What, exactly, does it mean to be "spiritual"?

Mcflewster comments on Feb 10, 2018:

The word 'spirit' was invented when some unknown bump in the night scared the wits out of our ancestors. It soon became associated with human form in fantasy explanations of cause. Human imagination developed it to high levels. I still associate Spirit or spiritual with 'Unknown' . So spiritualism to me means they have had experience of something they cannot fully explain in scientific terms . It remains a human failing to shoot off into fantasy , but it does make life interesting.

How can atheist make this world a better place?

Mcflewster comments on Feb 10, 2018:

This next statement is not a criticism of atheists but is a statement of fact. The word 'Atheist ' applied to YOU only means one thing- obviously that you do not believe in God. However by coming on this site we can deduce that there is a whole lot more information to find about you. If you have what other Humans want most -love, compassion, friendliness etc then look inside yourself to find out what you can give these to others. Examine how you got to where you are now then get out there and change people one at a time to be more enlightened of the possibilities. You will find yourself changing too and know when you are doing the right thing. Good Luck!

I'am an ex muslim, and now i'am an atheist, i live in morocco where the whole population are ...

Mcflewster comments on Feb 10, 2018:

https://www.councilofexmuslims.com

Should religion be taught in schools?

Mcflewster comments on Feb 9, 2018:

As long as the teacher is not allowed to preach. We can all recognise preaching.

I am surrounded by friends and family who still ascribe to christianity.

Mcflewster comments on Feb 9, 2018:

I do not think that many these Xian and other religion peoples can actually help it. They need very simple, sympathetic and persistent help to join us here, but it will happen gradually. Shame and guilt are the most useless of emotions to people kind . Work on your own to reduce them and then you can help others on the same journey.

On my way from there to here.

Mcflewster comments on Feb 9, 2018:

You have found a home.

Best way to live life generally?

Mcflewster comments on Feb 9, 2018:

Not exactly sure what wisdom is. Is it telling you what to do? Does one persons life experience match the requirements of another person? , Should any one give OR take advice knowing there is a mismatch of previous experience . Just give facts, ma'm . Facts are all. Anything which lowers anxiety is a good thing to say , whatever. All of the above quotes aim to do that. Whatever it is, collective wisdom is better than a single person's effort. Be careful what you say to yourself is my version.

Life is what you make it? True or false?

Mcflewster comments on Feb 9, 2018:

Would not have it any other way . Is it possible to hide a false life from yourself?. I suppose some do try, but then they are delusional .

How Should Atheism Be Taught? - The Atlantic

Mcflewster comments on Feb 5, 2018:

Atheism should be taught with a good dose of agnosticism and scepticism thrown in. The syllabus should have oodles of science method and training on real problems that are thrown up by religion. The tone should be that of critical thinking and the whole experience will be peppered with logic and reason. A feeling for compassion for Humanity will go hand in hand with substituting religious experiences with Non religious ones OR demonstrating that religious and none religious can work in harmony . Tests for graduation should involve massive face to face discussions (No volience) with religious zealots. Options for research and professorships should be open to the graduates in this much needed academic sphere. Thanks for asking the question.

Do yoy find yourself still saying'bless you' when some one sneeze

Mcflewster comments on Feb 4, 2018:

Yes but I also actually wonder what a blessing IS. A gift that costs YOU the blesser nothing?

Is the idea of not eating some animals such as pork just because they are not clean some sort of ...

Mcflewster comments on Feb 4, 2018:

This was a first crude attempt to correct problems which caused death made by someone - a prophet trying to control society around him. Trouble is that it was not the pig that killed. Nowadays it is just better to find the real cause of death with science.

A reminder that February 12 is National Darwin Day.

Mcflewster comments on Feb 4, 2018:

Darwin -greatest scientist that will ever live. No one else will discover as much about every living, future and dead human. Unless you know different.

At a certain age, should people be re-tested for their ability to drive?

Mcflewster comments on Feb 2, 2018:

NOT at a certain age but on the symptoms appearance level of certain afflictions e.g diabetes

Did nothing create everything?

Mcflewster comments on Jan 31, 2018:

Difficulty IS how do you prove that a space contains nothing. Some scientist tried to convince us that there was this mysterious gaseousy thing called 'the ether' left there when you took away all the air. However we know that we cannot detect some things until a detector is invented cf radiation and Magnetic waves also gravitational waves. Remember matter and energy are interchangeable - although I do not fully understand that phrase. So things can change form from invisible to visible and vice versa.

I don't confuse book learning with intelligence, they go well together, are not mutually exclusive ...

