas, beliefs, convictions, etc. a true skeptic would be constantly fielding his own beliefs along with whatever potential beliefs may arise from his experience and observation, weighing them all in and determining which he adheres to without attachment to what he may have selected previously. to be thus attached is more properly known as cynicism.

cynics are as unshakably set in their beliefs as any zealot or charlatan. their beliefs may set them apart, but they make use of their belief in much the same way. in this case their belief is more of an infallible de facto assumption that immediately labels as bogus anything which brings it into question.

so be skeptical; just through yourself in the mix too, and be open to coming out different! it's the surest way to a clearer understanding, in everything from the scientific to the personal.

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“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

Mercury

I don't see the virtue in skepticism. Why can't they just accept things and move on?

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The Rev

I used to read a magazine called The Skeptical Inquirer. Basically, it was a de-bunkers' magazine, and usually challenged what it refered to as "pseudo-science". I thought it made me superior to be reading it, better than those "idiots" who believe in all kinds of shit like pyramid power, crystals, UFO's, etc. Then, one day, I read a letter in there critical of the magazine. In short, it accused them of gleefully shooting down all the fringe ideas, but never daring to touch mainstream religion. I realized at that moment that the purpose of the magazine was not to challenge anything, but to reaffirm the self-superior views of its readership.

I think questioning everything is valuable, because it forces you to draw your own conclusions, and fosters independent thought. But, like any other belief, it can become a focus of division between "us" and "them". The difference, I think, is, as Verk put it above, daring to question your own foundational beliefs.



The Rev

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The Rev

I think you're thinking of "jaded"



The Rev

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kamikazi89

GOOD QUESTION
a skeptic is someone who requires evidence to back up claims they themselves are not a witness to or lack adequet knowledge of the facts

a cynic just assumes the worse, a skeptic is open to reason

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katie west is the best

Bodhisattva

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