The joy of religion - part xxxxxxxxx

[Moonbeam]

LOL that's one way to kill a discussion. Not your response. Moonies.

Look at just a few of the forces at work in the thread. We have realibrad who says he's interested but can't ask a cogent question. We have Shira who seems cynical and suspicious suspecting my motives are egotistical. We have folk like Londo who need to ridicule by dismissal his ego is so intimidated.

My knowledge is for those who have need. I determine that need. I speak to and cut off whom I please. The need that is the greatest in my mind at the moment is the suspicion I have that others think I care that they listen to me. I am killing my part in the discussion to alleviate any notion that I care for other than what I see as needed. And no, I can't kill the discussion, only my part in it.

 

[Moonbeam]

Okay.

In what sense do you mean OK? Is it more like OK alright, Or OK OK?

 

[realibrad]

In what sense do you mean OK? Is it more like OK alright, Or OK OK?

Okay as in I understand that you believe my question was the wrong question.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

We have folk like Londo who need to ridicule by dismissal his ego is so intimidated.

Nothing like watching a self proclaimed master of wisdom and knowledge blathering on and on about nothing as if it actually means something when in reality it nothing but pure BS. Comic relief at it's best.

 

[realibrad]

Look at just a few of the forces at work in the thread. We have realibrad who says he's interested but can't ask a cogent question. We have Shira who seems cynical and suspicious suspecting my motives are egotistical. We have folk like Londo who need to ridicule by dismissal his ego is so intimidated.

My knowledge is for those who have need. I determine that need. I speak to and cut off whom I please. The need that is the greatest in my mind at the moment is the suspicion I have that others think I care that they listen to me. I am killing my part in the discussion to alleviate any notion that I care for other than what I see as needed. And no, I can't kill the discussion, only my part in it.

That is interesting that you view the situation in that way. I asked why you think I am uninterested in your opinion. You could have explained the folly in my question, as inherently I asked the question I thought was valid. That is, unless you believe I am being dishonest with the meaning of my question. But again, you did not explain.

I can only communicate with my limited resources. If you believe I have misspoken and you understand how, then by all means let me know so I can improve. That is, unless you think I am not important enough to educate, but, that would be a depressing value judgement.

 

[Moonbeam]

That is interesting that you view the situation in that way. I asked why you think I am uninterested in your opinion. You could have explained the folly in my question, as inherently I asked the question I thought was valid. That is, unless you believe I am being dishonest with the meaning of my question. But again, you did not explain.

I can only communicate with my limited resources. If you believe I have misspoken and you understand how, then by all means let me know so I can improve. That is, unless you think I am not important enough to educate, but, that would be a depressing value judgement.

Your resources are not the problem, your level of need seems to be.

We are discussion a rather important question in the lives of millions of people. Is there a God or not. You have told me that you do not believe there is and have given your reasons. I have agreed with your reasons and said they are proof that you do believe. Is your next question about chocolate cake? Isn't the logical question how can disbelief in God prove belief? It seems to me that if you are reading and paying attention it is. I can't give you an answer to paradox. What good would that do you. I am asking you to hold the paradox in your mind so you can resolve it. I know how I did so all I can do is try to replicate the questions that a strawberry answered for me. The problem for me is not that you are unimportant but that you don't seem to feel your need. Two different parts of the brain are required to fire for an insight to occur and that implies a lot of energy.

So why does your disbelief tell me you believe? I am telling you it is a fact. I don't want to hear about banana pie and how I must be wrong. I want you to sit with the fact that I am right. How can I possibly be right. Can you take a moment or two to do that?

 

[bshole]

Your resources are not the problem, your level of need seems to be.

We are discussion a rather important question in the lives of millions of people. Is there a God or not. You have told me that you do not believe there is and have given your reasons. I have agreed with your reasons and said they are proof that you do believe. Is your next question about chocolate cake? Isn't the logical question how can disbelief in God prove belief? It seems to me that if you are reading and paying attention it is. I can't give you an answer to paradox. What good would that do you. I am asking you to hold the paradox in your mind so you can resolve it. I know how I did so all I can do is try to replicate the questions that a strawberry answered for me. The problem for me is not that you are unimportant but that you don't seem to feel your need. Two different parts of the brain are required to fire for an insight to occur and that implies a lot of energy.

So why does your disbelief tell me you believe? I am telling you it is a fact. I don't want to hear about banana pie and how I must be wrong. I want you to sit with the fact that I am right. How can I possibly be right. Can you take a moment or two to do that?

Meh, if there is a God, he is either completely indifferent to us or is actively hostile. Simple observation of the world around is enough to confirm that simple fact.

I am fascinated to know if God is composed of atoms like we are. If so, where did the atoms that make him come from? If not, how can a being with no mass/space/time exist?

 

[realibrad]

Your resources are not the problem, your level of need seems to be.

