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When will the massive influence of money stop in the U.S. elections?
WilliamFleming comments on May 23, 2019:
Since 1818 corporations have been deemed to have the same rights as individuals. Is there anything wrong with that?
WilliamFleming comments on May 23, 2019:
Since 1818 corporations have been deemed to have the same rights as individuals. Is there anything wrong with that?
When will the massive influence of money stop in the U.S. elections?
WilliamFleming comments on May 23, 2019:
Tell the whole story. They have royalty. They have the House of Lords. They have the landed gentry.
Remember too that the US is a large federation of states, each with limited sovereignty. It would be hard to emulate their system. Maybe we should be more like the EU, with no popular vote at all for president. Every four years we could hold a Convention of States to address constitutional issues and to elect a president and vice president—that is, if we really are a federation in more than just name.
WilliamFleming comments on May 23, 2019:
Tell the whole story. They have royalty. They have the House of Lords. They have the landed gentry.
Remember too that the US is a large federation of states, each with limited sovereignty. It would be hard to emulate their system. Maybe we should be more like the EU, with no popular vote at all for president. Every four years we could hold a Convention of States to address constitutional issues and to elect a president and vice president—that is, if we really are a federation in more than just name.
If Christian dogma is to be taken seriously, then we are made to believe that God is a ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 22, 2019:
I’ll help you along with an upvote and response, which will help me also. :-)
I have nothing to say about your post except that you are right. Christian dogma makes no sense and I don’t want to waste time over it.
WilliamFleming comments on May 22, 2019:
I’ll help you along with an upvote and response, which will help me also. :-)
I have nothing to say about your post except that you are right. Christian dogma makes no sense and I don’t want to waste time over it.
As some of you may know there is a new organization called Fight The New Drug.
WilliamFleming comments on May 21, 2019:
I would think that the best cure for porn addiction would be actual sex, and from the news it sounds as though Catholics have a lot to offer in that area. They even have sextons on hire.
I guess if someone wants help it probably doesn’t matter who is supporting the effort. I’ll never be a Catholic but I respect their members and appreciate whatever good things the Church does.
WilliamFleming comments on May 21, 2019:
I would think that the best cure for porn addiction would be actual sex, and from the news it sounds as though Catholics have a lot to offer in that area. They even have sextons on hire.
I guess if someone wants help it probably doesn’t matter who is supporting the effort. I’ll never be a Catholic but I respect their members and appreciate whatever good things the Church does.
Texas is about to get a ‘Save Chick-fil-A’ law that legalizes anti-LGBTQ discrimination / LGBTQ ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 21, 2019:
So San Antonio refused to allow Chick-fil-A at the airport because of a donation they made to a cause with which they are in disagreement. That sounds pretty shaky to me. Maybe the new law is needed.
I recall that Obama was opposed to gay marriage on his first run for office. Should anyone who voted for Obama be banished or denied their rights?
Instead of demonizing those with opposing opinions we should encourage discussion.
WilliamFleming comments on May 21, 2019:
So San Antonio refused to allow Chick-fil-A at the airport because of a donation they made to a cause with which they are in disagreement. That sounds pretty shaky to me. Maybe the new law is needed.
I recall that Obama was opposed to gay marriage on his first run for office. Should anyone who voted for Obama be banished or denied their rights?
Instead of demonizing those with opposing opinions we should encourage discussion.
Is the question of abortion of public interest?
WilliamFleming comments on May 21, 2019:
Eugenics was, at one time, thought to be of public interest. How on earth did we get from it being legal and desirable to erase whole categories of people to where it’s sinful and illegal to abort even a defective fetus.
What we need is a law requiring that any politician who voted for abortion to be illegal be made to adopt a proportionate share of handicapped babies born with birth defects. It’s Gods will.
WilliamFleming comments on May 21, 2019:
Eugenics was, at one time, thought to be of public interest. How on earth did we get from it being legal and desirable to erase whole categories of people to where it’s sinful and illegal to abort even a defective fetus.
What we need is a law requiring that any politician who voted for abortion to be illegal be made to adopt a proportionate share of handicapped babies born with birth defects. It’s Gods will.
There are athletes who are agnostic atheist. However are any of them progressive or liberal?
WilliamFleming comments on May 21, 2019:
I think if you include amateur athletes you’ll find a lot of liberals. Those professional players raking in millions are not likely to advocate higher taxes and government meddling in business.
WilliamFleming comments on May 21, 2019:
I think if you include amateur athletes you’ll find a lot of liberals. Those professional players raking in millions are not likely to advocate higher taxes and government meddling in business.
There is clear evidence that humans invent gods.
WilliamFleming comments on May 21, 2019:
Humans do invent gods in the same way that an author invents characters. Some of those gods emerged from years of storytelling. Why continue to flail away at a dead horse?
The reason those gods were invented remains in place. Humans, sparked with the fire of conscious awareness, are enrapt by the mystery and grandeur of the reality in which they find themselves. They seek to express their awe and reverence through the creation of art. Storytelling and literature are arts. Religious stories are art. Television watchers of today are fired by the very same human characteristics that created religions thousands of years ago.
The mystery remains. The nature of Ultimate Reality beyond our illusory sense-world is a deeply profound but beckoning mystery. We are in darkness, but it is truly a very dazzling darkness.
WilliamFleming comments on May 21, 2019:
Humans do invent gods in the same way that an author invents characters. Some of those gods emerged from years of storytelling. Why continue to flail away at a dead horse?
The reason those gods were invented remains in place. Humans, sparked with the fire of conscious awareness, are enrapt by the mystery and grandeur of the reality in which they find themselves. They seek to express their awe and reverence through the creation of art. Storytelling and literature are arts. Religious stories are art. Television watchers of today are fired by the very same human characteristics that created religions thousands of years ago.
The mystery remains. The nature of Ultimate Reality beyond our illusory sense-world is a deeply profound but beckoning mystery. We are in darkness, but it is truly a very dazzling darkness.
Who is actually 'open-minded'?
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
There is at least some evidence in favor of homeopathy:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/10853874/
Given the exorbitant cost of medical care in the US I expect many people have no option but to treat themselves with some sort of folk medicine or homeopathic method they read about on line.
There is a great deal of evidence for psychic phenomena and some very intelligent people have been open minded about the psychic. Werner Von Braun is one example. The spirit of science is to leap in greedily with an open mind and try to learn about new phenomena. Sitting back and debunking things that don’t fit your world view—that is UNscientific.
I don’t know much about alien visits but I remain open minded.
That leaves god, which is a totally different category. I knew a guy once who ardently attacked at any mention of psychic phenomena, UFO’s, cold fusion, homeopathy, or several other ideas he thought were unscientific. I asked him why he had such strong feelings in that regard. He said that that to believe such things would open the door to a belief in God, and that he could not allow himself to have a belief in God. I interpreted that to mean that he had been scared out his wits by church dogma as a child.
Very unfortunate.
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
There is at least some evidence in favor of homeopathy:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/10853874/
Given the exorbitant cost of medical care in the US I expect many people have no option but to treat themselves with some sort of folk medicine or homeopathic method they read about on line.
There is a great deal of evidence for psychic phenomena and some very intelligent people have been open minded about the psychic. Werner Von Braun is one example. The spirit of science is to leap in greedily with an open mind and try to learn about new phenomena. Sitting back and debunking things that don’t fit your world view—that is UNscientific.
I don’t know much about alien visits but I remain open minded.
That leaves god, which is a totally different category. I knew a guy once who ardently attacked at any mention of psychic phenomena, UFO’s, cold fusion, homeopathy, or several other ideas he thought were unscientific. I asked him why he had such strong feelings in that regard. He said that that to believe such things would open the door to a belief in God, and that he could not allow himself to have a belief in God. I interpreted that to mean that he had been scared out his wits by church dogma as a child.
Very unfortunate.
Who is actually 'open-minded'?
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
If you say you are open to something that doesn’t mean that you believe in it. All it means is that you have not rejected it. If you refuse to look at evidence for those things you mention then you have a closed mind. It’s much more rational to have an open mind. Lumping everything with which you disagree into one class is also irrational.
A question that comes to mind. Why does it bother you so much for people to hold interest in those things?
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
If you say you are open to something that doesn’t mean that you believe in it. All it means is that you have not rejected it. If you refuse to look at evidence for those things you mention then you have a closed mind. It’s much more rational to have an open mind. Lumping everything with which you disagree into one class is also irrational.
A question that comes to mind. Why does it bother you so much for people to hold interest in those things?
What do you save for sentimental reasons?
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
Too much stuff. My father scratched his name into a chimney brick when he was a small boy. I saved that brick and incorporated it into my house.
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
Too much stuff. My father scratched his name into a chimney brick when he was a small boy. I saved that brick and incorporated it into my house.
My daughter's science teacher believes in God, magic etc.
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
The guy ought to be fired IMO. There’s no excuse for teaching non-scientific things in science class, whether it’s atheism or voodoo.
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
The guy ought to be fired IMO. There’s no excuse for teaching non-scientific things in science class, whether it’s atheism or voodoo.
Death with Dignity – endoflifeWA program.
