Who Do You Believe?

[JohnDB]

Everyone uses resources. The Bible is one.
History and any of the Sciences or Arts that helps you understand scriptures.....that's another story.

So how do you determine what you consume or believe?

The first goal of vetting any resource is to determine reliability, accuracy, bias, relevance, and usefulness before you cite, share, or act on it.

You with me so far?

 

[Jay Ross]

You with me so far?

No, I am around 16 hours in front of you.

Relatively speaking.

 

[JohnDB]

So....
First step.
Identify what your purpose is and criteria.
A) What is it you are trying to learn and prove? ( keeps out the irrelevant)

B) What level of rigor do you need? (Casual or high, strict peer reviewed articles)

C) non negotiables? Latest, most current data, or standard stalwarts of academia like PhD or other

Second step
Initial Triage
Who is publishing the article? A website littered with ads (clickbait) is the article itself clickbait with a sensational title?
What's the extension of the URL?
Who wrote the article? Anyone you ever heard of? Bob the fired janitor is not a title anyone uses to make an article get read.....however during Covid we had people who in reality were essentially "Bob" publishing articles quoted by MSM on a regular basis. The publications do NOT necessarily screen authors carefully as to even holding a medical license.

Date the article was written?. Even archeology papers can become no longer relevant after 80 years or more. Newer finds help complete pictures of the Ancient world and MIGHT change common beliefs.

 

[MatthewG]

Why does it matter to you?

 

[JohnDB]

Why does it matter to you?

Because, people want the truth and so many lie for various reasons.

 

[JohnDB]

3rd Step

Who wrote this book, article, research paper?
Are they on ORCID?
Do they have a reputation for bias?
What other articles and books they have written? Do they have a reputation for being neutral or having a bias towards their long held views.

Who paid for the research?
Sugar growers researched how artificial sweetners caused cancer and the Artificial Sweetners researched to prove how bad sugar was for people.
Who is funding the research is always important. I know several Bible Scholars whose research papers were buried by the sponsors once concluded simply because it went against denominational theologies....not that it wasn't true....but it was definitely a case of burying the truth.

Institutional Bias.....
The 7th Day Adventists are never going to publish an article about how churches in the early church met on Sunday....and any research proving that will never be funded by them. Just as an example....same thing with Calvinism or any other systemic theological holder.

 

[MatthewG]

Because, people want the truth and so many lie for various reasons.

Who is the arbiter of truth? I believe Jesus came back, overcame sin, death (even the second death), Satan, and Hell, opening up to us that we live in the new age of a new heaven and earth, and that people dont end up in hell today.

Am I telling the truth or a liar? Why does it matter to you what is believed or not believed?

 

[JohnDB]

Continued from above....

Was their research peer reviewed by KNOWLEDGEABLE professionals? (Not others from the new janitorial staff Bob is a part of) all names must appear on LinkedIn, ORCID or have high ranking positions in an academic career from a reputable university.
So....anonymous, not peer reviewed articles with no citations and yet have tons of advertising are never reputable. Books, self published or published by a definitely Biased publishing house are never considered serious or worthy of being a source.

 

[MatthewG]

I don't think matters to you what I believe.

Most people believe what they wanna believe to be true, like we live in the last days, yatta yatta.

I can accept them as a person of faith.

Thanks JohnDb.

 

[JohnDB]

Who is the arbiter of truth? I believe Jesus came back, overcame sin, death (even the second death), Satan, and Hell, opening up to us that we live in the new age of a new heaven and earth, and that people dont end up in hell today.

Am I telling the truth or a liar? Why does it matter to you what is believed or not believed?

Scriptures....the Bible passes EVERY test of authenticity. No need for any of this whatsoever.

 

[MatthewG]

@JohnDB, my mom told me once "I believe that Jesus came, died, was buried, and rose again."

I never had to question about it ever again. I know where she is going when she dies.

 

[MatthewG]

Scriptures....the Bible passes EVERY test of authenticity. No need for any of this whatsoever.

Why not? The scriptures provide the evidence concerning those things being overcame by Jesus.


I guess it doesnt matter cause it's just all garabage... cause it's what man dictates what they believe to be true, and it effects their whole world view.


If a person thinks about sin all the time, I feel really sorry for them.

There are a lot of people who are miserable in their lived faith... that is just my opinion.


Just walk by the power of the REsurrected Spirit of the Lord Yeshua in oneself and one doesnt have to worry about what others say.

 

[JohnDB]

I don't think matters to you what I believe.

Most people believe what they wanna believe to be true, like we live in the last days, yatta yatta.

I can accept them as a person of faith.

Thanks JohnDb.

But,
I'm listing a resource for people to use for themselves as to the resources they use. In today's world with so much garbage and outright lies being told on innocuous topics because for whatever reason they believe it helps their political position.

So this is how it's done....

 

[MatthewG]

But,
I'm listing a resource for people to use for themselves as to the resources they use. In today's world with so much garbage and outright lies being told on innocuous topics because for whatever reason they believe it helps their political position.

So this is how it's done....

Theres not enough people actually teaching the Gospel chapter by chapter and verse by verse, with comparing the verse with the Old Testament.

That's pastor mens fault, and also laziness on most peoples part.

 

[JohnDB]

@JohnDB, my mom told me once "I believe that Jesus came, died, was buried, and rose again."

I never had to question about it ever again. I know where she is going when she dies.

Your Mamma had a bias. Her whole overriding bias was for your benefit and that you grew up happy, healthy, and whole. (Even if spankings left you to suspect that bias).
She would be a very trusted source for intentions.

 

[MatthewG]

Your Mamma had a bias. Her whole overriding bias was for your benefit and that you grew up happy, healthy, and whole. (Even if spankings left you to suspect that bias).
She would be a very trusted source for intentions.

That's projecting and a very crappy comment my dude. Extremely rude...

You don't know her... She just has faith...

 

[JohnDB]

Accuracy and Evidence

That's projecting and a very crappy comment my dude. Extremely rude...

You don't know her... She just has faith...

That your mother loved you? Ummmm....how is that rude?

 

[MatthewG]

Accuracy and Evidence

That your mother loved you? Ummmm....how is that rude?

I just asked her one day. She heard me out about my beliefs and didn't judge me. It's Hyperreligious people who judge others.

Saying what you did was you just speaking for her. You can't do that. You can but its just projection.

 

[MatthewG]

That's what sucks sometimes about Christian communities, and churches and stuff.

Anyone who thinks differently, are an enemy to them... most of 85% of the time, especially if they aren't going by the spirit, but the flesh.


Oh matthew you can't say Jesus came back, and he overcame all things! people wanna try to spank me... like they my daddy.

When God can cut me back. He hasn't cut me back on my beliefs concerning those things, but he has cut me back, time and time again, concerning my flesh.

 

[JohnDB]

I just asked her one day. She heard me out about my beliefs and didn't judge me. It's Hyperreligious people who judge others.

Saying what you did was you just speaking for her. You can't do that. You can but its just projection.

It's not exactly a logical fallacy...
It's arguing from the general to the specific.

Most all mothers love their children...
So to assume that your mother loved you is not projecting....it's a logical conclusion.

Which is yet another step I'll explain in another post.