re: #377 Salamantis

Try to grok these simple words; belief is not required when one can know.

Let me elaborate. In systems of belief, the basic premises must lie outside the purview of knowledge. This means that neither they may they be undeniably demonstrable by example, nor may they be unequivocally denied by counterexample. Furthermore, induction proceeds from empirical data to statistically probable conclusions. The presence of a single case of contradicting empirical evidence would render a premise untrue while a single case of supporting empirical evidence places a premise within the realm of probability, which is not belief, but statistical knowledge.

The Big Bang echo radiation is supporting empirical evidence for the assertion that the Big Bang happened. Hence, the fact that it happened may be known on the basis of that empirical evidence, and belief that it happened is not necessary.