. [sanjuanupdate.com]
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
Let’em use whatever language they want to use. It’s a free country.
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
Let’em use whatever language they want to use. It’s a free country.
John Wayne said the words....
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
He was making fun of our pretentious sensibilities.
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
He was making fun of our pretentious sensibilities.
John Wayne said the words....
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
Great! Did he really say those things?
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
Great! Did he really say those things?
Can an atheist be a hippy?
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
Can an old washed-up hippie assume the label of “atheist”. Certainly!
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
Can an old washed-up hippie assume the label of “atheist”. Certainly!
Hmm.
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
A different interpretation:
The world as we see it is an illusion. We create our own private realities through the power of imagination.
Behind the scenes of that illusion lies the great mysterious Ultimate Reality. Our true existence lies there. We are one with each other and one with... uh, whatever you want to call it. Now and then someone will “get it” and try to spread the word but they are generally misunderstood.
Nothing supernatural is involved here unless you consider nature herself to be super, which is a reasonable supposition IMO.
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
A different interpretation:
The world as we see it is an illusion. We create our own private realities through the power of imagination.
Behind the scenes of that illusion lies the great mysterious Ultimate Reality. Our true existence lies there. We are one with each other and one with... uh, whatever you want to call it. Now and then someone will “get it” and try to spread the word but they are generally misunderstood.
Nothing supernatural is involved here unless you consider nature herself to be super, which is a reasonable supposition IMO.
Do you agree with the statement that humans are just another twig in the tree of life?
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
IMO the tree model is a poor one to use when speaking of the procession of life. Life is more like a rope, with each fiber of the rope representing the lifetime of a single organism. I agree that we are not at the pinnacle of evolution—we are just somewhere along the rope. A single fiber or a single body is of little significance.
To identify with the entire rope is a great leap forward.I am not an individual body—I am the rope from beginning to end. I doubt very seriously if conscious awareness arose somewhere along the rope through random mutations and natural selection. My feeling is that conscious awareness is an inherent quality of the rope itself and of underlying reality. Interesting that no mention is made in the article of epigenetics. By sweeping epigenetics under the carpet, perhaps we avoid scary challenges to our world views.
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
IMO the tree model is a poor one to use when speaking of the procession of life. Life is more like a rope, with each fiber of the rope representing the lifetime of a single organism. I agree that we are not at the pinnacle of evolution—we are just somewhere along the rope. A single fiber or a single body is of little significance.
To identify with the entire rope is a great leap forward.I am not an individual body—I am the rope from beginning to end. I doubt very seriously if conscious awareness arose somewhere along the rope through random mutations and natural selection. My feeling is that conscious awareness is an inherent quality of the rope itself and of underlying reality. Interesting that no mention is made in the article of epigenetics. By sweeping epigenetics under the carpet, perhaps we avoid scary challenges to our world views.
Unpleasant meditation-related experiences in regular meditators: Prevalence, predictors, and ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
Could it be that through meditation, insights might arise from the subconscious mind, insights that challenge one’s world view, leading to tension or fear?
The very same effect might occur from reading a book, watching a movie, or taking a college course.
Maybe a certain amount of temporary unpleasantness is a good thing. It might be a sign that we are being prodded into contemplation, thereby growing and advancing.
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
Could it be that through meditation, insights might arise from the subconscious mind, insights that challenge one’s world view, leading to tension or fear?
The very same effect might occur from reading a book, watching a movie, or taking a college course.
Maybe a certain amount of temporary unpleasantness is a good thing. It might be a sign that we are being prodded into contemplation, thereby growing and advancing.
Why do people keep complaining even if things improve?
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
There must be some deep psychological reasons that people judge the world to be ugly, unjust, threatening, hateful, etc. I think that to hold grievances and be angry provides a certain kind of ego gratification— provides a cause, a reason for existence. And by designating certain groups as idiotic, ignorant, selfish, self-righteous, etc. one creates an enemy to fight against, thereby casting oneself as a great enlightened savior, intellectually and morally superior.
So yes, some people will always find something wrong with the world. IMO the true and correct perception of reality is one of great beauty, love, awe, reverence and respect for all people and for the overwhelming mystery of existence.
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
There must be some deep psychological reasons that people judge the world to be ugly, unjust, threatening, hateful, etc. I think that to hold grievances and be angry provides a certain kind of ego gratification— provides a cause, a reason for existence. And by designating certain groups as idiotic, ignorant, selfish, self-righteous, etc. one creates an enemy to fight against, thereby casting oneself as a great enlightened savior, intellectually and morally superior.
So yes, some people will always find something wrong with the world. IMO the true and correct perception of reality is one of great beauty, love, awe, reverence and respect for all people and for the overwhelming mystery of existence.
I suspect that many of us that don’t live in religious environments can’t appreciate how ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
In my experience the church was only intimidating when I was a child. Religious people never bother me now, but as a child I was subjected to indoctrination attempts by fear and guilt. In my case it didn’t stick.
WilliamFleming comments on May 20, 2019:
In my experience the church was only intimidating when I was a child. Religious people never bother me now, but as a child I was subjected to indoctrination attempts by fear and guilt. In my case it didn’t stick.
Men 10 Times More Likely Than Women To Be Killed At Work
WilliamFleming comments on May 19, 2019:
That’s just the way it is, neither good nor bad, just life. Women are biologically more valuable because they carry those eggs.
WilliamFleming comments on May 19, 2019:
That’s just the way it is, neither good nor bad, just life. Women are biologically more valuable because they carry those eggs.
So many everyday stories from America here about religion being so traumatic in people's personal ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 19, 2019:
Good point. I understand why you have such an impression from this forum. I think it’s a minority that have those strong feelings, but they are the ones who post virulent anti-religious statements.
I understand it in a way because I was very angry for a long time myself. I think the anger is there to prevent the person from being dragged back in. In many cases the negative side of religion might be exaggerated in order to self-justify the decision to leave.
I see it like the US Declaration of Independence, a flowery and high-flown letter with exaggerated and trumped up charges against the King. If I had written the letter it would read: “Your Majesty, we the representatives of your American colonies do, by this letter declare that we are independent states, no longer under your jurisdiction. We see independence as being in our best interests, and we are prepared to fight to defend ourselves. We wish you well.”
WilliamFleming comments on May 19, 2019:
Good point. I understand why you have such an impression from this forum. I think it’s a minority that have those strong feelings, but they are the ones who post virulent anti-religious statements.
I understand it in a way because I was very angry for a long time myself. I think the anger is there to prevent the person from being dragged back in. In many cases the negative side of religion might be exaggerated in order to self-justify the decision to leave.
I see it like the US Declaration of Independence, a flowery and high-flown letter with exaggerated and trumped up charges against the King. If I had written the letter it would read: “Your Majesty, we the representatives of your American colonies do, by this letter declare that we are independent states, no longer under your jurisdiction. We see independence as being in our best interests, and we are prepared to fight to defend ourselves. We wish you well.”
if your mother was on her deathbed and she begged you to pray with her.
WilliamFleming comments on May 18, 2019:
I would pray but no, I won’t lie again. I did that once.
WilliamFleming comments on May 18, 2019:
I would pray but no, I won’t lie again. I did that once.
An interesting comparison of the US Capitalist system with the Norwegian Social Democratic system.
WilliamFleming comments on May 18, 2019:
Norway, under state capitalism is deeply committed to free market economics. They are wealthy because of their oil and because they prudently saved and invested their money. Norway is one of the world’s largest stockholders, with massive investments around the globe, all managed for the benefit of the citizens. I doubt you’ll hear many calls in Norway to abolish capitalism.
We could do the same thing here if we had better leadership. We need first to balance our national budget and then pay off the national debt. There is no reason for government, federal, state or local to incur debt—it should be illegal.
WilliamFleming comments on May 18, 2019:
Norway, under state capitalism is deeply committed to free market economics. They are wealthy because of their oil and because they prudently saved and invested their money. Norway is one of the world’s largest stockholders, with massive investments around the globe, all managed for the benefit of the citizens. I doubt you’ll hear many calls in Norway to abolish capitalism.
We could do the same thing here if we had better leadership. We need first to balance our national budget and then pay off the national debt. There is no reason for government, federal, state or local to incur debt—it should be illegal.
Some folks wonder where all this hate and discontent comes from.
WilliamFleming comments on May 18, 2019:
A Christian theocracy is not going to happen in this country. There is next to zero support for such an idea. The guy is an idiot.
WilliamFleming comments on May 18, 2019:
A Christian theocracy is not going to happen in this country. There is next to zero support for such an idea. The guy is an idiot.
Alabama...really? Your abortion law is just another reason I hate religion.
WilliamFleming comments on May 18, 2019:
It is interesting that when it comes to certain issues, liberals become libertarians, arguing that government has no right to meddle in private affairs.
Welcome to the fold guys!
WilliamFleming comments on May 18, 2019:
It is interesting that when it comes to certain issues, liberals become libertarians, arguing that government has no right to meddle in private affairs.
Welcome to the fold guys!
