Memories of the 28th Century

I may be flogging a dead horse, but there is a difference between actual fact and fiction or religious truth. For something to be an actual fact there must be objective evidence for it; that means that the evidence is tangible or otherwise available to most people. I am not including all people there, because those who are lacking one or more of the senses might not be able to perceive the thing. But I want to make it clear that supernatural visions and similar events are usually not public events that can be perceived by anyone except the recipient of the visions, and for that reason these things are not actual facts. A particular may regard the visions of some particular person to be the basis. Some religions have such visions as the basis of the religion. For example, The Zend Avesta, the founding book of Zoroastrianism was dictated by Zoroaster after he spent some time in a religious trance.

We can’t judge religious truth the same way as ordinary truth of fact. Religious truth is truth because it is accepted as true by a religion, and there is no requirement that the evidence be objective. For this reason people who believe any religious truth(s) must be considerate of other religions, because all religions are in the same shape when it comes to objective evidence.

Most people would like everyone to agree with them, but that isn’t practical, especially when we consider religion, because the evidence is so subjective. Personally, I don’t care whether anyone agrees with my religions principals, but because I know that I am right, and it would do me no good, if others agreed; although it might do them some good. On another side, I never really know what someone else might truly believe, because most people do not express what it in their heart; they express what they find most convenient to express. If I were to see into the hearts of of others, I might see that they all agree with me, even though they express whatever beliefs are accepted in their areas. Maybe we will find out someday.

I wonder if there is some sense of satisfaction to force someone to join your belief. I should ask people in Boko Haram or IS. I suppose it makes some people feel better to eliminate people who believe things they do not believe, or maybe it makes them wonder about the actual truth. Does killing Yezidis make Yezidism less true?

As the SOF (Soldier of Fortune) T-shirt said: Kill Them All and Let the Gods Sort them out.