In philosophical scepticism, pyrrhonism is a position that refrains from making truth claims. A philosophical skeptic does not claim that truth is impossible (which would be a truth claim). The label is commonly used to describe other philosophies which appear similar to philosophical scepticism, such as “academic” scepticism, an ancient variant of Platonism that claimed knowledge of truth was impossible. Empiricism is a closely related, but not identical, position to philosophical skepticism. Empiricists see empiricism as a pragmatic compromise between philosophical scepticism and nomothetic science; philosophical scepticism is in turn sometimes referred to as “radical empiricism.”

A scientific (or empirical) sceptic is one who questions the reliability of certain kinds of claims by subjecting them to a systematic investigation. The scientific method details the specific process by which this investigation of reality is conducted. Considering the rigor of the scientific method, science itself may simply be thought of as an organized form of scepticism. This does not mean that the scientific sceptic is necessarily a scientist who conducts live experiments (though this may be the case), but that the sceptic generally accepts claims that are in his/her view likely to be true based on testable hypotheses and critical thinking.

Author: Lance Brown

Are you doing things for God or are you doing the things of God? Does it seem odd to you that churches are always starting building programs, buying sound systems, or starting projects they can’t seem to afford. Every Sunday they spend more and more time grinding out offerings and perverting scripture to crank out the bucks for these projects.Then they insist God told them to do it.

Author: James P Krehbiel

During my undergraduate years in college, I served as student coordinator for Campus Crusade for Christ. At the peak of the Vietnam War and political protests, I participated in a faith-based initiative on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley. The campus was in turmoil at that time due to the firing of the college present, Clark Kerr. We had many speakers involved in our spiritual thrust, including the Reverend Billy Graham. The week-long theme was, “Jesus, the Revolutionary.” I was taken back by the interest that many students demonstrated as they carried signs reading, “Jesus Yes, Christianity No.” The students were open to the teachings of Jesus but were less enthusiastic and rejected many of the values associated with a traditional Christian world-view.

In ordinary usage, skepticism or scepticism (Greek: skeptomai, to look about, to consider; see also spelling differences) refers to
an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object,
the doctrine that true knowledge or knowledge in a particular area is uncertain, or
the method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt, or criticism that is characteristic of skeptics (Merriam–Webster).