At our cores, everyone has a set of morals, but I think most people say they “are moral” or ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 18, 2019:
“Friendly” would be a better term. Friendly people don’t try to harm others, and they both give and receive. Moral sounds like a mushroom and suggests self-righteousness.
WilliamFleming comments on May 18, 2019:
“Friendly” would be a better term. Friendly people don’t try to harm others, and they both give and receive. Moral sounds like a mushroom and suggests self-righteousness.
No religion = Empathetic Increase
[patheos.com]
WilliamFleming comments on May 17, 2019:
There are two kinds of non-religious households. In one type the parents are highly educated, well-off people who have broken away from traditional religion and declared themselves to be either atheists or perhaps they are spiritually inclined but not religious. It is totally understandable that children raised in such households would be more empathetic.
But what about the other type of non-religious household? Did they include families where the parents are are alcoholics, drug addicts or perpetual criminals? I know of a few non-religious families that live mainly on welfare, and frankly their children don’t seem all that empathetic.
WilliamFleming comments on May 17, 2019:
There are two kinds of non-religious households. In one type the parents are highly educated, well-off people who have broken away from traditional religion and declared themselves to be either atheists or perhaps they are spiritually inclined but not religious. It is totally understandable that children raised in such households would be more empathetic.
But what about the other type of non-religious household? Did they include families where the parents are are alcoholics, drug addicts or perpetual criminals? I know of a few non-religious families that live mainly on welfare, and frankly their children don’t seem all that empathetic.
Artificial intelligence is incompatible with religion.
WilliamFleming comments on May 17, 2019:
For most of my life I’ve been hearing that consciously aware computers are just around the corner. Just a few software tweaks and computers will sit there and be aware of their existence. It hasn’t happened yet and IMO it’s never going to happen. To believe such a thing is no better than a religious faith.
How could the turning on and off of switches cause self-awareness? In like manner, how could the firing of neurons in the brain cause self-awareness? There’s more to the phenomenon of deep conscious awareness than meets the eye. No one even knows what conscious awareness is—how can you make something when you don’t know what that thing is?
WilliamFleming comments on May 17, 2019:
For most of my life I’ve been hearing that consciously aware computers are just around the corner. Just a few software tweaks and computers will sit there and be aware of their existence. It hasn’t happened yet and IMO it’s never going to happen. To believe such a thing is no better than a religious faith.
How could the turning on and off of switches cause self-awareness? In like manner, how could the firing of neurons in the brain cause self-awareness? There’s more to the phenomenon of deep conscious awareness than meets the eye. No one even knows what conscious awareness is—how can you make something when you don’t know what that thing is?
An important lesson for theists and atheists alike.
WilliamFleming comments on May 17, 2019:
Excellent post, full of meaning.
We do not look upon the world and it’s people and see beauty, majesty and love because we are trying to be good people. It is because our perception is correct and the world really is a gem of great value—and our fellow humans are LOGICALLY worthy of the utmost respect and love.
WilliamFleming comments on May 17, 2019:
Excellent post, full of meaning.
We do not look upon the world and it’s people and see beauty, majesty and love because we are trying to be good people. It is because our perception is correct and the world really is a gem of great value—and our fellow humans are LOGICALLY worthy of the utmost respect and love.
We all hold some assumptions to be true and they lie too deep to be proved; one could call them ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 17, 2019:
Assuming :-) that what you say is true, it would seem useless to engage in arguments. Each person’s assumptions, being unprovable as they are, are unassailable. For example, I might frame my world view on the assumption that there is a higher intelligent power in the universe aka God or Ultimate Reality beyond the sensory world of our perceptions. If your assumption is that the objective world of our perceptions is all that exists, and that intelligence arises only from electrochemical processes in the brain, then we will never agree unless we are willing to modify those basic assumptions. I can simply say that my belief in God is an assumption, requiring no proof, and that my assumption is just as valid as your assumption.
This point is courageously driven home by Donald Hoffman in his theory of Conscious Realism, where he frankly assumes the existence of an hierarchy of conscious agents. No apologies are needed for our basic assumptions, even though they are only guesses. From assumptions there might be derived a brilliant philosophy or scientific theory wherein phenomena fall together perfectly and in which predictions are borne out.
I think we are deluding ourselves if we think that mankind has some sort of profound knowledge and understanding of reality, all based on rational proof. The truth is that we are in a sea of bewilderment, with only a bit of tenuous and superficial understanding based on assumptions.
WilliamFleming comments on May 17, 2019:
Assuming :-) that what you say is true, it would seem useless to engage in arguments. Each person’s assumptions, being unprovable as they are, are unassailable. For example, I might frame my world view on the assumption that there is a higher intelligent power in the universe aka God or Ultimate Reality beyond the sensory world of our perceptions. If your assumption is that the objective world of our perceptions is all that exists, and that intelligence arises only from electrochemical processes in the brain, then we will never agree unless we are willing to modify those basic assumptions. I can simply say that my belief in God is an assumption, requiring no proof, and that my assumption is just as valid as your assumption.
This point is courageously driven home by Donald Hoffman in his theory of Conscious Realism, where he frankly assumes the existence of an hierarchy of conscious agents. No apologies are needed for our basic assumptions, even though they are only guesses. From assumptions there might be derived a brilliant philosophy or scientific theory wherein phenomena fall together perfectly and in which predictions are borne out.
I think we are deluding ourselves if we think that mankind has some sort of profound knowledge and understanding of reality, all based on rational proof. The truth is that we are in a sea of bewilderment, with only a bit of tenuous and superficial understanding based on assumptions.
Why are agnostics and atheists so hostile to my non-theistic belief of theological noncognitivism?
WilliamFleming comments on May 16, 2019:
I agree. God is not a “thing”—an object that needs a label. The word is only a symbol for the great unknown and unknowable Ultimate Reality.
If, upon hearing the word “God”, you think of some human-like entity in the clouds, or if you think of the mythical gods of old literature or scriptures, then you are off track and missing the true meaning IMO.
WilliamFleming comments on May 16, 2019:
I agree. God is not a “thing”—an object that needs a label. The word is only a symbol for the great unknown and unknowable Ultimate Reality.
If, upon hearing the word “God”, you think of some human-like entity in the clouds, or if you think of the mythical gods of old literature or scriptures, then you are off track and missing the true meaning IMO.
I know the people of Alabama pretty well; I've spent most of my life here.
WilliamFleming comments on May 16, 2019:
As a fellow Alabamian I second that. You can find any opinion you want in Alabama, though as a whole the state is conservative. What I have experienced is that women here are very assertive, poised and self-confident, and they usually get their ways.
WilliamFleming comments on May 16, 2019:
As a fellow Alabamian I second that. You can find any opinion you want in Alabama, though as a whole the state is conservative. What I have experienced is that women here are very assertive, poised and self-confident, and they usually get their ways.
[mufassilislam.net]
WilliamFleming comments on May 16, 2019:
Your book? I’m going to get a copy.
Thanks for sharing.
WilliamFleming comments on May 16, 2019:
Your book? I’m going to get a copy.
Thanks for sharing.
this is a test post hello!
WilliamFleming comments on May 16, 2019:
Loud and clear. Over.
WilliamFleming comments on May 16, 2019:
Loud and clear. Over.
Which Truth
WilliamFleming comments on May 16, 2019:
I don’t think there is an absolute truth. We can try to attain a broader perspective in order to understand concepts within their own contexts. Almost every serious assertion has some element of truth if viewed a certain way.
WilliamFleming comments on May 16, 2019:
I don’t think there is an absolute truth. We can try to attain a broader perspective in order to understand concepts within their own contexts. Almost every serious assertion has some element of truth if viewed a certain way.
Some people think that science has all the answers that matter, and that things that cannot be ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 16, 2019:
In general those who trumpet science as a know-all be-all entity are thoroughly indoctrinated with a religious-like belief in materialist/reductionist philosophy. They think that the world of our perceptions is the real world and the only real world, a position totally imaginary and unprovable. They have a double standard: “You have to prove your assertions but mine are self-evident and need no proof”.
I think that for the deep questions of existence the concept of proof does not apply. Our human tools for knowing are useless and our assertions are meaningless from a cosmic perspective. Getting used to bewilderment might be unsettling at first but bewilderment is the most logical response IMO.
WilliamFleming comments on May 16, 2019:
In general those who trumpet science as a know-all be-all entity are thoroughly indoctrinated with a religious-like belief in materialist/reductionist philosophy. They think that the world of our perceptions is the real world and the only real world, a position totally imaginary and unprovable. They have a double standard: “You have to prove your assertions but mine are self-evident and need no proof”.
I think that for the deep questions of existence the concept of proof does not apply. Our human tools for knowing are useless and our assertions are meaningless from a cosmic perspective. Getting used to bewilderment might be unsettling at first but bewilderment is the most logical response IMO.
how do you define success?
WilliamFleming comments on May 15, 2019:
Sounds like your brother is an eldest sibling. The poor things can’t help themselves. Maybe when he’s older he’ll learn to relax but don’t hold your breath.
Goofing off is a valuable life skill IMO.
WilliamFleming comments on May 15, 2019:
Sounds like your brother is an eldest sibling. The poor things can’t help themselves. Maybe when he’s older he’ll learn to relax but don’t hold your breath.
