The title of this article is a line by Edmund Burke in his intellectual attack against the French Revolution in 1790. It reflects an observational position that was addressed in a previous article I wrote on how the second rat gets the cheese. Sometimes things appear alright, but after careful inspection and just your gut feelings, things begin to become much clearer. What is a fool? A person who lacks common sense and judgment in evaluating events, situations or people. A fool pursues an opportunity based on the demands of his ego and not necessarily on what his feelings are telling him. He chooses to ignore his gut feelings and rushes in to stake his claim disregarding any thoughts about the consequences. Sometimes it works and most times it doesn’t. If you pursue an idea where angels fear to tread the implication is that you are taking a big risk. A wise person is one who has the power of discernment, proper judgment and discretion. He looks before he leaps, reflects on his experience or simply creates a reverie in his mind where he views the possible results of his actions. Then he makes an informed decision.
How many times does something in your life have to happen before you accept it as true? Once, twice, three times? It might be true but is it valid? Validity requires replication of something that is true time and time again. According to logic you can test the validity of something based on a syllogism. A syllogism is an argument in which the conclusion is supported by its premises. A premise is a proposition or statement made in order to draw a conclusion. In its simplest form deductive logic allows two general premises to deduce a specific conclusion. For example, in one of Sherlock Holmes’ cases he knew a lady was recently present in the room because there was a burning cigarette with lipstick on it when he arrived. Knowing that the cigarette burning indicated the recent presence of someone and that the lipstick indicated a woman, he deduced that she wasn’t far away.
Following is a deductive logic syllogism:
Premise #1: The sun is shining.
Premise # 2: It is warm.
Conclusion: It is warm because the sun is shining.
First, you observe the sun is shining. When you exit the shade you feel warmer. You re-enter the shade and you feel cooler. The obvious conclusion is that you feel warmer when you step into the sunlight. Therefore it is warm because the sun is shining. Is this true? Yes, based on your observation. Is it valid? Yes; validity requires that it produces a desired result. Each and every time you step out of the shade into the sunlight you get warmer. But this is this only half of your analysis. The second half requires you to test and re-test your conclusions to view their validity. You need to induce or establish results based on the facts. In its simplest form, inductive logic allows multiple specific premises to induce a general conclusion.
Following is an inductive logic syllogism:
Premise #1: Giraffe number 1 is silent.
Premise #2: Giraffe number 2 is silent.
Premise #3: Giraffe number 3 is silent.
Conclusion: All giraffes are silent.
Is this statement true? Yes. Is it valid? No! Why? Because you have only tested 3 giraffes! If there are 50,000 giraffes in the world and you only tested (sampled) 3 giraffes, your validity is weak at best. Now if you test 25,000 giraffes and they are all silent, then your conclusion is more valid than when you tested only 3 giraffes. There are many truths in life but are they valid? Only when these truths are subject to repeated tests and experimentation and arrive at similar results, then one can truly claim that these truths are valid. Science uses logic to test the facts. If they can be repeated under the same experimental circumstances and yield similar results each and every time, then they are truly valid.
What does this have to do with religions that control and manipulate their constituents? It is the basis on which we will analyze and reveal their validity based on their supposed truths. Yes, many people have found truths in religions like Scientology. But are they valid? My job as a Spirituality Examiner is to look at the facts under a microscope with a strong light source, good magnification and clear lenses. I invite all of my readers to submit comments on their experiences with Scientology. I would like to thank those who previously submitted a wealth of information both pro and con on the results obtained from Scientology. Let the debate begin!
For more info: Download my free Wilmington Spirituality Examiner toolbar. “Life is a gift. Be thankful for it and it will be replete with abundance. Encourage others to express creativity, release negativity and embrace pro-activity." Dean A. Banks, MCIWD, DD can be reached at webproducer@hotmail.com or banksnet.com. Download my free eBook on Articles 1-10 here.
