Religion
In reply to the discussion: Are thinking skills generally absent among theists? [View all]DetlefK
(16,423 posts)Science and humanities are different ways of thinking.
In science, we deal with clear definitions, with clear numbers, with clear rules. While this enables us to solve a specific given problem, it puts us in a metaphorical straightjacket, because some kinds of ideas are ad hoc unthinkable and unimaginable.
In the humanities, we don't have clear definitions. Terms and concepts are abstract and vaguely defined. With this kind of thinking, it's very hard to come to a rational conclusion, to solve a given problem. However it's very easy to come up with new ideas and new concepts this way, because there are no constraints holding back your fantasy.
It reminds me of an article I read many years ago. The author detailed how she broke up with her boyfriend. He worked in advertisement and he said this sentence: "I don't believe in definitions."
This is the difference between scientific thinking and spiritual thinking: Whether you accept that an object is defined.
For example: Souls.
We can discuss whether souls exist, however for this discussion to come to a conclusion we first have to find a definition what a soul actually is and how it relates to other things.
If we don't care about coming to a conclusion, then alternatively we may simply use the concept of souls to develop new concepts of souls. E.g. the Ancient Egyptians believed that a person has several kinds of souls.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_concept_of_the_soul