Goofing off is a valuable life skill IMO.
Im starting to feel like I have to hide who I am again.
WilliamFleming comments on May 15, 2019:
You don’t have to hide—just be yourself. No need to stay and argue—just walk away. Your life is nobody else’s business. At least you have a support group.
WilliamFleming comments on May 15, 2019:
You don’t have to hide—just be yourself. No need to stay and argue—just walk away. Your life is nobody else’s business. At least you have a support group.
Hey guys!
I posted a few weeks ago about my process of leaving religion and I know deep down that ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 15, 2019:
There is not one thing to be afraid of. I predict that your courage will grow day by day and that soon you will be very comfortably exploring various religious or non-religious options with impunity.
Just enjoy your new freedom.
WilliamFleming comments on May 15, 2019:
There is not one thing to be afraid of. I predict that your courage will grow day by day and that soon you will be very comfortably exploring various religious or non-religious options with impunity.
Just enjoy your new freedom.
Why does cognitive dissonance not seem to be a thing with so many "Christians"?
WilliamFleming comments on May 15, 2019:
Probably the largest so-called evangelical group is the Southern Baptist Convention. Here’s the last four paragraphs of their recent resolution:
RESOLVED, That we declare that any form of nativism, mistreatment, or exploitation is inconsistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage all elected officials, especially those who are members of Southern Baptist churches, to do everything in their power to advocate for a just and equitable immigration system, those in the professional community to seek ways to administer just and compassionate care for the immigrants in their community, and our Southern Baptist entities to provide resources that will equip and empower churches and church members to reach and serve immigrant communities; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage pastors to address immigration issues with their local churches and to exhort their congregations to serve their local immigrant communities; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we affirm that all immigrants are either brothers and sisters in Christ or people whom God loves and has given us an opportunity to reach with the gospel where otherwise they may never have heard.
It is very easy to sit on your butt and draw unwarranted conclusions from statistics, especially if those conclusions reinforce your personal agenda.
Do the pollsters actually go to churches and interview active members? I doubt it.
You are going to see correlation between “evangelism” and conservatism every time, but correlation is not causation. For various reasons the most conservative areas of the country are the Midwest and the South. For historical reasons those areas also have a lot of Protestant Churches. According to a recent Pew poll only 11% of evangelicals are Christian Conservatives.
I haven’t been a Baptist in 58 years, and I am not in accord with Christian doctrines, however, nothing good can be gained through distortions, stereotyping and scapegoating.
WilliamFleming comments on May 15, 2019:
Probably the largest so-called evangelical group is the Southern Baptist Convention. Here’s the last four paragraphs of their recent resolution:
RESOLVED, That we declare that any form of nativism, mistreatment, or exploitation is inconsistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage all elected officials, especially those who are members of Southern Baptist churches, to do everything in their power to advocate for a just and equitable immigration system, those in the professional community to seek ways to administer just and compassionate care for the immigrants in their community, and our Southern Baptist entities to provide resources that will equip and empower churches and church members to reach and serve immigrant communities; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage pastors to address immigration issues with their local churches and to exhort their congregations to serve their local immigrant communities; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we affirm that all immigrants are either brothers and sisters in Christ or people whom God loves and has given us an opportunity to reach with the gospel where otherwise they may never have heard.
It is very easy to sit on your butt and draw unwarranted conclusions from statistics, especially if those conclusions reinforce your personal agenda.
Do the pollsters actually go to churches and interview active members? I doubt it.
You are going to see correlation between “evangelism” and conservatism every time, but correlation is not causation. For various reasons the most conservative areas of the country are the Midwest and the South. For historical reasons those areas also have a lot of Protestant Churches. According to a recent Pew poll only 11% of evangelicals are Christian Conservatives.
I haven’t been a Baptist in 58 years, and I am not in accord with Christian doctrines, however, nothing good can be gained through distortions, stereotyping and scapegoating.
In economic terms, Alabama was already a terrible place for women.
WilliamFleming comments on May 15, 2019:
You might disagree with our Alabama legislators about abortion—I certainly do. That’s no reason however to throw mud and demonize the entire state. We might be a few percentage points below the national average in some areas but I believe that in race relations Alabama comes out ahead.
I just googled “racism in Washington State”, and boy did I get an eyeful of hits—page after page of racism articles. Then I googled “racism in Alabama” and I got this interesting analysis about southern racism:
https://www.theroot.com/is-the-south-more-racist-than-other-parts-of-the-us-1820893655
If you want to discuss the abortion issue and how it is related to religious dogma, then I am on board and we probably agree. But if all you want to do is cast stones and slander all of us Alabamians, then count me out.
WilliamFleming comments on May 15, 2019:
You might disagree with our Alabama legislators about abortion—I certainly do. That’s no reason however to throw mud and demonize the entire state. We might be a few percentage points below the national average in some areas but I believe that in race relations Alabama comes out ahead.
I just googled “racism in Washington State”, and boy did I get an eyeful of hits—page after page of racism articles. Then I googled “racism in Alabama” and I got this interesting analysis about southern racism:
https://www.theroot.com/is-the-south-more-racist-than-other-parts-of-the-us-1820893655
If you want to discuss the abortion issue and how it is related to religious dogma, then I am on board and we probably agree. But if all you want to do is cast stones and slander all of us Alabamians, then count me out.
Tiger Woods faces wrongful death lawsuit brought by parents of restaurant employee
WilliamFleming comments on May 14, 2019:
I lean toward personal responsibility for cases like this. I doubt if Tiger is very concerned. He no doubt has insurance and the attorneys will hash it out and come to a settlement.
It’s a great situation for the lawyers!
WilliamFleming comments on May 14, 2019:
I lean toward personal responsibility for cases like this. I doubt if Tiger is very concerned. He no doubt has insurance and the attorneys will hash it out and come to a settlement.
It’s a great situation for the lawyers!
Do you believe in Evolutionary Humanism?
WilliamFleming comments on May 14, 2019:
“Man is not merely the latest dominant type produced by evolution, but its sole active agent on earth. His destiny is to be responsible for the whole future of the evolutionary process on this planet. . . This is the gist and core of Evolutionary Humanism, the new organization of ideas and potential action now emerging from the present revolution of thought, and destined, I prophesy with confidence, to become the dominant idea-system of the new phase of psychosocial evolution.” Julian Huxley 1964.
There does seem to be a religious-like fervor there, and a dead certainty that humanism is THE correct philosophy. In that sense humanism is not science—it is a turning away from science.
IMO the scientific approach is to look at nature with detachment and through experimentation and analysis try to understand why things are the way they are. The humanists look at nature and proceed to stamp its attributes with emotion-based values of good and evil.
Humanists want someone to seize control of nature and change it into something more to their liking, but I don’t see anything like that happening. Every social “improvement” seems to bring a bevy of unforeseen negative results. Perhaps no one has the knowledge or insight to create a better world. Maybe nature is capable of proceeding on her own without the meddling of arrogant ignorant humans.
Modern humanists seem to have adopted a shrill opposition to any form of religion. That is itself a religious-like attribute. Dogmatic religions often fight among themselves.
Basically, it seems to me that humanists are not looking at the overall picture. They take up the cause of morality with a religious zeal. But morality is nothing but friendliness, a necessary attribute for life in tribes, villages and cities. They ignore the equally necessary role of competition.
WilliamFleming comments on May 14, 2019:
“Man is not merely the latest dominant type produced by evolution, but its sole active agent on earth. His destiny is to be responsible for the whole future of the evolutionary process on this planet. . . This is the gist and core of Evolutionary Humanism, the new organization of ideas and potential action now emerging from the present revolution of thought, and destined, I prophesy with confidence, to become the dominant idea-system of the new phase of psychosocial evolution.” Julian Huxley 1964.
There does seem to be a religious-like fervor there, and a dead certainty that humanism is THE correct philosophy. In that sense humanism is not science—it is a turning away from science.
IMO the scientific approach is to look at nature with detachment and through experimentation and analysis try to understand why things are the way they are. The humanists look at nature and proceed to stamp its attributes with emotion-based values of good and evil.
Humanists want someone to seize control of nature and change it into something more to their liking, but I don’t see anything like that happening. Every social “improvement” seems to bring a bevy of unforeseen negative results. Perhaps no one has the knowledge or insight to create a better world. Maybe nature is capable of proceeding on her own without the meddling of arrogant ignorant humans.
Modern humanists seem to have adopted a shrill opposition to any form of religion. That is itself a religious-like attribute. Dogmatic religions often fight among themselves.
Basically, it seems to me that humanists are not looking at the overall picture. They take up the cause of morality with a religious zeal. But morality is nothing but friendliness, a necessary attribute for life in tribes, villages and cities. They ignore the equally necessary role of competition.
What is your opinion on Catholic schools? Are they forms of modern brainwashing?
WilliamFleming comments on May 13, 2019:
I’ve never been a Catholic but I know one guy who claims to be thankful for his catholic education. He says he was so mentally and emotionally hardened by the nuns that Marine boot camp seemed like a walk in the park.