Mcflewster comments on Jan 31, 2018:

I am glad you said that about books because at the moment I do not read any books because it might disturb the flow of my hopefully original thoughts. Like why you say about people too. I think your post should be in lights at the top of this site or used some way in its advertising.Thanks.

I just found out my husband gave a church over $1,700.

Mcflewster comments on Jan 30, 2018:

Please keep us in touch with what happens over this ?

Why are Christians being marginalized in America?

Mcflewster comments on Jan 30, 2018:

What you say IS contributing to the "terrible time" in America. Unless we can get enough Americans to join this site and find out how to calm those fears mentioned above, it will indeed be a terrible time on the streets. Darwin Preserve us !

How do you tell religious people that you're an atheist?

Mcflewster comments on Jan 30, 2018:

You Don't Tell them. Let them deduce it - only when it matters . Keep them guessing by playing games and you will expos their methods of thinking .

Once upon a time, God made bananas

Mcflewster comments on Jan 30, 2018:

In the UK the bent banana was highlighted as part of the lampooning of the European Union. The myth got around that it was ridiculous to even try to control the shape of a banana and "Is that all the EU is for?" Actually in shipping terms one could have packed a lot more bananas in the same space. The arguments have now subsided but it shows how devious one has to be to control the shape of anything to fir in with your own design theories. " The banana was bent over to reach the mouth of the eater " was a phrase in one religious video I saw .

Do you have a 'Pet theory' about what you think is the most likely explanation for Christianity ...

Mcflewster comments on Jan 28, 2018:

First death is a very good career move.eg. James Dean Second, most celebrities would die for an agent like Paul .. ....oh yes... Jesus did die for him.

Just a thought to pass by you all for your consideration and erudite responses: I call myself ...

Mcflewster comments on Jan 26, 2018:

My hope is that you will switch to calling yourself a scientist, because your methodology matches. Evidence is the pivotal part of science and in the UK at least we use the "Ask for evidence" slogan intensively. You do not have to wear a white coat to be called a scientist or work ion a lab. You are right about assumptions - a tool which lets you sleep at night but which really messes up your chance of getting a longterm conclusion. Long term conclusion could be a phrase that stands in for truth because there is never any guarantee that a conclusion will last. To give it just one word 'Truth' implies (or assumes) that there is only one truth about anything.

What Am I?

Mcflewster comments on Jan 24, 2018:

I too am a believer but in modern humans (including you) and their ability to reach better conclusions through science. This does not put down the ancients but to rely on them could be folly. Properly peer review science did not exist then and prophets levered themselves up above the importance that they deserved - but then that IS history.

If you could pump enormous amounts of money into scientific research, what would it be for?

Mcflewster comments on Jan 23, 2018:

First and foremost putting money into basic education for EVERYONE ( not just schools) so that everyone can appreciate the value of science to them personally Even DO more science themselves. In this way more people would vote for more science through the government so the improvement would pay for itself.

Who in your family do you most admire?

Mcflewster comments on Jan 23, 2018:

My mother , who emigrated from the Isle of Man UK to Canada in the 20s married a man from her original locality that she met out there, had two children but her husband died and she had to return to her homeland . There she lived with two brothers of her late husbands family and subsequently married one of them, had two more children (I'm one), finally dying aged 93. Other members of my mothers family also emigrated to Canada and California and my family visited them in 93.

I've noticed several people here use 'out' or 'not out' frequently to describe themselves ...

Mcflewster comments on Jan 23, 2018:

People do not like change or taking on ideas that they have not been involved with from the start . This difficulty of coming out over everything is strange because most people who do come out say how much better they feel, but then if coming out is not successful we probably would not hear about it.

Are you able to allow others to be who they are with out judgement?

Mcflewster comments on Jan 23, 2018:

Yes

If you could teach everyone in the world one concept, what concept would have the biggest positive ...

Mcflewster comments on Jan 23, 2018:

The usefulness of science to you directly as a person and about your person.

Presumed to be religious.

Mcflewster comments on Jan 21, 2018:

It is a sales technique. Every sales man or woman has to assume that his client cannot live without whatever they are selling. In science false assumptions are the main reason for failure of conclusions

Just a legal pondering from someone who is not a legal scholar.

Mcflewster comments on Jan 9, 2018:

Please , What is a BS?

As an atheist, I view religious texts as "fake news.

Mcflewster comments on Jan 9, 2018:

I can only suggest that amongst the general public an increased appreciation of science processes and taking individual responsibility for checking all facts will get rid of false news. Perhaps if each and every TV screen had a coloured border which showed a particular colour which signalled "This is an opinion" you would change things? The word faith is multifaceted but it is actually a mental facility which keeps us sane when there is no evidence. It is the misuse which causes the damage.

