Religious Education Forum  

Welcome to Religious Forums
Welcome Guest to ReligiousForums.com . You are currently not registered. When you become registered you will be able to interact with our large base of already registered users discussing topics. Some annoying Ads will also disappear when you register. Registering doesn't cost a thing and only takes a few seconds. We provide areas to chat and debate all World Religions. Please go to our register page!

Home Who's Online Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Go Back   Religious Education Forum / Religious Topics / Religious Debates / Science vs Religion
Reload this Page Skepticism (paranormal, miracles, Articles, witchcraft, cross)
Sitemap Popular RF Forums REGISTER Search Mark Forums Read

Reply
Page 3 of 5 < 123 45 >
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #21  
Old 09-09-2004, 07:13 PM
Mr Spinkles's Avatar
Mr Spinkles Offline
Religion: None
Title:Staff on Sabbatical
Humor Award: - Issue reason:  Scholarship Award: - Issue reason:  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Houston
Gender: Undisclosed
Posts: 5,632
Frubals: 604910
Mr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on trees
Mr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on trees
Mr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on trees
Default
Runt-- Is that all your psychic friend said, or were those just the most accurate things she said?

Here's a good test: ask your psychic friend to tell Dee's father's ghost to go into a room with Dee. There, Dee will write down a random number on a peice of paper in the presence of her father's supposed ghost. Then simply have your psychic friend ask Dee's father's ghost to tell her what number Dee wrote down. Let's see if the ghost tells her the right number!
__________________
"Is there any problem in life that can't be solved by bending?" -Bender, of Futurama
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 09-09-2004, 08:00 PM
Fra.Morelia Offline
Title:Sophmore Member
  
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Georgia
Posts: 189
Frubals: 110
Fra.Morelia is on a distinguished road
Default
I consider myslef skeptical, but I rule nothing out. If life turns into a horror movie I refuse to be the guy curled up on the floor whimpering 'This can't be happening, man... this isn't empirically possible'. I wil not be Stan from 'IT'.
I have always considered things possible, but usually look for a psychological model first.
Supernatural seems a bunk term to me anyays. If it exists, obviously it is natural. I have seen some creepy things in my day, but in retrospect, I think I wanted them to be more than they were and so got myself psyched up and basicaly hit myself with a little 'slight of mind'. Nothing has happened to me that cannot be explained using the scientific view I know. But if something inexplicable did happen, all it would prove to me is that the scientific view needed to expand and understand a little more.
__________________
The process of belief is an elixer when you're weak.I must confess at times I indulge it on the sneak, but generally my outlook's not so bleak.-Bad Religion
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 09-09-2004, 10:09 PM
Hope's Avatar
Hope Offline
Religion: Jesus, not religion
Title:Princesinha
Journal Award: - Issue reason:  
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: in my imagination
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,289
Frubals: 590506
Hope thinks frubals grow on trees
Hope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on trees
Hope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on trees
Default
I must voice a different opinion from all the skeptics here, just for the sake of argument, if for no other reason. As a Christian I obviously believe in the supernatural, but it's not merely because someone told me to. I do not believe in everything you put on your list, Mr. Spinkles--I too think that a lot are hoaxes or can be explained in some way--however, that being said, I do believe in ghosts/spirits/whatever you want to call them, and the possibility that UFO's are actually something from the spiritual dimension. You can call me crazy or gullible or whatever, but I have had experiences myself, and heard of others through people I know, and I know of no other way of explaining them other than as something 'paranormal.' The house I grew up in, for instance, was haunted, I am pretty convinced. Too many really strange things happened in it, and almost all of them happened in the same room of the house.

It seems that widespread disbelief in the paranormal/supernatural is mainly limited to materialistic Western nations. In other parts of the world its existence is not nearly as disputed.

