Interesting topic this ..... red herrings aside. 1: jc had written
[I also submit that any reasonable person would realise that BELIEF is a purely subjective (personal) process. Only close confidants are likely to really KNOW what another person's BELIEF truly is.] 2: Santoshbab has written (& I absolutely concur with him) thus: ( CAPS mine) <It is IMPOSSIBLE to know what someone's beliefs are unless you know him/her personally. It is impossible to know whether he/she is a Catholic or a Hindu or a theist or an atheist. This is especially so in the case of a criminal. Who can TRUST a criminal when he/she makes any kind of CLAIM about his beliefs? > 3. The learned Dr. Cornel da Costa wrote (and I agree with most of what he writes in this para): < I merely chose to report and comment on research available to one and all that, Hitler was a Catholic, and paradoxically, a firm believer in the Catholic faith-- though a cafeteria one. That view emerges from photographic evidence, Hitler's own recorded words, and many other sources examined by inumerable biographers and historians. Some of the evidence, especially photographic, took me by surprise. I was also most intrigued that he believed in doing the will of God in exterminating Jews. This is recorded in his OWN WORDS and the words of his close associates. Re one point you make, of course, we can NEVER really know anybody and especially their religious beliefs, except if closely associated with that person and EVEN THEN, one can be wrong. However, in historical research one does not need to know somebody personally--usually, they are already dead for some time! Consequently, historical evidence is used to make a JUDGEMENT about a person or past events. I therefore suggest that your snide comments about persons making historical observations are illustrative of your persona and anti-intellectualism rather than a manifestation of your ability to understand the nature of historical research.> =================================== jc's comments: 1. I agree entirely with Santoshbab's comments above. He very rightly states that "It is IMPOSSIBLE to know what someone else's beliefs are UNLESS you know that individual personally". Cornel very appropriately adds "EVEN THEN, one can be wrong". A truer set of words, never said before. 2. Now, just imagine when one DOES NOT know the individual, personally - as is obviously the case wrt Hitler et Santoshbab, Cornel, Mario, Gilbert and jc. We are unlikely to have even been around in terra firma when Hitler was alive, let alone KNOW him enough to be even amateur judges of his beliefs. We know what he did. There is enough brutal evidence of that. 3. I also agree with Cornel that one can normally utilise historical evidence to make a JUDGEMENT about a person or past events. Sure .... but NOT his beliefs.....ONLY his actions and possibly, his character. As Santoshbab has rightly noted (Hitler's recorded statements notwithstanding) :'Who can TRUST a criminal when he/she makes any kind of CLAIM about his beliefs?" Do we not know of all kinds of Psychos who claim to be "hearing voices"? I suggest those who "hear voices" might be eligible to be diagnosed with a well known psychiatric condition (treatable). 4. I am sure that IF Cornel thinks the CLAIM point over again, he will agree with santoshbab and with my statement that Belief is Personal ..iow..SUBJECTIVE. Others are unlikely to be able to make a judgment call on another's belief....that would be OBJECTIVE. 5. I conclusion, I'd like to reinforce a point Mario Goveia made: Let's not forget the worst mass murderers of modern time ....the Commie thugs who Comraded with Marx and other Marxists i.e. Josef Stalin and the chap called Chairman Mao. good wishes to all yours very unintellectually (of course) jc BTW: I enjoyed this truly brilliant statement - of the genre of politicians :<paradoxically, a FIRM believer in the Catholic faith-- though a CAFETERIA one> please visit "NEW" on The Goan Forum at http://www.colaco.net Recommended Goa related sites 1. http://www.goa-world.com 2. http://www.SuperGoa.com _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
