When was the last time.....

Page 7 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
W
Remember that those ancient people were the least sane of the ancients. If a person now sits on a street corner screaming out that the voice in his head demands that we burn cattle, take slaves and commit mass murder we would assume that he's sick, schizophrenic and dangerous. If a person did that 2000 years ago in the middle east Magnus calls him a prophet of the lord and lives his life according to the nonsense that spewed forth.

THAT is who wrote the religious books. It wasn't the wise, the educated, the most intelligent cream of the crop of humanity. It was psychopaths with voices in their heads.
Why are self proclaimed atheists so anxious to tell believers what those believers believe in? Kinda seems equivalent to self righteous arrogant bible thumpers telling atheists they're going to hell.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
How it is this in any way arrogant? Reality=Existence. And there is only one of them.
Think about how the same circumstances are interpreted differently by Republicans and Democrats. There is no such thing as one reality. There are at least as many realities as there are people.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JEDIYoda

whm1974

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2016
9,436
1,571
126
Think about how the same circumstances are interpreted differently by Republicans and Democrats. There is no such thing as one reality. There are at least as many realities as there are people.
Everyone lives in the same Reality, but everyone's perception is different.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
73,279
34,676
136
Think about how the same circumstances are interpreted differently by Republicans and Democrats. There is no such thing as one reality. There are at least as many realities as there are people.
There are as many perceptions of reality as there are people (and at least as many gods as people). Reality is that which exists regardless of perception. That I don't perceive the bus barreling down on me does not mean that it isn't there. In safety discussions we talk about situational awareness: does my conception of the world tally with what I'm actually seeing/hearing/etc. or the information others are reporting? When information comes in that contradicts my conception of the world I have a choice: adjust my conception or discount the new information. Either choice can be perfectly rational. If I choose to discount the new information I should do so based on reason, not on obstinate adherence to my standing conception of the world. Conceptions of the world are mental models and are packed with assumptions with varying levels of evidentiary support. For this reason, empiricists (materialists/naturalists/scientists) tend to alter their conceptions and the factual components* of their world model in the face of new evidence. Religious adherents tend to declare specific factual components of their world models as inviolate and impervious to revision based on new information.

*I am using the term "factual components" here in a very specific way, meaning ideas like "gravity exists" or "a god exists" as opposed to concepts like values or moral or ethical codes which are not factual. There is probably a better term for it but I can't think of one at the moment.
 
Last edited:

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
Reality has no meaning except as we perceive it. We change the world not by observing it but, by living it.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,822
6,366
126
Reality has no meaning except as we perceive it. We change the world not by observing it but, by living it.

Reality exists beyond us. Our understanding of Reality is subject to our limited abilities to perceive it. Observation of Reality gives us Knowledge that helps us better understand what Reality is. Better understanding changes the world, if we choose to act on it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: whm1974

Ajay

Lifer
Jan 8, 2001
16,094
8,114
136
Who could have guessed that a simple statement from the OP could unleash of torrent of hate and disagreement :rolleyes:
Move to P&N?
 

JEDIYoda

Lifer
Jul 13, 2005
33,986
3,321
126
Who could have guessed that a simple statement from the OP could unleash of torrent of hate and disagreement :rolleyes:
Move to P&N?
Move to P&N why? It started out here as an honest statement...…..
In fact it was posted here because the statement was not meant to be political or for that matter taken any other way than as a statement!
People don`t need to agree with the statement!
In fact some people should have just not even posted a response!
See how easy that would have been?
But I have never in my time here seen a thread such as this evolve to the point where because it could be taken as being religious that it should be posted in P&N......
Peace on Earth!!
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
Reality exists beyond us. Our understanding of Reality is subject to our limited abilities to perceive it. Observation of Reality gives us Knowledge that helps us better understand what Reality is. Better understanding changes the world, if we choose to act on it.
Sounds like God to me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JEDIYoda