Final Thought About Atheism

by The wanderer 69 Replies latest jw friends

  • The wanderer
    The wanderer

    Dear Abaddon:

    There are enough links on this thread to make an
    individual think twice and that the paranormal does exist.

    "Do you think that major U.S. Colleges and UK Universities
    would spend 1,000's on something that was a pure hoax?"

    These institutions would face the risk of "losing face"
    and credibility if that were the case.

    Please note that the sources that were provided were
    Penn State University and Oxford University.

    Both institutions carry a respected reputation and should
    be considered BEFORE any statements regarding the existence
    of the paranormal are made.

    Respectfully,

    The Wanderer

  • IP_SEC
    IP_SEC

    Ponder this: In the not too distant future we will be able to create fully immersive virtual worlds. We experience the so called real world around us virtually right now. Our senses interface with the physical reality as best they can but our reality is nothing more than symbolic representation decoded by the computer in our skull. (by definition a virtual world) It also would seem that this real world might be a simulation itself. This is based on scientific facts about the way light and spacetime behave.

    When we are able to create a world so real that it is indistinguishable from the real world, would you say we will have become gods? Would the line between us and your spirit man in the sky become blurred?

    Atheism does not preclude there being a realm outside that which we can sense. (Duh!! I cant see the UV spectrum so it doesnt exist) It just precludes superstition about that which we cant see.

    Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. "Profiles of The Future", 1961 (Clarke's third law)

  • purplesofa
    purplesofa
    But, although I maintain a belief in "god," this examination is certainly not leading to a belief in the Judeo/Christian "God," but more a remarkable and all-pervasive field of energy that we ourselves are part of.

    Carolyn Myss book Anatomy of a Spirit touches on this. It's just one viewpoint as she does believe in God, but focuses on energy. I am almost finished reading it!

    I tend to agree with your statement more a remarkable and all-pervasive field of energy that we ourselves are part of. I think it is difficult to escape this, maybe even impossible.

    purps

  • nvrgnbk
    nvrgnbk

    Perhaps the answer lies in what all existence subsists within, rather than in questioning what may or may not be.

    j

    What jt said. Let's expend ourselves on that which we know to be real. It is here. It is now. Be here. Be now.

    Nvr

  • R.Crusoe
    R.Crusoe

    Natural history programmes teach us much about planet Earth and the variety of speceis on it. Enlightening to say the least! I can't ever recall seeing anything which remotely comes close respecting the spirit world. Doctorates or not - with all the scientific know how available it still can't be shown to Billions now living that they exist. Only a few hundred years ago the flat Earth idea was wrapped up in religious belief! Is it fair to expect humans to believe in things beyond what we can reasonably be expected to observe? The historical catalogue of our species deception of millions of people in past generations for their whole lives is substantial? That alone should make it obvious that any person should scrutinise their own beliefs and not cast aside reason, lest they fall into the same trap as many who've gone before us!

    .

  • nvrgnbk
    nvrgnbk
    I can't ever recall seeing anything which remotely comes close respecting the spirit world.

    DITTO!

    Great post R. Crusoe! You're an excellent addition to JWD.

    Thanks,

    Nvr

  • The wanderer
    The wanderer

    Dear Crusoe:

    "I can't ever recall seeing anything which remotely comes close respecting the spirit world."-R. Crusoe

    Because you do not have first hand experience with the
    paranormal does it suddenly become discredited?

    Again, to stress the point there are a number of major colleges
    and universities that spend time, money, and resources researching
    and investigating such matters.

    If I posted video and audio of paranormal phenomena would
    you try to explain it away as a "trick", "hoax" or "stuff that
    Hollywood makes up?"

    If you cannot consider what the top educational institutions
    of this world offer regarding the subject then all you really
    have is your own opinion.

    Respectfully,

    The Wanderer

  • Terry
    Terry

    Experiment #1: Assume the existence of God. Now, remove God's existence from all space-time completely. Ask yourself if there is any difference whatsoever OTHER than your assumption either way.

    Experiment #2:Ask why reality requires no belief, but; imaginative inventions of character does.

    Experiment #3: Ask yourself why a really existing superbeing is so insubstantial as to rely entirely on the unprovable assertions of lesser beings who cannot even agree in details as to the importance of his existence.

  • kid-A
    kid-A

    Since my undergraduate bachelors of Science is in Psychology, I was curious about your rather remarkable claims that both Penn and Oxford support research programs in "Parapsychology". Interestingly, an examination of both departments websites reveals that this is NOT true. Neither school has an active research program or graduate program devoted to "Paranormal" activity or "Parapsychology", so I suggest checking your sources before making such remarkable claims.

    Second, even if your statements were true, this would not make these fields more or less respectable. I run a research laboratory. I publish my work in peer-reviewed national and international journals. The process is rigourous, time consuming and extremely difficult when getting legitimate research published in a reputable scientific journal like Nature, Science or Cell.

    So called "scientific" research in Parapsychology has little or no respect in the broader scientific community for a very simple reason: the results CANNOT BE REPLICATED by independent laboratories. IF they were accepted, and replicated, do you not think this information would be making the headlines at CNN on a daily basis?

    Finally, I fail to see how you logically link this claim about the legitamacy or "parapsychological" research with a "Final Thought about Atheism???" You further suggested that the "common" theme in your other thread regarded a "lack of proof" for god.

    Again, you seem to be missing the point. The onus of "proof" falls not upon the atheist, it falls upon the "believer" making the extraordinary claim about some super-powerful, all knowing "sky daddy" sitting on a cloud in the heavens directing the activities upon the earth.

    As I have stated repeatedly on this board, and to which no satisfactory retort has been offered, you have as much "proof" of a some god being, as you do for "Peter the Rabbit", "Leprechauns", "Unicorns", "Santa Claus" or the "Tooth Fairy".....ergo, why do you NOT believe in these entities, yet do continue to believe in some nebulous "god creature" claiming to be the author of some book of mythology written by wandering desert nomads 2000 years ago?

    Penn State Graduate School of Psychology:

    http://www.psych.upenn.edu/graduate_resareas.php

    Graduate Program: Research Areas


    Although there are no formal sub-areas within the department, a number of major fields of study are represented. Here is a brief list of these faculty research areas. For some areas, separate web sites provide more information.

    Oxford University Graduate Program in Psychology:

    http://www.psy.ox.ac.uk/research

  • The wanderer
    The wanderer

    Dear KidA:

    Then explain why so much research is devoted
    to the subject of paranormal psychology?

    Explain the reasons for why there are 1,000's
    of cases throughout the world that claim of super-
    natural pheomena?

    All coincidence? Everyone is making it up? It is
    all a hoax?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parapsychological_Association

    I think not ... and in case you think I am being deceptive
    please note this website. http://parapsych.org/

    If you need the telphone number of Penn State's paranormal
    research society here it is 1-814-689-2133

    >Respectfully,

    The Wanderer

    P.S. If you are what you say you are then I am sure
    you will agree that commonsense and reasoning
    become factors in such cases as the paranormal.

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