WilliamFleming comments on May 13, 2019:
I’ve never been a Catholic but I know one guy who claims to be thankful for his catholic education. He says he was so mentally and emotionally hardened by the nuns that Marine boot camp seemed like a walk in the park.
The orthodox definition of the theistic god includes omnipotence, omniscience, and omnibenevolence ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 13, 2019:
I think maybe the Son and the Holy Ghost are tools of human thought by which we interface with Ultimate Reality, otherwise totally inaccessible using the space/time/matter model of our perception.
It would probably be better to give them less magical-sounding labels. Subjective higher self and subconscious mind perhaps.
WilliamFleming comments on May 13, 2019:
I think maybe the Son and the Holy Ghost are tools of human thought by which we interface with Ultimate Reality, otherwise totally inaccessible using the space/time/matter model of our perception.
It would probably be better to give them less magical-sounding labels. Subjective higher self and subconscious mind perhaps.
I hate my mother more than I hate Muhammad.
WilliamFleming comments on May 13, 2019:
Is there at least one good attribute of your mother—at least one pleasant memory associated with her? If so, hold that good memory in your mind. It is not for her that you should do this but for your own happiness.
You wanted her to come and see you in the hospital. You had no control over her, but you can control your own feelings about the situation. Every negative thought is driving you deeper into anger and unhappiness.
I strongly recommend the book “Help Yourself to Happiness” by Dr. Maxie Maultsby Jr. It is a book that has helped me many times when I was in situations such as you describe.
WilliamFleming comments on May 13, 2019:
Is there at least one good attribute of your mother—at least one pleasant memory associated with her? If so, hold that good memory in your mind. It is not for her that you should do this but for your own happiness.
You wanted her to come and see you in the hospital. You had no control over her, but you can control your own feelings about the situation. Every negative thought is driving you deeper into anger and unhappiness.
I strongly recommend the book “Help Yourself to Happiness” by Dr. Maxie Maultsby Jr. It is a book that has helped me many times when I was in situations such as you describe.
In the past six years I have lost a daughter, my son, my wife and most recently my right leg.
WilliamFleming comments on May 13, 2019:
God is within us. I salute your courage.
WilliamFleming comments on May 13, 2019:
God is within us. I salute your courage.
Which Religious Group Wants To Base U.S. Law On Its Faith?
WilliamFleming comments on May 12, 2019:
“Evangelical” is a broad term that includes the Methodist church of Hillary Clinton. I’ve got the feeling that only a tiny minority of so-called Evangelicals are calling for state religion. A recent Pew poll showed that Only 11% of evangelicals were Christian Conservatives. Being so inclined politically is a long way from calling for theocracy. Perhaps the largest evangelical group. The Southern Baptist Convention, in their official covenant, specifically endorse the separation of church and state as specified in the constitution.
I will therefore dismiss this post and other hyperbolic posts like it as as being propaganda based on stereotyping and scapegoating. Scapegoating because some people are frantically looking for someone to blame for DT’s election.
The article referenced is a well written and balanced appeal for the tolerance of Muslims, It in no way indicates that evangelicals want to impose their faith on you through law.
WilliamFleming comments on May 12, 2019:
“Evangelical” is a broad term that includes the Methodist church of Hillary Clinton. I’ve got the feeling that only a tiny minority of so-called Evangelicals are calling for state religion. A recent Pew poll showed that Only 11% of evangelicals were Christian Conservatives. Being so inclined politically is a long way from calling for theocracy. Perhaps the largest evangelical group. The Southern Baptist Convention, in their official covenant, specifically endorse the separation of church and state as specified in the constitution.
I will therefore dismiss this post and other hyperbolic posts like it as as being propaganda based on stereotyping and scapegoating. Scapegoating because some people are frantically looking for someone to blame for DT’s election.
The article referenced is a well written and balanced appeal for the tolerance of Muslims, It in no way indicates that evangelicals want to impose their faith on you through law.
Maybe this is a wierd question.
WilliamFleming comments on May 11, 2019:
I don’t give a damn what anybody thinks about my religious opinions. I think it’s best to be honest and open about ourselves, projecting poise and self confidence. Most people are not all that interested in our various opinions anyway.
WilliamFleming comments on May 11, 2019:
I don’t give a damn what anybody thinks about my religious opinions. I think it’s best to be honest and open about ourselves, projecting poise and self confidence. Most people are not all that interested in our various opinions anyway.
Flat Earth theory is a actually a great metaphor for a religion - if you dig too deep, you end up ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 11, 2019:
It’s the same with any purported knowledge about the underpinnings of reality: Dig too deeply and you end up with an empty void. That includes scientism.
It is considered proper and correct to say that the earth is “round”. “Spherical” would be closer, but actually the earth is best modeled as an oblate spheroid. “Modeled” because the earth is only approximately shaped like an oblate spheroid. A lumpy potato model is more accurate, with the lumps being rather small.
Whatever model is used is nothing but an empty and superficial mental prop. The idea that the earth is made out of matter existing in space and time is bogus from the get-go. According to quantum gravity theory matter exists only as interactions between covariant gravity fields. A particle of matter is not a “thing”. Space is not the way we think, but is composed of a finite number of granules. Time does not exist period.
Religion or science, take your pick, or take both, but in an ultimate sense we are grappling in the dark.
What a dazzling darkness it is!
WilliamFleming comments on May 11, 2019:
It’s the same with any purported knowledge about the underpinnings of reality: Dig too deeply and you end up with an empty void. That includes scientism.
It is considered proper and correct to say that the earth is “round”. “Spherical” would be closer, but actually the earth is best modeled as an oblate spheroid. “Modeled” because the earth is only approximately shaped like an oblate spheroid. A lumpy potato model is more accurate, with the lumps being rather small.
Whatever model is used is nothing but an empty and superficial mental prop. The idea that the earth is made out of matter existing in space and time is bogus from the get-go. According to quantum gravity theory matter exists only as interactions between covariant gravity fields. A particle of matter is not a “thing”. Space is not the way we think, but is composed of a finite number of granules. Time does not exist period.
Religion or science, take your pick, or take both, but in an ultimate sense we are grappling in the dark.
What a dazzling darkness it is!
What is the "incel" movement all about?
WilliamFleming comments on May 11, 2019:
According to the Wikipedia article there are a number of female incel web sites and there is some controversy over whether there are more women incels than men.
Screaming and yelling and demonizing these incels and banishing them from society will do nothing but radicalize them further.
WilliamFleming comments on May 11, 2019:
According to the Wikipedia article there are a number of female incel web sites and there is some controversy over whether there are more women incels than men.
Screaming and yelling and demonizing these incels and banishing them from society will do nothing but radicalize them further.
All religions in the world were born/created with a view to leading the people to the right path.
WilliamFleming comments on May 10, 2019:
Is it really a question? Are you suggesting that religion causes crime? There are professionally conducted studies that show the exact opposite.
You have to be careful with statistics. The prevalence of religion in a country could be for various reasons, and the crime rate also might be high or low depending on social conditions. I think you’d have to look at groups within the country. Is it the deeply religious people who pray daily, study scriptures and attend religious services who are committing the crimes?
I’m not sold on your assertions. Religious people live in all countries, even in the Scandinavian countries.
People don’t follow any particular religion in most countries—in the US for example.
WilliamFleming comments on May 10, 2019:
Is it really a question? Are you suggesting that religion causes crime? There are professionally conducted studies that show the exact opposite.
You have to be careful with statistics. The prevalence of religion in a country could be for various reasons, and the crime rate also might be high or low depending on social conditions. I think you’d have to look at groups within the country. Is it the deeply religious people who pray daily, study scriptures and attend religious services who are committing the crimes?
I’m not sold on your assertions. Religious people live in all countries, even in the Scandinavian countries.
People don’t follow any particular religion in most countries—in the US for example.
I am interested in opinions on this statement.
WilliamFleming comments on May 10, 2019:
It’s just a bald faced declaration with no supporting argument.
I lean toward thinking that everyone is born religious but that many churches screw that up by using guilt and fear to impose false doctrines.
WilliamFleming comments on May 10, 2019:
It’s just a bald faced declaration with no supporting argument.
I lean toward thinking that everyone is born religious but that many churches screw that up by using guilt and fear to impose false doctrines.
Honestly it surprised me how much more that Atheists know Christianity its origins and whats in the ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 10, 2019:
Ahem...some atheists...some Christians.
WilliamFleming comments on May 10, 2019:
Ahem...some atheists...some Christians.
What is the "incel" movement all about?
WilliamFleming comments on May 10, 2019:
So some guys decide to be celibate for some reason or other. That’s their decision and there’s no need to demonize them. Lots of women make that same decision.
I expect most of ‘em will backslide anyway.
WilliamFleming comments on May 10, 2019:
So some guys decide to be celibate for some reason or other. That’s their decision and there’s no need to demonize them. Lots of women make that same decision.
I expect most of ‘em will backslide anyway.
I've reposted this from the Sam Harris group.
WilliamFleming comments on May 10, 2019:
There’s no such thing as “alone for the most part”. It’s either atheists alone or not.
There are many many people of good will who are working to create a world that our minds want to be in, and those people hold various opinions about religion.