We are discussion a rather important question in the lives of millions of people. Is there a God or not. You have told me that you do not believe there is and have given your reasons. I have agreed with your reasons and said they are proof that you do believe. Is your next question about chocolate cake? Isn't the logical question how can disbelief in God prove belief? It seems to me that if you are reading and paying attention it is. I can't give you an answer to paradox. What good would that do you. I am asking you to hold the paradox in your mind so you can resolve it. I know how I did so all I can do is try to replicate the questions that a strawberry answered for me. The problem for me is not that you are unimportant but that you don't seem to feel your need. Two different parts of the brain are required to fire for an insight to occur and that implies a lot of energy.

So why does your disbelief tell me you believe? I am telling you it is a fact. I don't want to hear about banana pie and how I must be wrong. I want you to sit with the fact that I am right. How can I possibly be right. Can you take a moment or two to do that?

I asked why you think I am uninterested in your opinion, because you said I was uninterested in your opinion.

I am also not saying there is not a god. What I am saying is that we have no evidence of a god. If there is a god, we know nothing about it through religion and religious beliefs. I also dont know what my girlfriend had for lunch, or if she ate lunch. I dont have a belief on what did or did not happen in term of her food choice. I know that she likely had lunch because of the evidence that we have had lunch together and she usually tells me at the end of the day what she ate. I have historical precedence. In terms of god, I have nothing of my own feeling or logic. You seem to have access to something that I do not.

 

[bshole]

You seem to have access to something that I do not.

Yea, his brain chemistry. He is running his program just like you and I. Regarding God, we can all believe whatever the fuck we want. There is no and can be no objective reality with regards to God unless he decides to reveal himself.

 

[realibrad]

Yea, his brain chemistry. He is running his program just like you and I. Regarding God, we can all believe whatever the fuck we want. There is no and can be no objective reality with regards to God unless he decides to reveal himself.

He feels its not brain chemistry though.

 

[Moonbeam]

Nothing like watching a self proclaimed master of wisdom and knowledge blathering on and on about nothing as if it actually means something when in reality it nothing but pure BS. Comic relief at it's best.

Ladies and gentlemen around the world, lend my your ears. Something has happened on the internet so beneath the ken and wisdom of the Great Londo_Jowo, something so unimportant, meaningless, and insignificant, something so laughable and ridiculously empty of content, that he has been compelled to announce that fact not just not at all, and not even just once, but wonder of wonders, ladies and gentlemen, twice. Take heed, ladies and gentlemen, because if the cognitive dissonance of this epic fail reaches his brain and ignites a neuron or two, and those neurons connect to the gas in his ass, we could be in for one hell of a deadly explosion.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

LMAO!!!! How can you see with that big ego of yours in the way??

 

[Moonbeam]

I asked why you think I am uninterested in your opinion, because you said I was uninterested in your opinion.

I am also not saying there is not a god. What I am saying is that we have no evidence of a god. If there is a god, we know nothing about it through religion and religious beliefs. I also dont know what my girlfriend had for lunch, or if she ate lunch. I dont have a belief on what did or did not happen in term of her food choice. I know that she likely had lunch because of the evidence that we have had lunch together and she usually tells me at the end of the day what she ate. I have historical precedence. In terms of god, I have nothing of my own feeling or logic. You seem to have access to something that I do not.

My response would be that God did a real dick move by creating me with horribly limited perception to know who or what he is. He is also a dick for creating a world where he knew we would end up with massive amounts of suffering because of the flaws he built us with.

If it takes belief without evidence to be able to see him and he knew when he created me that I would not be able to see him because I am logical and rational, then he simply created me to eventually end up in hell.

How did you manage to say all that about a god you have no evidence exists?

You have a very clear picture of the god you have no evidence for, a God you would hate if he did exist.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

He feels its not brain chemistry though.

Scientists have speculated for years that there was a "God Spot" in the human brain....but found none. Instead they found that the sense of union with God involves the activation of many brain regions (significant loci of activation in the right medial orbitofrontal cortex, right middle temporal cortex, right inferior and superior parietal lobules, right caudate, left medial prefrontal cortex, left anterior cingulate cortex, left inferior parietal lobule, left insula, left caudate, and left brainstem [and] other loci…in the extra-striate visual cortex”).

 

[realibrad]

My response would be that God did a real dick move by creating me with horribly limited perception to know who or what he is. He is also a dick for creating a world where he knew we would end up with massive amounts of suffering because of the flaws he built us with.

If it takes belief without evidence to be able to see him and he knew when he created me that I would not be able to see him because I am logical and rational, then he simply created me to eventually end up in hell.

How did you manage to say all that about a god you have no evidence exists?

You have a very clear picture of the god you have no evidence for, a God you would hate if he did exist.

Because I know the story of the Christian god. The story itself is not evidence but it is a story I can respond to. You also don't believe in the Christian story 100% from what I remember.

