Although it doesn't answer your question specifically, this book discusses how many people are able to derive perceptive foundations from a source of questionable veracity. This is a fundamental question that goes beyond religious beliefs, and if you do some research you'll find quantitative studies on its origins; specifically, Google around for things like "temporal lobe fantasy epilepsy" and other forms.
CrazyHelloDeli
Platinum Member
- Jun 24, 2001
- 2,854
- 0
- 0
Originally posted by: Howard
Masking your helplessness with dependency and blame?Originally posted by: HelloDeli
I sometimes envy those that believe in God. Maybe if I could, some things wouldnt seem so bleak
Elaborate please.
UglyCasanova
Lifer
- Mar 25, 2001
- 19,275
- 1,361
- 126
rudeguy
Lifer
- Dec 27, 2001
- 47,351
- 14
- 61
this is my one post in this thread
I believe in God. I know he is real because there is no way I could have made it through the situations I have been in without his help. He has helped me along when I have failed.
God is real. If you believe you dont need proof. If you dont believe...then I will pray tonite that you find the way.
I believe in God. I know he is real because there is no way I could have made it through the situations I have been in without his help. He has helped me along when I have failed.
God is real. If you believe you dont need proof. If you dont believe...then I will pray tonite that you find the way.
Kadarin
Lifer
- Nov 23, 2001
- 44,296
- 16
- 81
I don't.
When I tell people this, they ask me questions about how we got here and what our purpose is and what happens after we die and how the universe was created.. I don't know if we have a purpose, I don't know if anything happens to our conciousness after we die, and I do not know how or why the universe was created. Science may someday answer these questions, or may not. To me it does not matter; the universe was created in whatever manner it was, and for better or worse, we are here. People forget that "I don't know" and "we don't know yet" are perfectly valid answers, and feel that they need to make up a bunch of sh*t to explain everything.
I am who I am, and I am happy with who I am. I don't need to "worship" anything, drop to my knees and "pray" to anything, nor "fear" anything; there's just no point. I do not feel that a historical person from two thousand years ago is my "savior"; I think the whole idea of that is just plain silly.
My moral compass is based on the Golden Rule. See my sig, because Heinlein said it best.
When I tell people this, they ask me questions about how we got here and what our purpose is and what happens after we die and how the universe was created.. I don't know if we have a purpose, I don't know if anything happens to our conciousness after we die, and I do not know how or why the universe was created. Science may someday answer these questions, or may not. To me it does not matter; the universe was created in whatever manner it was, and for better or worse, we are here. People forget that "I don't know" and "we don't know yet" are perfectly valid answers, and feel that they need to make up a bunch of sh*t to explain everything.
I am who I am, and I am happy with who I am. I don't need to "worship" anything, drop to my knees and "pray" to anything, nor "fear" anything; there's just no point. I do not feel that a historical person from two thousand years ago is my "savior"; I think the whole idea of that is just plain silly.
My moral compass is based on the Golden Rule. See my sig, because Heinlein said it best.
yes, "theories of man" = "logical manor without attributing anything to a devine being" as best a noun can equal an adjective.
Do not confuse observational attributes with approximated explanations of those observations. I have no more faith in the description of an observation any more than I do the observation itself; if the description is not both qualitatively and quantitatively descriptive than it is discarded. Theories are derived from antecedents that fully describe their observations, so it would be fallacious to assert a theory that derives its ideas from antecedents that do not account for all observations.
That is the truth. I don't have the answers, but I have faith that my species will one day be able to give me the answers.
I wish I could understand how you guys can let go of what I see as "reality" and be able to place trust and faith on something such as God. In my mind, every time I think that I will try to believe in God, I think to myself "How on earth can I believe in something like God? He's not real. How are you going to abandon truth and reality to become one of the masses who pray and believe in a book of stories"
I can see the comfort of religion (which is why I believe many people believe in God), but I cannot find a way to even comprehend "letting go". I guess I'm like one of those people in the Matrix who isn't ready to be unplugged
StageLeft
No Lifer
- Sep 29, 2000
- 70,150
- 5
- 0
Firstly, I didn't even say I believed in God. I'm good at playing devil's advocate, and still haven't said itOriginally posted by: Stefan
That is the truth. I don't have the answers, but I have faith that my species will one day be able to give me the answers.
I wish I could understand how you guys can let go of what I see as "reality" and be able to place trust and faith on something such as God. In my mind, every time I think that I will try to believe in God, I think to myself "How on earth can I believe in something like God? He's not real. How are you going to abandon truth and reality to become one of the masses who pray and believe in a book of stories"
I can see the comfort of religion (which is why I believe many people believe in God), but I cannot find a way to even comprehend "letting go". I guess I'm like one of those people in the Matrix who isn't ready to be unplugged
But, you have "faith that the species"...see? You have faith, just as much as a believer. What you say is letting go of reality others say is embracing it. Can't you see it from their perspective? ""How on earth can I believe in something like God? He's not real. " <- says who? "How are you going to abandon truth and reality" <- again, how do you know god is not truth and reality? "the masses who pray and believe in a book of stories" <- there are plenty of "masses" who've given religion no thought whatsoever. They are too shortsighted to comprehend anything beyond what they can see in front of their face or on a tv screen.What you refer to letting go of reality others refer to as embracing it.