WilliamFleming comments on May 10, 2019:
There’s no such thing as “alone for the most part”. It’s either atheists alone or not.
There are many many people of good will who are working to create a world that our minds want to be in, and those people hold various opinions about religion.
I'm friends with one of my bus drivers (I've befriended more than a few over the years actually) and...
WilliamFleming comments on May 9, 2019:
We might be passengers within our bodies. It’s true that cognitive functioning depends on the state of our brains, but cognitive functioning is not the whole story. I think you have to differentiate between bodily sentience and deep awareness—two unrelated phenomena.
It comes down to what we are. I have thought for a long time that our sense of self as a separate, unique body is an illusion but that something associated with us has awareness. It seems totally impossible that the firing of neurons, no matter how complex the pattern, could produce deep conscious awareness. It’s not called the “hard problem” for nothing—no one can explain it. Neuroscientists might study mind-brain correlations until doomsday but using that model they’ll not be one bit closer to an explanation.
So far as an afterlife, I don’t think afterlife is a meaningful concept. We try hard to frame ultimate reality in our limited human terms, but it can’t be done. There’s just the continuum of life—it doesn’t need an “after”.
WilliamFleming comments on May 9, 2019:
We might be passengers within our bodies. It’s true that cognitive functioning depends on the state of our brains, but cognitive functioning is not the whole story. I think you have to differentiate between bodily sentience and deep awareness—two unrelated phenomena.
It comes down to what we are. I have thought for a long time that our sense of self as a separate, unique body is an illusion but that something associated with us has awareness. It seems totally impossible that the firing of neurons, no matter how complex the pattern, could produce deep conscious awareness. It’s not called the “hard problem” for nothing—no one can explain it. Neuroscientists might study mind-brain correlations until doomsday but using that model they’ll not be one bit closer to an explanation.
So far as an afterlife, I don’t think afterlife is a meaningful concept. We try hard to frame ultimate reality in our limited human terms, but it can’t be done. There’s just the continuum of life—it doesn’t need an “after”.
Georgia Makes Abortion A Crime Punishable By Life In Prison Or Death Penalty | Michael Stone
WilliamFleming comments on May 9, 2019:
https://www.pewforum.org/fact-sheet/public-opinion-on-abortion/
58% of Americans think abortion should be legal in most cases. These anti-abortion bills are likely to backfire IMO.
WilliamFleming comments on May 9, 2019:
https://www.pewforum.org/fact-sheet/public-opinion-on-abortion/
58% of Americans think abortion should be legal in most cases. These anti-abortion bills are likely to backfire IMO.
Scientific evidence is great and all but I think its also important for everone to back up and ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 9, 2019:
Good point. Saying that God did it is just saying that you don’t know.
WilliamFleming comments on May 9, 2019:
Good point. Saying that God did it is just saying that you don’t know.
How do you de-stress?
WilliamFleming comments on May 8, 2019:
I analyze my thoughts and determine if I’ve been thinking untrue things ala Dr Maxie Maultsby. That is usually the case when I am stressed. The stress could also come from being in danger. In that case I try to go with gut feelings.
WilliamFleming comments on May 8, 2019:
I analyze my thoughts and determine if I’ve been thinking untrue things ala Dr Maxie Maultsby. That is usually the case when I am stressed. The stress could also come from being in danger. In that case I try to go with gut feelings.
One strange food combo that you like to eat.
WilliamFleming comments on May 8, 2019:
For breakfast I have freshly ground wheat that I get at a feed store. With it I have a tsp. of sugar, a tbs. of peanut butter, a few almonds, some raisins, and some almond milk. I alternate wheat and oatmeal. It’s a hell of a lot cheaper than that boxed cereal stuff, and probably healthier.
WilliamFleming comments on May 8, 2019:
For breakfast I have freshly ground wheat that I get at a feed store. With it I have a tsp. of sugar, a tbs. of peanut butter, a few almonds, some raisins, and some almond milk. I alternate wheat and oatmeal. It’s a hell of a lot cheaper than that boxed cereal stuff, and probably healthier.
Homo sapiens : The meaning-seeking and meaning-creating animal
Here are some quotes I came ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 8, 2019:
Whether or not there is absolute meaning to life is a very real question with a real answer. The fact that some people are comforted by believing in absolute meaning does not in any way diminish or falsify that meaning.
We usually think of ourselves as human bodies. From that perspective, if that’s all we are, then there isn’t much meaning or purpose—only the fleeting pleasures of day to day existence, countered by the day to day displeasures.
If you don’t want to consider the staggering implications of ultimate reality and deep conscious awareness, you can at least acknowledge that your body is a part of the long chain of all organisms—that life is a PROCESS. I don’t see how anyone can maintain that the process of life is meaningless. That process is larger than our own bodily selves. We are in no position to measure its value and proclaim that value to be zero.
Or look at the quantum fields said to be the basis of physical reality. Does anyone really have the standing to look at those and say, “Oh, quantum fields have no value or purpose. Those things just sort of fell into existence by accident and are meaningless”?
IMO existence is not only meaningful, its value and meaning are overwhelming beyond words. To know that gives me comfort and strength, but that is beside the point.
WilliamFleming comments on May 8, 2019:
Whether or not there is absolute meaning to life is a very real question with a real answer. The fact that some people are comforted by believing in absolute meaning does not in any way diminish or falsify that meaning.
We usually think of ourselves as human bodies. From that perspective, if that’s all we are, then there isn’t much meaning or purpose—only the fleeting pleasures of day to day existence, countered by the day to day displeasures.
If you don’t want to consider the staggering implications of ultimate reality and deep conscious awareness, you can at least acknowledge that your body is a part of the long chain of all organisms—that life is a PROCESS. I don’t see how anyone can maintain that the process of life is meaningless. That process is larger than our own bodily selves. We are in no position to measure its value and proclaim that value to be zero.
Or look at the quantum fields said to be the basis of physical reality. Does anyone really have the standing to look at those and say, “Oh, quantum fields have no value or purpose. Those things just sort of fell into existence by accident and are meaningless”?
IMO existence is not only meaningful, its value and meaning are overwhelming beyond words. To know that gives me comfort and strength, but that is beside the point.
If life had no off button (I.
WilliamFleming comments on May 7, 2019:
That scenario wouldn’t work very well IMO. It’s asking too much to have people choose to die. We are hard wired to survive so before long the population would be staggering. What would people eat?
Best to go with the flow—enjoy the natural cycle of infancy to old age and then move on, making room for younger people.
WilliamFleming comments on May 7, 2019:
That scenario wouldn’t work very well IMO. It’s asking too much to have people choose to die. We are hard wired to survive so before long the population would be staggering. What would people eat?
Best to go with the flow—enjoy the natural cycle of infancy to old age and then move on, making room for younger people.
Evolution for the Slow and the Dumb
WilliamFleming comments on May 7, 2019:
We didn’t evolve from monkeys. Humans and monkeys have common ancestors, now long gone.
WilliamFleming comments on May 7, 2019:
We didn’t evolve from monkeys. Humans and monkeys have common ancestors, now long gone.
We serve the same god but give it a different name.
WilliamFleming comments on May 7, 2019:
Great quote! Thanks.
WilliamFleming comments on May 7, 2019:
Great quote! Thanks.
"Individualism, with its belief in the absolute value and autonomy of the person, is therefore the ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 7, 2019:
Who or what is it that is supposed to “have” a soul?
It makes more sense to me to think that my higher self is observing or experiencing all the world’s organisms simultaneously and that the sense of self as an individual body is an illusion.
To think in spiritual terms does give value to the experience of life and thereby enhances survival. That doesn’t negate spirituality though. Maybe the spiritual perspective is the true and correct one.
WilliamFleming comments on May 7, 2019:
Who or what is it that is supposed to “have” a soul?
It makes more sense to me to think that my higher self is observing or experiencing all the world’s organisms simultaneously and that the sense of self as an individual body is an illusion.
To think in spiritual terms does give value to the experience of life and thereby enhances survival. That doesn’t negate spirituality though. Maybe the spiritual perspective is the true and correct one.
The American Taliban
WilliamFleming comments on May 6, 2019:
A degree of hyperbole there I think. Baptists do think homosexuality is a sin, but forgivable, and they oppose gay marriage. So did Obama on his first run for the presidency. Baptists also oppose abortion, but that is a long way from seeking to control what all Americans can do, say, or think. Baptists officially support the separation of church and state. To label them as the Taliban is shrill, dishonest and offensive.
You are slandering my family and friends.
WilliamFleming comments on May 6, 2019:
A degree of hyperbole there I think. Baptists do think homosexuality is a sin, but forgivable, and they oppose gay marriage. So did Obama on his first run for the presidency. Baptists also oppose abortion, but that is a long way from seeking to control what all Americans can do, say, or think. Baptists officially support the separation of church and state. To label them as the Taliban is shrill, dishonest and offensive.
You are slandering my family and friends.
This is the truth that the religilous keep denying
WilliamFleming comments on May 6, 2019:
There are many branches of Christianity but as far as I’ve seen none of them are trying to prove that God exists. I think for them that is self-evident and doesn’t need proving.
