Posts by Nickolas

189

Does God speak to you? HOW?

by Quentin in

an answer to this question is subjective to the individual an a posteriori experiene.

however, can there be an a priori experence, one that is objective, outside the bounds of personel experiene, or does it remain subjective?

god speaks to me, through many venus, except audible.

I have to ask, dear Nick (peace to you!)... excluding those who use their beliefs to oppress and/or try to control others, what harm is there in one excepting one's own beliefs? If such beliefs causes one to be a better person, treat others better, do good in the world

Absolutely nothing at all, Shelby, although I do have an opinion about people being good because of their religious beliefs rather than because they are just good people. As to the different poles, is there a middle ground? Either God exists or he does not. But by no means do I feel that someone of faith is in any way inferior to me, although I have felt prejudice from theists who dislike and are suspicious of atheists (not you, my dear). My wife is devoutly faithful to God and I have always held her extraordinary intelligence in high esteem. (I also, btw, started a thread a couple of days ago saying that one should not judge another on the basis of his/her faith or lack thereof - so I think we're on the same page on that score.) And by no means am I questioning sanity - although I am not entirely convinced any of us is completely sane. I am questioning human psychology recognising that people, including myself, have had unique and strange experiences. In my case, I recognised the experience as a manifestation of my brain. (See http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/experiences/208611/1/Reality-exists-in-your-brain )

Thank you sincerely for your post. You're another one who's mind I respect a great deal.

189

Does God speak to you? HOW?

by Quentin in

an answer to this question is subjective to the individual an a posteriori experiene.

however, can there be an a priori experence, one that is objective, outside the bounds of personel experiene, or does it remain subjective?

god speaks to me, through many venus, except audible.

Nickolas

The human brain is a wonderful thing. It is adept not only at analysing and interpreting the tangible world around us it also analyses and interprets those things which are not tangible, like the thoughts and emotions of others and notions about the supernatural. However, the brain doesn't always get it right, and sometimes, even frequently, it makes stuff up - the most common example being dreaming. Who amongst us has never experienced a dream that he/she thought was real even in the first few fleeting moments of waking? The brain is also adept at drawing conclusions - another intangible that it doesn't always get right.

If Jesus and Yahweh talk to some Christians does Brahman and Vishnu talk to some Hindus? If so, do Brahman and Vishnu exist, or are they just figments of the listener's mind? Or are they demons masquerading as gods? And if they are demons how do you know that the God that is speaking to you is not a masquerading demon, too?

Since there's never any physical evidence of God speaking to you, how do you know that it isn't your brain just making stuff up? I think it can be difficult to determine what is real and what is not real, especially if one already has an absolute belief in God and love for him. Presented by your brain's most wonderful fabrication you might be reluctant to consider that it isn't real and you may actually convince yourself beyond any doubt that it is real.

59

Reality exists in your brain

by Nickolas in

i've just posted the following in another thread whose subject is supernatural experience, but it may deserve its own thread so i'll repost it here.

i don't believe in the supernatural but i do believe that people experience unexplained things.

where i differ from some people is that i perceive the unexplained things exist only in their brains and not in the physical world around them.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

Nickolas

One of the great imponderables of the universe, V.

I comprehend what you are saying, TJU, and it is all valid. The line to which you refer isn't fixed. Each of us has a different line and it is constantly shifting. Most of what we perceive as reality is a substantially accurate representation of the physical world around us. Where our brains depart from reality is when nothing physical is being represented, when we interpret intangible things like another person's emotions or thoughts, for example, or when our brains go on spontaneous journeys as in lucid dreaming or in magic mushroom or LSD illusions. (I've never done psilocybin, Twitch. I'm reminded of an episode in The Sopranos in which the main character does shrooms for the first time and yells out to the world "I get it!"). Reports of paranormal experiences (and UFO sightings) are legion, yet none has been substantiated. Again citing Fatima, there were thousands of people who reported witnessing the same supernatural phenomenon yet no proof exists that it actually happened - indeed, there is only proof that it didn't happen. Proof of existence of the paranormal is more than elusive, it doesn't seem to exist. Someone who has experienced something unexplained and for which they have physical evidence is a candidate to claim the $1 million Randi prize, yet that prize has stood untouched for several years.

189

Does God speak to you? HOW?

by Quentin in

an answer to this question is subjective to the individual an a posteriori experiene.

however, can there be an a priori experence, one that is objective, outside the bounds of personel experiene, or does it remain subjective?

god speaks to me, through many venus, except audible.

Nickolas

and it just gets more amazing as it goes on.

good night.

59

Reality exists in your brain

by Nickolas in

i've just posted the following in another thread whose subject is supernatural experience, but it may deserve its own thread so i'll repost it here.

i don't believe in the supernatural but i do believe that people experience unexplained things.

where i differ from some people is that i perceive the unexplained things exist only in their brains and not in the physical world around them.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

Nickolas

poppers, you are officially invited to share an old single malt Islay with me at my bar. Someday.

Yes, Twitch, I know what you're saying and you are likely right.

TJU, everything you see, everything you hear, everything you feel and smell and touch is interpreted and presented to you as your reality by your brain. What you are perceiving right now as you read my words is ephemeral. Your reality will live only as long as you do. Once your brain is gone, your reality is gone. Your brain interprets its inputs according to its disposition, and evidently your disposition is to believe in the supernatural. That's something I don't believe in myself, so I never see it and because I never see it I don't believe it exists. Kind of a self defeating cycle.