 

[realibrad]

Scientists have speculated for years that there was a "God Spot" in the human brain....but found none. Instead they found that the sense of union with God involves the activation of many brain regions (significant loci of activation in the right medial orbitofrontal cortex, right middle temporal cortex, right inferior and superior parietal lobules, right caudate, left medial prefrontal cortex, left anterior cingulate cortex, left inferior parietal lobule, left insula, left caudate, and left brainstem [and] other loci…in the extra-striate visual cortex”).

That does not surprise me. Most things in the brain do not come from a single area, but for areas working together.

 

[Moonbeam]

Scientists have speculated for years that there was a "God Spot" in the human brain....but found none. Instead they found that the sense of union with God involves the activation of many brain regions (significant loci of activation in the right medial orbitofrontal cortex, right middle temporal cortex, right inferior and superior parietal lobules, right caudate, left medial prefrontal cortex, left anterior cingulate cortex, left inferior parietal lobule, left insula, left caudate, and left brainstem [and] other loci…in the extra-striate visual cortex”).

Oh My Beloved, wherever I look it appears to be Thou!

And why?

Because in the presence of the Beloved, the question, did the activation of regions of my brain cause me to imagine my Beloved, or "did it just pull back her vail", has no meaning. There is only love.

 

[Moonbeam]

Because I know the story of the Christian god. The story itself is not evidence but it is a story I can respond to. You also don't believe in the Christian story 100% from what I remember.

You know your story of the Christian god and you hate the god in that story. Are you afraid to admit to feeling? Why do you hate that God? I don't want to go off on some trip about how you don't hate that god or any other issue. You hat that god, Why?

 

[realibrad]

You know your story of the Christian god and you hate the god in that story. Are you afraid to admit to feeling? Why do you hate that God? I don't want to go off on some trip about how you don't hate that god or any other issue. You hat that god, Why?

I dont know that hate would be the right word here. I dont feel that I have hate and I think that is because I dont believe in the Christian god. I dont have an emotional response to the Christian god so far as I can tell. I still have an emotional feeling to things that happened to me, so I know feelings of dislike, but I dont have one for the Christian god.

If that god were to exist, then I would not be "good" god.

 

[soulcougher73]

Your resources are not the problem, your level of need seems to be.

We are discussion a rather important question in the lives of millions of people. Is there a God or not. You have told me that you do not believe there is and have given your reasons. I have agreed with your reasons and said they are proof that you do believe. Is your next question about chocolate cake? Isn't the logical question how can disbelief in God prove belief? It seems to me that if you are reading and paying attention it is. I can't give you an answer to paradox. What good would that do you. I am asking you to hold the paradox in your mind so you can resolve it. I know how I did so all I can do is try to replicate the questions that a strawberry answered for me. The problem for me is not that you are unimportant but that you don't seem to feel your need. Two different parts of the brain are required to fire for an insight to occur and that implies a lot of energy.

So why does your disbelief tell me you believe? I am telling you it is a fact. I don't want to hear about banana pie and how I must be wrong. I want you to sit with the fact that I am right. How can I possibly be right. Can you take a moment or two to do that?

And how do you know you are in fact right and not being deceived to your own self hate? Did i do that right? The self hate bit? Maybe you are delusional and what you perceive as reality is all in your head.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

That does not surprise me. Most things in the brain do not come from a single area, but for areas working together.

It surprised scientists as these findings conflicted with previous studies that purported to find a "God spot" in the brain...it is much more complex and higher order than previously thought. This doesn't prove anything per se, but it is interesting imo.

 

[realibrad]

It surprised scientists as these findings conflicted with previous studies that purported to find a "God spot" in the brain...it is much more complex and higher order than previously thought. This doesn't prove anything per se, but it is interesting imo.

I don't know if it was really a surprise. From the articles I am looking at, they say it was just a speculation, and not that they were lead to thinking there was just one spot.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

I don't know if it was really a surprise. From the articles I am looking at, they say it was just a speculation, and not that they were lead to thinking there was just one spot.

It was the predominant theory 25 years ago.

http://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-c1-religion-brain-20150107-story.html

Neuroscientist Mario Beauregard of the University of Arizona is writing a book criticizing the scientific belief that there eventually will be a material explanation for everything. His work helped disprove earlier studies that purported to find a "God spot" in the brain.

"There really is no such thing," said Michael Inzlicht, a psychologist at the University of Toronto who also has studied religion's effect on the brain. "Thinking of God could maybe activate certain spots of the brain, but they weren't evolved for that purpose. They have evolved for some other reason and have been co-opted for religious cognition."

Most neuroscientists have long since abandoned any search for a "God spot," and settled on delving deeper into networks involving attention, salience, self-reflection, emotion and other functions.

 

[OverVolt]

Well you guys clearly suck at being spiritual.

 

[realibrad]

It was the predominant theory 25 years ago.

http://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-c1-religion-brain-20150107-story.html

Do you find anything that shows a study that purports to show a god spot? I see lots of people saying there is not one, but I cant find anything where people said there was one in their findings.