WilliamFleming comments on May 6, 2019:
There are many branches of Christianity but as far as I’ve seen none of them are trying to prove that God exists. I think for them that is self-evident and doesn’t need proving.
Should we respect other people's beliefs?
WilliamFleming comments on May 6, 2019:
Respect is not a benevolent act on our part for the benefit of the person being respected. We re-spectate, or take a closer look in order to gain enlarged and more accurate knowledge for our own benefit.
Many times the opinions of the other person are as valid as our own but we will remain blind to that fact unless we are open to new knowledge or new perspectives. The worst bigotry is unaware of itself and parades as liberalism or some such.
WilliamFleming comments on May 6, 2019:
Respect is not a benevolent act on our part for the benefit of the person being respected. We re-spectate, or take a closer look in order to gain enlarged and more accurate knowledge for our own benefit.
Many times the opinions of the other person are as valid as our own but we will remain blind to that fact unless we are open to new knowledge or new perspectives. The worst bigotry is unaware of itself and parades as liberalism or some such.
If someone murders another as a crime of passion do we consider that the person had a criminal ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 6, 2019:
I think you just have to say they’ve committed a criminal act and must pay the penalty for that act. If they have a history of such acts they might be punished more severely.
I don’t know if “criminal mindset” is a valid idea. “Criminal” is whatever legislators say is criminal.
WilliamFleming comments on May 6, 2019:
I think you just have to say they’ve committed a criminal act and must pay the penalty for that act. If they have a history of such acts they might be punished more severely.
I don’t know if “criminal mindset” is a valid idea. “Criminal” is whatever legislators say is criminal.
Credit to Balstrome from this link:
[mavenroundtable.
WilliamFleming comments on May 6, 2019:
I expect the same list applies to the dominant religions in other countries. Judaism in Israel, Islam in Mideast countries. Hinduism in India, etc.
WilliamFleming comments on May 6, 2019:
I expect the same list applies to the dominant religions in other countries. Judaism in Israel, Islam in Mideast countries. Hinduism in India, etc.
"If neo-Darwinism is true and reproductive success a measure of evolutionary fitness, then every ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 6, 2019:
I don’t think that being descended from Abraham is anything special. Almost everyone is descended from not only Abraham but from just about everybody else from ancient times who reproduced. For example, it is said that anyone with European roots descended from Charlemagne.
The tree branch model doesn’t do justice to genealogy. Genealogy is more like a rope, with a person represented by a fiber. The length of the fiber represents the lifetime of the person.Where a male and female fiber touch a new fiber might begin.
Looking at the fiber that represents Abraham, we can see that it is of little significance to the rope as a whole. A single fiber would be of interest only if it possessed a valuable new mutation in its genes.
I doubt if the development of monotheism caused enhanced survival of its adherents. More likely the strong, intelligent, creative tribes that were capable of formulating monotheism survived because they were strong, intelligent, and creative.
Besides that, what about China and India? They aren’t noted for monotheism, yet their populations haven’t been petering out.
WilliamFleming comments on May 6, 2019:
I don’t think that being descended from Abraham is anything special. Almost everyone is descended from not only Abraham but from just about everybody else from ancient times who reproduced. For example, it is said that anyone with European roots descended from Charlemagne.
The tree branch model doesn’t do justice to genealogy. Genealogy is more like a rope, with a person represented by a fiber. The length of the fiber represents the lifetime of the person.Where a male and female fiber touch a new fiber might begin.
Looking at the fiber that represents Abraham, we can see that it is of little significance to the rope as a whole. A single fiber would be of interest only if it possessed a valuable new mutation in its genes.
I doubt if the development of monotheism caused enhanced survival of its adherents. More likely the strong, intelligent, creative tribes that were capable of formulating monotheism survived because they were strong, intelligent, and creative.
Besides that, what about China and India? They aren’t noted for monotheism, yet their populations haven’t been petering out.
It is an extremely useful thing, this mathematics, no?
WilliamFleming comments on May 5, 2019:
Using mathematics a person can learn that if Bezos’s money were evenly distributed to the world’s population each person would get about $21.
I just last night saved at least $21 by using Amazon instead of driving all over. Also think of the environmental benefit.
Who exactly is being harmed by Jeff’s having billions in assets? The world is greatly benefiting from his actions. I hope he is enjoying his money.
WilliamFleming comments on May 5, 2019:
Using mathematics a person can learn that if Bezos’s money were evenly distributed to the world’s population each person would get about $21.
I just last night saved at least $21 by using Amazon instead of driving all over. Also think of the environmental benefit.
Who exactly is being harmed by Jeff’s having billions in assets? The world is greatly benefiting from his actions. I hope he is enjoying his money.
Sam Harris’s argument is that the real villains are the religious moderates.
WilliamFleming comments on May 5, 2019:
How can you control what anyone believes? I have no control over what I myself believe. We don’t decide what to believe—belief creeps up on us.
I don’t care what people believe. In the final analysis no one knows or understands what reality is about, especially Sam Harris. Beliefs are nothing but opinions—emotional value judgments of little importance.
Sounds like the new atheists are insecure in their non-belief.
WilliamFleming comments on May 5, 2019:
How can you control what anyone believes? I have no control over what I myself believe. We don’t decide what to believe—belief creeps up on us.
I don’t care what people believe. In the final analysis no one knows or understands what reality is about, especially Sam Harris. Beliefs are nothing but opinions—emotional value judgments of little importance.
Sounds like the new atheists are insecure in their non-belief.
"It is still a metaphysical faith upon which our faith in science rests – that even we seekers ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 4, 2019:
Some people are so zealous in their atheism that they see attacks on their non-belief everywhere, even from Nietzche, who was a severe critic of religion.
WilliamFleming comments on May 4, 2019:
Some people are so zealous in their atheism that they see attacks on their non-belief everywhere, even from Nietzche, who was a severe critic of religion.
VB lawmaker 'stunned' by Northam veto of bill allowing murder charge for dealers after overdose - ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 4, 2019:
What if a person dies from eating too much refined sugar? Should the store owner who sold that sugar be charged with murder?
WilliamFleming comments on May 4, 2019:
What if a person dies from eating too much refined sugar? Should the store owner who sold that sugar be charged with murder?
Religious fundamentalists and many of today’s atheists share the same approach to texts.
WilliamFleming comments on May 4, 2019:
I agree. Anything written down has to be interpreted, and the ideas you read are only meaningful if they resonate with you on a deep level.
Some concepts are difficult to express in a direct, literal way, thus we have metaphors, allegories, parables and analogies, not only in religion but in literature and every other form of communication. You can’t even talk without the use of idioms. Idioms are not literally correct but they have meaning because their meanings are generally understood.
In reading spiritually oriented material, I do not question every sentence for truth or falsity. I try to understand the deeper meanings of the overall work. It’s the same with reading poetry or anything else.
WilliamFleming comments on May 4, 2019:
I agree. Anything written down has to be interpreted, and the ideas you read are only meaningful if they resonate with you on a deep level.
Some concepts are difficult to express in a direct, literal way, thus we have metaphors, allegories, parables and analogies, not only in religion but in literature and every other form of communication. You can’t even talk without the use of idioms. Idioms are not literally correct but they have meaning because their meanings are generally understood.
In reading spiritually oriented material, I do not question every sentence for truth or falsity. I try to understand the deeper meanings of the overall work. It’s the same with reading poetry or anything else.
I was lucky enough to be born in a the bible belt in a family that didn't participate in a religion.
WilliamFleming comments on May 3, 2019:
Good post—we are all different. Be tolerant.
WilliamFleming comments on May 3, 2019:
Good post—we are all different. Be tolerant.
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD?
WilliamFleming comments on May 3, 2019:
Instead of fighting religious ignorance in Thailand maybe it would be more fruitful to learn why Americans are flocking over there for their health care. Thailand must not be all that ignorant.
WilliamFleming comments on May 3, 2019:
Instead of fighting religious ignorance in Thailand maybe it would be more fruitful to learn why Americans are flocking over there for their health care. Thailand must not be all that ignorant.
Morality is not contingent on knowing right from wrong.
WilliamFleming comments on May 3, 2019:
You are shining the light of conscious awareness upon your jealousy, and I predict that that jealousy will soon melt away.
You are also demonstrating tremendous courage and honor by being so open and forthcoming.
Congratulations on being a beautiful person.
WilliamFleming comments on May 3, 2019:
You are shining the light of conscious awareness upon your jealousy, and I predict that that jealousy will soon melt away.
You are also demonstrating tremendous courage and honor by being so open and forthcoming.
Congratulations on being a beautiful person.
"It is still a metaphysical faith upon which our faith in science rests – that even we seekers ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 3, 2019:
It’s what I’ve been saying all along. That Nietzsche guy must have been pretty smart. :-)
Without the probing curiosity and sense of awe sparked by conscious awareness of reality science would never have been born. Without continuous metaphysical speculation science would advance no further.
WilliamFleming comments on May 3, 2019:
It’s what I’ve been saying all along. That Nietzsche guy must have been pretty smart. :-)
Without the probing curiosity and sense of awe sparked by conscious awareness of reality science would never have been born. Without continuous metaphysical speculation science would advance no further.