Btw, I checked out that link you posted, Mr. Spinkles, and found it extremely fascinating. I never knew 'UFO's' were depicted in artwork--how interesting!
__________________
The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.
~Saint Augustine~
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 09-12-2004, 01:24 PM
Fra.Morelia Offline
Title:Sophmore Member
  
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Georgia
Posts: 189
Frubals: 110
Fra.Morelia is on a distinguished road
Default
Personally i think the reason the supernatural (i really do hate that word) is not discounted in poorer, less sophisticated nations is a lack of scientific education. These people aren't told real reasons for things, so they run with the myths handed down to them.
__________________
The process of belief is an elixer when you're weak.I must confess at times I indulge it on the sneak, but generally my outlook's not so bleak.-Bad Religion
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 09-12-2004, 01:43 PM
Lightkeeper Offline
Title:Uber Member
Journal Award: - Issue reason:  Article Award: - Issue reason:  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Gender: Undisclosed
Posts: 4,638
Frubals: 6502
Lightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really nice
Default
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_Spinkles
Runt-- Is that all your psychic friend said, or were those just the most accurate things she said?

Here's a good test: ask your psychic friend to tell Dee's father's ghost to go into a room with Dee. There, Dee will write down a random number on a peice of paper in the presence of her father's supposed ghost. Then simply have your psychic friend ask Dee's father's ghost to tell her what number Dee wrote down. Let's see if the ghost tells her the right number!
This seems like a lot of energy is wasted in being a skeptic. Wouldn't that energy be better spent in creating, rather than trying to constantly disprove?
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 09-12-2004, 10:36 PM
Mr Spinkles's Avatar
Mr Spinkles Offline
Religion: None
Title:Staff on Sabbatical
Humor Award: - Issue reason:  Scholarship Award: - Issue reason:  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Houston
Gender: Undisclosed
Posts: 5,632
Frubals: 604910
Mr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on trees
Mr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on trees
Mr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on treesMr Spinkles thinks frubals grow on trees
Default
Quote:
This seems like a lot of energy is wasted in being a skeptic. Wouldn't that energy be better spent in creating, rather than trying to constantly disprove?
But Lightkeeper, if Runt's friend passes this test it will pretty conclusively prove the existence of ghosts and the ability to communicate with them. That would be a huge discovery, and we would publish our findings and tell everyone the amazing truth! I'm not trying to 'disprove' anything, just find the truth. Are you saying you don't think Runt's psychic friend will pass the test? Now who's being a skeptic...

Honestly Lightkeeper, I'm only interested in the truth. The only way to find out if something is true is to test it. What's wrong with trying to find out if things are true?
__________________
"Is there any problem in life that can't be solved by bending?" -Bender, of Futurama
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 09-12-2004, 10:37 PM
Hope's Avatar
Hope Offline
Religion: Jesus, not religion
Title:Princesinha
Journal Award: - Issue reason:  
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: in my imagination
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,289
Frubals: 590506
Hope thinks frubals grow on trees
Hope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on trees
Hope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on trees
Default
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fra.Morelia
Personally i think the reason the supernatural (i really do hate that word) is not discounted in poorer, less sophisticated nations is a lack of scientific education. These people aren't told real reasons for things, so they run with the myths handed down to them.
Ah, but who says I am speaking of 'myths' here? And just because we might be more 'sophisticated', does this mean we are somehow better than they are? Granted, their education might not be on the same level as ours, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are stupid.

