Which shows greater virtue: saying, "I don't know," or stating your highest hopes as if they are facts?

Saying "I don't know."

Anything else would be intellectually dishonest.

Endeavouring to find out would likely be a worthwhile goal, but in that process hunches and hypotheses must still not be misrepresented as verified facts. Only falsifiable evidence scrutinised rigorously and accountably can do that.

I usually wouldn't do this, but I feel compelled to answer this question.

BJ Freeman states : " Medicine, at its best, is an educated guess ". I must say that anyone who makes such an ignorant statement must not know anything about which he speaks. If BJ Freeman had ever been in a medical laboratory, he would know how silly his statement sounds. One example I can give him is how medicine would take care of a bloodborne pathogen. After drawing someone's blood, it is sent to the lab. First it is determined whether or not there is a pathogen, then the blood is divided into petrie dishes and various types of anti-biotics are placed in intervals around the specimen. Whichever anti-biotic works the best is the one which is used by the patient to cure their disease. Now, that is not an educated guess, that is "seeing is believing". A quack doctor who says "let's make this up as we go" would lose his license to practice and would possibly face jail time.

I just hate it when someone says idiotic crap about the medical profession, lol.

It is the same virtue in all instances. A pastor who does not know should probably consider finding different employment. Many stay because it is all they have been trained to do.

There is a scripture that says the path of those in right standing with God grows brighter each day. If there is not greater illumination , something is wrong with the direction a believer is walking.

A doctor will keep looking for a diagnosis. A builder will give you an estimate. A pastor tells you what scripture says.

If your doctor tells you he doesn't know,he will not treat the problem. The problem will get worse.

A builder repairing your roof without knowing what he is fixing is a con man.

A pastor who has read the Bible knows what life after death is like. Saying that he doesn't know just to make you feel better would be dishonest (and less virtuous).

The least virtuous of the bunch would be the person who asks someone who knows the truth to lie because they choose not to believe the truth.

Saying I don't know is valid as well as ones firm belief in something.

it is best when one states a firm belief that they clarify that.

Medicine, at its best, is an educated guess; but that does not mean they are unsure.

as far as life after death that is the wrong perspective.the failing of the body only means we no longer have the sensory input from the body.

The Divine gave us a soul

The Divine communicates to us through the soul.

The Divine provided, through the soul, love and strength continuously.

The Divine had given us the living word that resides in us.

Soul is love

Soul is strength

Soul is pure

Soul is eternal.

The Love fills us and keeps us from wanting

The Strength allows us to over come our human desires and face the situation life gives us.

Through experience I know this.

I prefer their best guess based on the vantage point of their knowledge. But I like to be told their sources so I can make a judgment myself.

"I don't know" is a good, honest answer that should be used more often...

"I don't know" is always the way to go.