Does Pretending To Know Things You Don't Know Have Any Effect On Your Well Being (Physical Or Psychological)?

[birdie1971]

It has been suggested in a previous thread that pretending to know things you don't know leads to psychological problems.

Ref:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Society-and-Culture/Religion-and-Spirituality/Question1294123-2.html

“... I've recently read a book about religion, faith and all things spiritual in which the author suggests that the words “faith” and “religion” can often be replaced in a sentence with the phrase “pretending to know things you don't know” or variations on it. It works in almost all cases I can think of...”

[jeffa]

How can you pretend to know things you don't know? Surely you'd be sussed very quickly...

[birdie1971]

I know. It sounds ridiculous doesn't it? And yet billions of people do it every day of their lives and most of them encourage others to do the same. Some people who pretend to know things they don't know even murder others who refuse to pretend that they know things they don't know.

[Svejk]

I don't know.

[jeffa]

... billions of people...

You just make it up as you go along, don't you!

[bravejordy]

This reminds me of the old saying:- "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle 'em with bulls**t" and I think we're all guilty of doing it at some time or other. I'm not sure I'd agree that it leads to psychological problems though.

[RATTER15]

Just look at the effect it has had on "goodlife" and "keyplus' not good at all, clearly brainwashed and deluded.

[jomifl]

Yes Ratter it sometimes looks as a kid who has just had a soldering iron for christmas has tried to re-wire their brain.s

[Old_Geezer]

What does anyone really know save for their own existence ? One can share belief though, that is a fair thing to do.

[naomi24]

I don't think religious people realise they're pretending to know something, but rather that they unwittingly harbour a secret hope that what they would like to be true is, in fact, true. That is borne out by the conversations here where incontrovertible evidence is presented only to be irrationally rejected without the slightest consideration.

Religion encourages people to believe that they are somehow special, in the face of criticism - perceived or otherwise - it creates a victim mentality, it induces fear and feelings of guilt and remorse where none is warranted, and it imparts illusions of superiority where none is warranted - and none of that is conducive to a well-balanced psychological disposition.

[goodlife]

The answer to that question can be found in one of the psalm, it says
“He who is walking faultlessly and practicing righteousness and speaking the truth in his heart.”

Does that sound like a cheater, Is it the description of someone who lies to his parents or ‘plays the part,’ pretending to be something he is not.
If you want to be a friend of God you need to be honest, not only in your actions, but in your heart as well.

[douglas9401]

There are many who pretend to know things and bluff their way through life yet seem to suffer no ill effects.
They're called managers.

[idiosyncrasy]

Naomi//Religion encourages people to believe that they are somehow special, in the face of criticism - perceived or otherwise - it creates a victim mentality, it induces fear and feelings of guilt and remorse where none is warranted, and it imparts illusions of superiority where none is warranted - and none of that is conducive to a well-balanced psychological disposition.//

Where do you get your ideas from? I have never heard such a load of rubbish, or are you speaking from personal experience?

[idiosyncrasy]

Douglas@ I agree!

[sandyRoe]

Pretending would be hypocrisy and could well lead to inner conflict and be deleterious to ones well being. Faith is a different thing entirely.

[dunnitall]

We all pretend at sometime, faith is entirely different, if it's in the name of religion it's usually a form of brainwashing.

[naomi24]

idiosyncrasy. Where do I get my ideas? Well, from the faithful really. They do seem to think they are rather special in as much as they believe that the creator of this vast universe has a particular interest in them personally and they will inherit eternal life while the rest of us are either doomed to eternal punishment, or doomed to plain old eternal death. They do acquire a victim mentality insofar as faced with criticism of their religion – perceived or otherwise – offence not only appears to be actively sought, but many an unexpected hissy fit has resulted – to the extent that we non-believers have been told to edit our posts, omitting at least one very ordinary word, which although appropriately descriptive of ‘miracles’, is nevertheless deemed offensive to religious sensibilities. They do harbour unwarranted feelings of guilt and remorse, not only for insignificant acts resulting in a perception of disobedience or failure, but often simply for being born sinners, as many are taught they are - and they do appear to harbour illusions of superiority – which, regardless of the particular flavour of religion they happen to prefer, is why they all think they’re right and everyone else is wrong – and which is why some of them have no hesitation in telling us all so.

I trust that answers your question.

[RATTER15]

Well said Naomi!!

[naomi24]

Thank you Ratter. :o)

[birdie1971]

SandyRoe - “Pretending would be hypocrisy and could well lead to inner conflict and be deleterious to ones well being. Faith is a different thing entirely.”

No it isn't. Faith is exactly the same thing. For example, you pretend to know that you'll go to heaven after you die. You pretend to know that there is an afterlife. However, you cannot possibly know this to be factually correct so you pretend that it is true.

[birdie1971]

Idiosyncrasy - “... Where do you get your ideas from? I have never heard such a load of rubbish...”

If you are unaware of where Naomi is coming from then you are most likely a person who has never seriously questioned your beliefs. You also seem to fail to understand the basic tenants of your religious teachings, ie. that you are apparently born with 'original sin'.