We are becoming gods (beliefs, creation, scriptures, God, verse)

[Darkdale]

Originally Posted by Seyorni

Your assessments of my post are quite correct, Darkdale & Deut. I'm extremely skeptical of anyone outside the theoretical physics and hallucinogen-using communities lending any credence to my bizarre philosophy. I'm afraid most of my supporters are uncritical bliss-ninnys.

You have to have been there....

In an advanced abnormal psychology course I took, my professor led a lesson on religious phenomenon and we studied some pretty "bizarre" things, however, almost all of them were easily explained scientifically, that is to say there were biological/cerebral causes and effects. The few cases of unexplained phenomenon can also be theoretically explained with scientific language. I think that to imply religious enlightenment to certain existential feelings or sensations is simply a result of a faith in enlightenment itself; thus a matter of reading enlightenment into something that could be more easily or equally understood in scientific language.

[Seyorni]

The "mystical experience'" seems to be a universal human phenomenon, popping up in all societies in all times. A common experience described in the vernacular of each culture but outlining an identical experience, generating what Huxley called Philosophia Perrennis -- a perennial philosophy.

This experiential insight is completely at odds with our common experience of the world, but completely congruous with quantum and relativity weltanschauung.
Modern physics describes a universe disturbingly similar to that described by mystics and assorted psychotics throught history.

[Darkdale]

Originally Posted by Seyorni

Modern physics describes a universe disturbingly similar to that described by mystics and assorted psychotics throught history.

How so?

The scientists I read, I believe would beg to differ.

[tom_mich]

Why do we have the instinct to worship a higher power if no higher power exists?

Like all animals we are curious, but humans are intelligent complex explorers. Things beyond our comprehension still need to be explained in the way that we can fathom.

It is proven that we naturally suggest higher powers.

Australian aboriginals belive that rainbows exists because of a giant serpant that died during the dream time (the beginning of time), do you believe that is true?

Yet, they did (do), will all their heart.

Since ALL societies create gods, or stories, or spirits or other mystical events to make sense of the unexplainable, it proves it is in our nature to invent "gods", but the fact that all human invent such stories DOES NOT MAKE THEM ALL TRUE!!!

If we could count all the religous stories and beliefs in human time, from the Aboriginal dream time, the many egyptian gods, the greek gods, Shintu, Buddist, Islam, etc. etc. etc., we know that since they all differ, they CANNOT be all right.

Consider the sheer number of religions that have existed, and knowing that even if only 1 was right and all others were wrong, would mean that there is a 99.9% chance of that the religion you worship now is wrong.

I know...don't you detest the way I used mathematics to illustrate how your religion is probably incorrect. But, as Dakedale says, science is just understanding and knowledge, and that is all I am applying in this circumstance.

The facts are facts, nothing I can do about that, Im sorry.

[Seyorni]

Originally Posted by Darkdale

How so?

The scientists I read, I believe would beg to differ.

Scientists have heen noting the similarities for decades. Cf: The Tao of Physics or The Dancing Wu Li Masters.

[michel]

Originally Posted by tom_mich

I know...don't you detest the way I used mathematics to illustrate how your religion is probably incorrect. But, as Dakedale says, science is just understanding and knowledge, and that is all I am applying in this circumstance.

The facts are facts, nothing I can do about that, Im sorry.

I don't detest the way you use mathematics - it is the logical thing to do, and it comes up with a logical answer.

The trouble is that not everything is logical in life - and I think maybe that is why we talk on different levels (That of the theist and the non-theist). Being a curious mixture of the rational, and at the same time having the ability to have great irrational emotion, I can see both perspectives clearly. Maybe I am lucky.

Why do you like one type of food and not the other (or maybe music - I can't think of a good analogy ? it is illogical.

Whatever your maths says, whatever your science says, there is something greater in life than what we see.

[robtex]

Tom I can see by the debt of your introductory post you are going to be a great addition to this forum. Being as it is your intro thread I would love to know more about you. What are your hobbies interests and the like? Were you born an atheist or did you deconvert and if so from what?

[Darkdale]

Originally Posted by tom_mich

Consider the sheer number of religions that have existed, and knowing that even if only 1 was right and all others were wrong, would mean that there is a 99.9% chance of that the religion you worship now is wrong.

Despite what most people believe, religion is not about truth or about being right. Religion is about indulging in faith, tradition and in imagination. Both faith and imagination are natural aspects of being human and it is not "wrong" to indulge them; just as it is not wrong to affirm reason and the scientific vocations. Religion is as natural as science and as legitimate, we just get ourselves in trouble when we try to force one to overstep it's boundaries.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by tom_mich

I am sure in thousands of years, religion will be diminished. Simply because we will understand so much of the natural world that religous arguements for the presence of a magic being in the sky will be defunct.

Yeah, well, people have been confidently predicting that for hundreds of years now and yet religion still hasn't gone away and shows no signs of doing so. Your prophets don't seem to be any better at predicting the future than anyone else's.

Originally Posted by tom_mich

I love this site. It is so interesting to read how people follow these old ideals and scriptures, and how amazingly blind they follow these beliefs.

Funny how when you can't see what other people see you think they're the ones who are blind. Many paths are valid, including some forms of atheism, but this arrogance is not.

No one learns by thinking that he has all the answers.