Until science has proven to you that it is capable of explaining every facet of the universe, you can either a) realize that t may not be right, or b) "believe" that it's right, and doggedly argue the fact.
why? because he created me and he is nothing but good and i do not deny his presence and his mysterious love... He has brought Christ into the world who is our Lord and remember "those who have faith and can't see me are truly blessed!"
Originally posted by: HelloDeli
Originally posted by: Howard
Masking your helplessness with dependency and blame?Originally posted by: HelloDeli
I sometimes envy those that believe in God. Maybe if I could, some things wouldnt seem so bleak
Elaborate please.
What do you mean by this?
neutralizer
Lifer
- Oct 4, 2001
- 11,552
- 1
- 0
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Firstly, I didn't even say I believed in God. I'm good at playing devil's advocate, and still haven't said itOriginally posted by: Stefan
That is the truth. I don't have the answers, but I have faith that my species will one day be able to give me the answers.
I wish I could understand how you guys can let go of what I see as "reality" and be able to place trust and faith on something such as God. In my mind, every time I think that I will try to believe in God, I think to myself "How on earth can I believe in something like God? He's not real. How are you going to abandon truth and reality to become one of the masses who pray and believe in a book of stories"
I can see the comfort of religion (which is why I believe many people believe in God), but I cannot find a way to even comprehend "letting go". I guess I'm like one of those people in the Matrix who isn't ready to be unplugged
What you refer to letting go of reality others refer to as embracing it.
Until science has proven to you that it is capable of explaining every facet of the universe, you can either a) realize that t may not be right, or b) "believe" that it's right, and doggedly argue the fact.
In science there is no unequivocal right; rather, as I explained above, more accurate approximations of truth. Faith is largely regarded as believing in something for which there exists neither the observational or empirical; however, there are of course scientific theories that attempt to explain non-observational phenomena (big bang theory and the inflationary model, string theory/loop quantum gravity, etc.) to which one scientist might have different beliefs from another. As more observational evidence is gathered the theories are either discarded or transmogrified to accommodate the new data, and the result is a more accurate approximation of truth.
To believe in any text posited to represent the will of any creator would be akin to believing in something like the Big Bang without any observational data to support it; some people are simply not capable of making that jump of blind acceptance. It's hard to fathom how any rational person could believe in something so greatly decoupled from their daily experiences. To me it would be like trying to explain the color to a man born blind.
Nohr
Diamond Member
Kadarin
Lifer
- Nov 23, 2001
- 44,296
- 16
- 81
*I* don't make sense, or Heinlein didn't make sense? I interpret that quote as it meaning that it is wrong to hurt others unnecessarily, and that everything else that people consider to be "sins" are "invented nonsense". No "superior", no "God", is required. In other words, my own internal compass of what is right and what is wrong is measured against that idea.
I believe in God because of the teleological argument; the universe works too damned well.
However, I don't believe in worship of God. Frankly, I think He's a prick, an egotist, and a shoddy workman. There's nothing there that I'd want to worship. There's a lot that I'd want to understand, but I'm not one for the whole bowing and scraping bit.
However, I don't believe in worship of God. Frankly, I think He's a prick, an egotist, and a shoddy workman. There's nothing there that I'd want to worship. There's a lot that I'd want to understand, but I'm not one for the whole bowing and scraping bit.
CrazyHelloDeli
Platinum Member
- Jun 24, 2001
- 2,854
- 0
- 0
Originally posted by: Howard
Originally posted by: HelloDeli
Originally posted by: Howard
Masking your helplessness with dependency and blame?Originally posted by: HelloDeli
I sometimes envy those that believe in God. Maybe if I could, some things wouldnt seem so bleak
Elaborate please.What do you mean by this?
If there is no God, then the only purpose to life is to survive for fear of death.
Nohr
Diamond Member
Geekbabe
Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Originally posted by: HelloDeli
Originally posted by: Howard
Originally posted by: HelloDeli
Originally posted by: Howard
Masking your helplessness with dependency and blame?Originally posted by: HelloDeli
I sometimes envy those that believe in God. Maybe if I could, some things wouldnt seem so bleak
Elaborate please.What do you mean by this?
If there is no God, then the only purpose to life is to survive for fear of death.
Don't forget procreative efforts. Are you of sufficient hubris to think that your infinitessimal significance in the history of the universe is somehow heightened above all else? Enough with the anthropocentrism.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 21K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
-
-
Facebook
Twitter