I studied under a mission organization for a short while, and heard many, many stories from educated people from Western nations, who came back from mission work in poorer nations with a whole different perspective. It strengthened my own faith hearing amazing stories from people who used to be skeptical. It's not so much that these people in poorer nations are not educated enough, but that, because of their living standards, their quality of life, which is so drasticly different than ours ( and having seen and experienced firsthand some of this in my travels, I am not saying this ignorantly ), they don't depend so much on material things, and this 'material' world, to define reality to them. The spiritual realm is much more visible to them, I think, because they are not 'blinded', in a sense, by materialism, which is so prevalent in Western nations. While it's very sad, and sometimes horrible, the way so many people in poorer nations live, the ones I met put me to shame with their attitude towards life, towards me, and just how genuine, warm, unselfish, and loving they were. They made me feel like a horrible, ungrateful, selfish person! Head knowledge is not everything, I guess is what I am trying to say. I'm not saying people should remain in educational ignorance--never! I wish everyone in this world could get a good, solid education. However, that being said, I also don't think being educated automatically discounts believing in the supernatural. It's how we perceive the world--education or no education.
__________________
The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.
~Saint Augustine~
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 09-13-2004, 12:32 AM
Hope's Avatar
Hope Offline
Religion: Jesus, not religion
Title:Princesinha
Journal Award: - Issue reason:  
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: in my imagination
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,289
Frubals: 590506
Hope thinks frubals grow on trees
Hope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on trees
Hope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on treesHope thinks frubals grow on trees
Default
There are just as many dangers, I believe, in being close-minded because of skepticism, as there are to being close-minded because of religious prejudice. If one is truly in pursuit of the truth--whatever that truth may be--one must be open to any possibilities. If one is NOT open to certain possibilities, then one is not truly seeking after the truth--merely what they want the truth to be. Therefore, I think most of us (myself included!) are guilty to some degree, at least, of often only believing in something because our own natural prejudices have led us to do so. That is why I don't buy into the whole 'truth is relative' thing. If something is absolutely true, it won't change, or go away, simply because we want it to. But, I am straying from the original topic....sorry
__________________
The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.
~Saint Augustine~
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 09-13-2004, 10:02 AM
painted wolf's Avatar
painted wolf Offline
Religion: Native American
Title:Uber Member
Scholarship Award: - Issue reason:  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: NH, USA
Gender: Female
Posts: 5,229
Frubals: 564609
painted wolf thinks frubals grow on trees
painted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on trees
painted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on treespainted wolf thinks frubals grow on trees
Default
ah, but Hope being a true skeptic is all about keeping your mind open to possibility. A true skeptic does not automatically dismiss an idea they look for the best explanation for the thing/event and then make up thier mind, always remembering that future evidence may change thier decision.
There are 'supernatural' events that defy explanation, but that doesn't mean that they won't eventually be explained. Once uppon a time many things were considerd 'supernatural' or 'praranormal'.
I personally am a skeptic, but I beleive in 'some' spirits and what have you... I base my decisions on each event and the evidence avalable... I personally have had experiences that I thought may have been paranormal untill I stepped back and looked closer at what happined and I have had experinces that I can not explain as anything but 'supernatural' (although I personally abhore this term as I feel nothing exists that is outside of nature) and must believe what I saw happin.

We have discussed this in this thread before and it is in keeping with the purpose of the thread so don't worry about being off topic

wa:do
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 09-13-2004, 11:10 AM
Lightkeeper Offline
Title:Uber Member
Journal Award: - Issue reason:  Article Award: - Issue reason:  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Gender: Undisclosed
Posts: 4,638
Frubals: 6502
Lightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really niceLightkeeper is just really nice
Default
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_Spinkles
But Lightkeeper, if Runt's friend passes this test it will pretty conclusively prove the existence of ghosts and the ability to communicate with them. That would be a huge discovery, and we would publish our findings and tell everyone the amazing truth! I'm not trying to 'disprove' anything, just find the truth. Are you saying you don't think Runt's psychic friend will pass the test? Now who's being a skeptic...



Honestly Lightkeeper, I'm only interested in the truth. The only way to find out if something is true is to test it. What's wrong with trying to find out if things are true?
Why waste time? Why not wisely pick your battles? You learn the truth by living your life and being the best you, you can be.
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 3 of 5 < 123 45 >

« Formal Debate | Creationism: Science or Pseudoscience? »


« Formal Debate | Creationism: Science or Pseudoscience? »
Thread Tools
Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode

Similar Threads