How do you know? A question we too often neglect to ask. How do we know that salesperson is telling us the truth? In fact, what is truth? How do we know the truth about anything? Should we give up on the concept of truth? Some of us are too trusting. On the other hand, some of us cannot trust at all. How do you know you can trust anyone? The question can lead to disillusionment. How we answer the question of trust determines our approach to knowledge and to relationships. Can we trust knowledge derived from scientific investigation? Can we trust self-evident knowledge? Is knowledge about anything wishful thinking? If we cannot trust we avoid relationships or we destroy relationships. Trust is essential to relationships. In Thoughts (a philosophy of life), Don Mize explains the approach that works for him and extends the application to important areas of life. If you are a religious person experiencing doubt, or if you are a religious person whose faith is strong, you must deal with the epistemological question: How do you know? Can doubt ever be good? Are doubt and faith mutually exclusive? Is doubt an essential part of faith? Your own crisis of faith may demand an answer to the question of doubt. On the other hand, when you share your faith, others may ask you: How do you know? All too often a believer is frustrated with the inability to answer in a meaningful way. Many people are completely turned off by organized religion and God-talk. Yet, the ultimate questions of life are religious questions: Who am I? What am I doing here? Where am I going? Religion can be a barrier to God. Is there an approach that can make sense out of the inconsistencies of religious institutions or the hypocrisy of religious people and honestly allow for an encounter with God? Do many current reactions against religion turn out to be shallow? What happens when opponents of religion are asked how they know? This fifty-page essay by Don Mize is written in a readable style. The discussion is an approach to answering the epistemological question and applying the answer to important areas of life. The essay by Don Mize is divided into the following sections. Table of Contents Foreword Finding a Place to Start Searching for Certainty Escaping the Dark Closet of the Mind Reading a Text Knowing God Understanding Faith Dealing with Moral Law Discovering Love Valuing a Secular State Unlocking Happiness For further questions, contact donmize@yahoo.com. |
| Don Mize Crockett, TX |