Protestantism

» pink101 - Speaking in Absolutes--Brian

In response to Speaking in Absolutes posted by BrianTubbs:
.
Brian wrote, The irony here is that YOU, Pink, are making some absolutist type claims here. Example: Quotes Pink: "It shuts off all further knowledge of God. It forces all others into a dead end cul de sac where there is no exit. Excommunication--plain and simple." Sounds like an absolutist statement to me.
.
Yes, my statement is an absolute in that sense and it can be shown to be true. It does shut off all further knowledge of my claim. So, just exactly what IS my claim? Do you disagree with my claim? Am I wrong? Can it be known that I am correct in my claim?
.
So, I think your post deserves more attention.
.
The idea of certitude goes beyond what ever is available through observation and leans toward the area of the absolute; but, it allows for faith.
.
The idea of an absolute is that there can be no question--the idea is final and it does not depend on faith whatsoever.
.
There are facts that can be seen as absolute and, when they are, all options are cut off. The sun is the brightest object in our solar system is an absolute that shuts off all options of what other object might be brighter. So, there are absolutes with which we can be in agreement.
.
But, we're not speaking of such things. Instead, this idea has to do with truth and, in particular, truth about supernatural dimensions of reality and such things as an after life. We can, in our own minds, be certain of such things; but, not one of us can be certain that what we think is the absolute truth regarding such things.
.
And, yes, my statement is the absolute truth.
.
If we want to be generous and speak of our POV, point of view, then, we can be quite certain that we think in absolutes; but, to claim what we think is the absolute truth is to shut off all options--to bury whatever else we might otherwise take into consideration. We close our minds to any new input.
.
I guess the best graphic example one can give is a venn diagram. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venn_diagram
.
The very nature of the idea of an Absolute Truth is that it can not be refuted.
.

-- posted by pink101