If American's switched from pounds to kilograms over night, would there be mass confusion?

Mcflewster comments on Jan 3, 2018:

I am absolutely sure that people have died because of the confusion about two systems of measurement. A lot of good mathematics time is wasted in doing conversions. When you visit another country with different currencies, all you need is a card with a few ready made conversions each way. When you are after a bargain or an emergency medicine you very quickly adapt . How long will it be before the world has one currency? - wages paid in energy units.

I believe in the power of faith.

Mcflewster comments on Jan 3, 2018:

Faith has a lot of power in many contexts. However it is really a leap or a bridge from reality into a fantasy situation that exists only in your mind. If you get swept away by a flood or trapped in a bush fire you need faith to remain sane and calm waiting for rescuers but only some of the time do they turn up. If they do reality kicks in again. You obviously have a lot of faith in yourself and that is actually a good thing as long as you do constant checks on reality. Each next sale is a reality check. Faith in Humanity can be just as powerful as faith in a religion , but you have to accept the bad people as well as the good and that is a feature of most religions.

Hello all, I guess that I should start off with this, I consider myself to be a Spiritual person,...

Mcflewster comments on Dec 30, 2017:

Only if you let it be messed up. Have you tried introducing him to this site?

I became an atheist/agnostic in 6th grade when I was sent to religious instruction class because my ...

Mcflewster comments on Dec 30, 2017:

"Something from nothing doesn’t seem right." Remember that matter can change form. Matter can transform into energy and vice versa. So it might appear to be something from nothing but the whole universe could have existed in undetectable energy form and the Big Bang was a transformation of some to it to visible matter.

'Spirits' were named following generally frightening experiences.

Mcflewster comments on Dec 30, 2017:

Spirituality= Unknown= Agnosticism

In order to truly advance humanity (even study religion as an evolutionary need) will it be ...

Mcflewster comments on Dec 29, 2017:

As man survived and progressed long before the word 'science' came along there must have long existed a rudimentary method of discovery. So, I believe we are all born scientists but very very often this is repressed by powerful people. What we need is a rebirth of these faculties for the ordinary citizen who will then appreciate that more needs to be spent on refining science. However they are unlikely to vote for more taxpayers money to be spent on science unless they personally get to see how they will benefit from science method applied to their own problems. So NOT compulsory lessons in science - we have tried that but practical outcomes that will make society work better. Please distinguish the processes of science from the facts and inventions produced by it.

Just found this,site & am curious

Mcflewster comments on Dec 28, 2017:

Good for you!!

Hello, Atheists and Agnostics.

Mcflewster comments on Dec 28, 2017:

I hear more and more criticism of capitalism as I grow older.

Fellow agnostics, how do you feel about believers joining?

Mcflewster comments on Dec 27, 2017:

" Too old to Argue" ?. Can I please point out that you do not HAVE to argue. You just have to be right. If you are getting tired then you are doing something wrong. It is possible to view each conversation with a religious person as an opportunity for improving your responses and getting THEM to change their minds. Please google Jennifer Hancocks website to find out " How to win an argument without actually arguing" . One technique is to give up debating - which implies TWO sides when there are multiple sides . Just call it discussion and keep looking for things upon which you do agree. Plenty of other contentious points will arise though. Here in Henley on Thames UK we have a Meetup group called " Skeptics and believers" where the two sides amicably meet to have stimulating and refreshing discussions. 20 minute 'primer' talks from one side or the other followed firstly by group Q&A and then smaller group table discussions. It is sometimes difficult to get people to leave. This is the way that society should evolve. Example of a talk " Is logic and reason the only way to know?" Please remember that religious people, by their very nature, never give up, never go away always want to convert you. We will have to wait for them to die and just make their last years comfortable. Please do not wear yourself thin though.

Do you support Trump?

Mcflewster comments on Dec 18, 2017:

Just like Brexit is destroying the world's image of UK ,Trump is destroying the image of the good in America. It is fortunate I know a few good Americans and am related to others. He thinks that negotiating and diplomatic powers of a president are the same as those for negotiating the Trump tower. No one should be elected as president unless in a previous post he achieved some real social gains for people. I am not fully aware of his full political history.

I believe that anyone who calls themselves a scientist can accept no other label than AGNOSTIC.

Mcflewster comments on Dec 18, 2017:

If you understand the processes of science, even in simple terms, there is no alternative.