There is no god

PJ_Soul said:

I just don't understand why any of these things have to be connected to some kind intelligent design or purpose. I consider this concept a symptom of human arrogance.

any of what things. any of everything?

I consider it a symptom of human humility. that would be the opposite of arrogance. :wink face:

PJ_Soul said:

rollings said:

ok. define God

God is necessarily an intelligent and purposeful entity that is in some way connected to the existence and/or nature of the universe.

ok now define life force

PJ_Soul said:

rollings said:

PJ_Soul said:

I just don't understand why any of these things have to be connected to some kind intelligent design or purpose. I consider this concept a symptom of human arrogance.

any of what things. any of everything?

I consider it a symptom of human humility. that would be the opposite of arrogance. :wink face:

I have of course been confronted by that theory many times, lol. But i disagree. Humans essentially believe in god because they think they are too special for there to be no higher purpose connected to them or their world.

This is very much biocentric thinking as opposed to anthropocentric thinking.

By the way, that doesn't mean I think you are one or the other Rollings. In fact, that would make for good discussion: "Is it possible to be boicentric and believe in a higher power/god/life force?" I think so but I'll have to mull that one over.

rollings said:

Wait. I am special..... PJ_Soul, you go back and read that Desiderata again!

Ha. I love the Desiderata. No probs rereading that. It's hung on my wall in a frame. Despite that line about God, lol. It's an eloquent and comforting message. But to me it doesn't say we're special beings. It just reminds people to appreciate and their humble place in the world. There is a big difference between an individual being unique and right with world and humankind thinking we as a species have a special role in the universe.

Reminder: PJ_SOUL is not soulless. )

brianlux said:

rollings said:

Wait. I am special..... PJ_Soul, you go back and read that Desiderata again!

I think you are too, Rollings. And PJ_Soul... and Chadwick... and the maple growing outside my window... and my cat.

My cat! Wait, yes! There is a God(dess)! :-D

YES, I just stepped in my God's vomit. :-&

maybe go smoke a cigarette real quick

rollings said:

Actually, I once saw on a TV show where there is an actual "god center" of the mind which has been theorized to develop around the same time that man developed the the intelligence to realize that "shit. we're floating in space. and, shit. we're all gonna die".

When this part of the brain was activated by whatever means-- electrode things & stuff-- the subjects reported the sense of spiritual beings in the room with them.

ThisTV special was narrated by Morgan Freeman. So it's true

That sounds fascinating.
That is definitely what I believe. At its core, belief in god is a reaction to the fear of death and the human inability to conceive the beginning or ending of our own self-awareness. Which I suppose I understand on a physiological level if what that movie says is true. Being constantly afraid of that doesn't seem very conducive to productivity or self-preservation. However, I think that the human brain (or maybe just our better knowledge of the world) has developed enough for us to be able to settle or accept that fear without needing to resort to god, which almost always inevitably leads to religion (en masse), which inevitably leads to all kinds of bullshit. It's just that society isn't willing to catch up yet. I have faith that it will someday.

PJ, your having faith in what may happen down the road - is that not so different than having faith in something else? You neither relate to nor accept it, and I get it (even respect it in itself, minus the mindset of "those who view or live it differently are ludicrous". I just feel you're writing off many in the process.)

Something so complex and personal, even if by our own minds and experiences, can't be boiled down to either/or.

Or, if it can be that for some, it's not laughable that it might not be for others.

Life experiences make you (well, me) question the why's. I grew up with the "life isn't fair" mantra from my father, who learned that via WWII and also his faith. Moreso his faith (and I never knew a better man).

Which is why I said earlier, I don't know but I'm open to anyone willing to do the same.

I don't write anybody off Hedonist. Just because I have views re religion and belief in god doesn't mean I look at people who do believe in god and write them off. I would be pretty fucking lonely if i did, lol. I just think they are wrong. Yes I wonder how anyone can believe in that shit. But it doesn't affect my personal relationships with people. I don't have to agree with people to respect them as people. Sorry if what I say offends anyone.... i guess. Not really, actually. I am totally comfortable with my views on the subject, lol. And so I should be. Yes, I think belief in god is absurd. That doesn't mean I think pretty much everyone on earth is absurd. The world is designed so that everyone grows up believing in god still.

And chadwick, I don't think that everyone who believes in God is scared. But that fear is the reason the concept grew and maintains itself.

What I do think is that believers should be working day and night trying to prove god. They wouldn't be able to of course, since god doesn't exist, but I think it is their responsibility to try and to then admit defeat when they can't. I think that should be their number one responsibility if they expect everyone in the world to live with religion guiding politics, history, culture, behaviour, etc. It really pisses me off that religion (which for the most part is completely rolled up with their belief in god) still plays this HUGE roll in human society. It makes me feel like I am a victim of the belief in god (and like everyone in the world is). That really isn't fair. It makes me mad that children are brought into this world that raises them to be a part of this mass delusion.

Sometimes when I want a low calorie snack, I eat a pickle.