Big Questions

Sometimes I think questions are more important than answers. Questions encourage thinking while answers often stifle it, especially if they are given dogmatically or in a controlling environment. In my view, answers are most valuable when they prompt further questions and exploration.

I grew up in a very strict religious environment. Asking questions was allowed, but questioning the answers could get you into trouble. And it did get me into trouble, if you consider being shunned by that community trouble. (I view it as a type of freedom.) I have learned the value of asking difficult questions. That is the purpose of this blog.

I will question belief and I will question science. I don't think any of us can afford to be complacent with our worldview. I tend to promote a rational way of trying to understand the world, while recognising that we humans aren't really very good at being strictly rational. I'm not sure that we would even want to be. We also have intuitive, emotional and even spiritual qualities. Regardless of whether you think these qualities were given to us or evolved, they are important and deeply influence the way we look at the world. There is danger in either dismissing these or giving them unquestioning allegiance. Much has been said about the dangers of religion, but rationality can be just as dangerous if the person fails to recognise the limitations of reason and the sometimes unnoticed influences of our irrational human nature. A search for insight through questioning may require that we first question ourselves.

I will try to include videos, slideshows, links and comments on subjects that are of interest to thinking people. How will this project turn out? Well, I guess that's another question.