189

Does God speak to you? HOW?

by Quentin in

an answer to this question is subjective to the individual an a posteriori experiene.

however, can there be an a priori experence, one that is objective, outside the bounds of personel experiene, or does it remain subjective?

god speaks to me, through many venus, except audible.

Nickolas

This has been an amazing conversation.

59

Reality exists in your brain

by Nickolas in

i've just posted the following in another thread whose subject is supernatural experience, but it may deserve its own thread so i'll repost it here.

i don't believe in the supernatural but i do believe that people experience unexplained things.

where i differ from some people is that i perceive the unexplained things exist only in their brains and not in the physical world around them.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

Nickolas

Cool video, NS. I always find what Neil Tyson has to say is fascinating, but he seems to be reading off a teleprompter rather than sharing his own thoughts.

It sounds like you haven't yet experienced lucid dreaming, Twitch. When I have dreamed lucidly I see every hair on a person's head, feel the sun and wind on my face and smell smells. It hasn't happened to me in years, however. I might suggest you do some research into the subject, perhaps pick up some techniques.

And then, moshe, I might just start believing in God again. Well, right after the big party.

I agree, poppers, but the manufactured reality each of us has is our primary survival mechanism. It is for that reason we might be reluctant to let down our defenses to allow in strange and wonderful insights. I think, to give a practical example, most people don't leave the WTBTS because they are afraid to allow in thinking that threatens their utopian paradigm.

59

Reality exists in your brain

by Nickolas in

i've just posted the following in another thread whose subject is supernatural experience, but it may deserve its own thread so i'll repost it here.

i don't believe in the supernatural but i do believe that people experience unexplained things.

where i differ from some people is that i perceive the unexplained things exist only in their brains and not in the physical world around them.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

Nickolas

Bullseye, OTWO. Trevor gets it, too.

114

Anyone here have any experience with the "super-natural"?

by Knowsnothing in

and if so, would that prove an existence of evil-spirits (demons)?.

i have heard of a couple of stories of possession, or of jw's talking to spiritists and the spiritists having seen 2 men following the jw, either dressed all in black, or all in white, and very strong looking.

yet, i have never experienced any of it.. another experience that i heard is about a brother whose mom had super-natural strength, and tossed something really heavy.

Nickolas

Just because you don't believe it, doesn't mean that it doesn't happen.

Yes, but the corollary is also true. Just because you believe it doesn't mean that it happens, however because you believe it means that it is more likely that it will happen in your mind.

What do you think actually happened in Fatima back in 1917? Did the sun actually tear itself out of the heavens like those thousands of people said? If it did, then it would have been seen over half the world and the acceleration forces generated would have been great enough to throw everything on the surface of the planet into orbit. So, it didn't happen except in their minds. An illusion. Did God make all those people see the illusion? For what reason? Or did they experience a common hallucination? I subscribe to the latter.

What do you think actually happened in Salem back in 1691/2? Did all those people actually see the demonic things they saw and put all those innocent people to death as a consequence? Modern theory suggests an environmental factor, specifically the psychoactive effects of ergot fungus (LSD) that grew on the rye crop during those wet summers and disappeared during the normally hot and dry summer of 1693. It was a celebrated, extreme case, but it could not have been the first or last time such a thing could happen. It could happen anywhere there is a particular fungus, mildew or mould growing that can have variable effects on people. It could happen in your house in Seattle or your cottage in Wales. It could happen anywhere conditions are right.

These are but two examples, both illustrate that the remarkable things seen by people were only in their minds.

59

Reality exists in your brain

by Nickolas in

i've just posted the following in another thread whose subject is supernatural experience, but it may deserve its own thread so i'll repost it here.

i don't believe in the supernatural but i do believe that people experience unexplained things.

where i differ from some people is that i perceive the unexplained things exist only in their brains and not in the physical world around them.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

Nickolas

Directionally the same as Matrix, Oz, but to a much lesser degree of course.

That is a very good question, jay. My younger son and I have discussed the subject of consciousness on occasion and we both recognise that we live our lives conscious by degrees. There are times we are more awake and aware than others. The range in variability is not great, perhaps only within a percentage point, but it is still there.

Take for example the human tendency to extrapolate reality. This happens to most people I know. You briefly encounter someone you know, perhaps an old acquaintance, your boss or member of your family, someone who has some significance in your life, and you stop to say hello. But the person seems distant, preoccupied and disinterested in you. You find yourself thinking about the encounter for the rest of the day, adding things up. Maybe she's pissed at me for having done such and such a thing, maybe she's always disliked me and she's showing her true colours, maybe the next time she sees me she'll tell me to go to hell, I can just imagine how she'll treat me during the family reunion in June ... and so on. This sort of thing is a manufactured reality, a dream state, out of which you may not awaken until that family reunion when she is warm and happy in your presense and explains to you that when you last met she was quite unwell.

The answer to your question, I think, is to make an effort to understand what is really happening when your life takes an unexpected turn. In this way you have a better chance of maintaining your complete grasp on reality.

Yes, MS, same principle.