The Man Who Tried to Redeem the World with Logic - Nautilus - Pocket
WilliamFleming comments on May 2, 2019:
Very fascinating. Thanks.
WilliamFleming comments on May 2, 2019:
Very fascinating. Thanks.
Electing an atheist president? [bigthink.com]
WilliamFleming comments on May 2, 2019:
I would not vote for AN atheist. I would vote for good, qualified leaders however, regardless of their religious opinions. If your personal identity is some sort of “ist” that means you might try to stamp society with your lame-brain ideas ala Stalin, Pol Pot, Chairman Mao, et al. After all, the deeper questions of life remain deeply mysterious.
WilliamFleming comments on May 2, 2019:
I would not vote for AN atheist. I would vote for good, qualified leaders however, regardless of their religious opinions. If your personal identity is some sort of “ist” that means you might try to stamp society with your lame-brain ideas ala Stalin, Pol Pot, Chairman Mao, et al. After all, the deeper questions of life remain deeply mysterious.
The person who has never really attempted to ask himself or herself the basic questions of ...
WilliamFleming comments on May 2, 2019:
I ask myself those questions all the time but myself never gives the answer. I have concluded that in the final analysis no one knows much of anything. Boy, talking about being adrift in a complex world, that would be me. That doesn’t mean I am subject to manipulation however. How does that follow?
My best suspicion is that my self along with my reality is an illusion. Knowledge is also nothing but a shallow illusion. The only thing real as far as I can see is conscious awareness, and that is what I value but I have no idea of what it is.
Morality? Stay out of jail. Stay alive and stick with your friends and family.
WilliamFleming comments on May 2, 2019:
I ask myself those questions all the time but myself never gives the answer. I have concluded that in the final analysis no one knows much of anything. Boy, talking about being adrift in a complex world, that would be me. That doesn’t mean I am subject to manipulation however. How does that follow?
My best suspicion is that my self along with my reality is an illusion. Knowledge is also nothing but a shallow illusion. The only thing real as far as I can see is conscious awareness, and that is what I value but I have no idea of what it is.
Morality? Stay out of jail. Stay alive and stick with your friends and family.
How many on here either have decided to abandon major social media platforms (FaceBook, Twitter, ...
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 30, 2019:
Too many people I never heard of wanting to be my “friend”. Too much mail to deal with.
Sexy young woman in Africa trying to get close. I ain’t that young. (or stupid)
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 30, 2019:
Too many people I never heard of wanting to be my “friend”. Too much mail to deal with.
Sexy young woman in Africa trying to get close. I ain’t that young. (or stupid)
Evangelicals Breaking Up with Jesus
[youtube.com]
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 30, 2019:
Trump has never claimed to be an evangelical, rather he’s a sometime mainline Protestant with strong secular leanings.
Methodist Hillary Clinton is your evangelical. Could there be some faulty thinking in these slurring presentations? Is there anything remotely liberal about this stuff? Damn, talk about hypocrisy—it’s the pot calling the kettle black IMO.
Besides that, according to a recent Pew poll only a small minority of so-called evangelicals are strongly conservative in politics.
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 30, 2019:
Trump has never claimed to be an evangelical, rather he’s a sometime mainline Protestant with strong secular leanings.
Methodist Hillary Clinton is your evangelical. Could there be some faulty thinking in these slurring presentations? Is there anything remotely liberal about this stuff? Damn, talk about hypocrisy—it’s the pot calling the kettle black IMO.
Besides that, according to a recent Pew poll only a small minority of so-called evangelicals are strongly conservative in politics.
Given that life in itself is meaningless, what do we have in mind when we talk about the "meaning ...
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 30, 2019:
The chemical process that we call life has no value IMO. Blind, robotic mechanistic events with no awareness and no free will certainly can’t be valuable, and sure enough, we see that organic bodies live only for awhile and then they die. Sometimes they die en masse. And while they are alive they are prone to hardships and suffering.
I see two ways of looking at it. You can consider all organisms collectively as a river of life, a single entity that goes on flowing even though individual organisms are temporary. If I think of myself as the river instead of as an individual body then in my mind at least I become something more enduring and substantive. I hunt mammoths—I invent airplanes—I travel in space—I make love with sexy women.
But there is something else—something intriguing. Many people seem to think that conscious awareness springs only from brain activity—from the firing of neurons. To save my life I cannot fathom such a thing. For me the fact that we have conscious awareness gives life immense meaning and value. The meaning might be a mystery but meaning there is. The fact that we can have this conversation shows me there is value. The meaning of reality is cloaked in darkness but it is a dazzling darkness, full of joy and hope!
Edwin Schrodinger:
“Consciousness cannot be accounted for in physical terms. For consciousness is absolutely fundamental. It cannot be accounted for in terms of anything else.”
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 30, 2019:
The chemical process that we call life has no value IMO. Blind, robotic mechanistic events with no awareness and no free will certainly can’t be valuable, and sure enough, we see that organic bodies live only for awhile and then they die. Sometimes they die en masse. And while they are alive they are prone to hardships and suffering.
I see two ways of looking at it. You can consider all organisms collectively as a river of life, a single entity that goes on flowing even though individual organisms are temporary. If I think of myself as the river instead of as an individual body then in my mind at least I become something more enduring and substantive. I hunt mammoths—I invent airplanes—I travel in space—I make love with sexy women.
But there is something else—something intriguing. Many people seem to think that conscious awareness springs only from brain activity—from the firing of neurons. To save my life I cannot fathom such a thing. For me the fact that we have conscious awareness gives life immense meaning and value. The meaning might be a mystery but meaning there is. The fact that we can have this conversation shows me there is value. The meaning of reality is cloaked in darkness but it is a dazzling darkness, full of joy and hope!
Edwin Schrodinger:
“Consciousness cannot be accounted for in physical terms. For consciousness is absolutely fundamental. It cannot be accounted for in terms of anything else.”
What binds us together.
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 30, 2019:
A person’s opinion about religion is just that, an opinion, and of little significance.
What is significant is that each person is due the utmost respect.
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 30, 2019:
A person’s opinion about religion is just that, an opinion, and of little significance.
What is significant is that each person is due the utmost respect.
Did you have an atheist epiphany?
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 30, 2019:
“...but the natural world was pretty awesome and there was no need for the supernatural.”
I agree 100% except that the natural world is EXTREMELY awesome to the point of being mind-boggling. The concept of the supernatural is pretty empty IMO. Trying to divide reality into natural vs. supernatural defies logic. There are aspects of nature that we can not detect or understand, but to label that as “super” doesn’t work for me.
I don’t remember having a sudden epiphany. I think I am a born sceptic and contrarian. What I actually try to do is resolve conflicting concepts by taking a broader view. The fact that religious organizations teach ridiculous things about God does not falsify every concept of God. For me the God concept represents something beyond our ability to comprehend. Since “God” is incomprehensible it makes no sense to form beliefs about it. The word is a label for the unknown.
The concept that makes the most sense to me is non-duality where subject and object are one. Universal Consciousness is like that. I lean toward the idea of universal consciousness.
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 30, 2019:
“...but the natural world was pretty awesome and there was no need for the supernatural.”
I agree 100% except that the natural world is EXTREMELY awesome to the point of being mind-boggling. The concept of the supernatural is pretty empty IMO. Trying to divide reality into natural vs. supernatural defies logic. There are aspects of nature that we can not detect or understand, but to label that as “super” doesn’t work for me.
I don’t remember having a sudden epiphany. I think I am a born sceptic and contrarian. What I actually try to do is resolve conflicting concepts by taking a broader view. The fact that religious organizations teach ridiculous things about God does not falsify every concept of God. For me the God concept represents something beyond our ability to comprehend. Since “God” is incomprehensible it makes no sense to form beliefs about it. The word is a label for the unknown.
The concept that makes the most sense to me is non-duality where subject and object are one. Universal Consciousness is like that. I lean toward the idea of universal consciousness.
Groupthink, a term coined by social psychologist Irving Janis, occurs when a group makes faulty ...
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 29, 2019:
Global warming activism?
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 29, 2019:
Global warming activism?
How many members on here are openly atheists in the bible belt? And are you treated differently?
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 28, 2019:
I’m not sure there’s such a thing as the Bible Belt. Pew polls show the South to be only a few percentage points more religious than the country as a whole, and about on par with the Midwest.
I live in a rural part of Alabama and no one ever bothers me about religion. None of my closest acquaintances are believers. I don’t call myself an atheist however, just not a follower of traditional religion.
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 28, 2019:
I’m not sure there’s such a thing as the Bible Belt. Pew polls show the South to be only a few percentage points more religious than the country as a whole, and about on par with the Midwest.
I live in a rural part of Alabama and no one ever bothers me about religion. None of my closest acquaintances are believers. I don’t call myself an atheist however, just not a follower of traditional religion.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, ...
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 27, 2019:
The Bible makes no sense, but for some it’s interesting literature I guess. I prefer Hindu scriptures.
Nothing written down is worth stewing over in hatred and disdain. Moment by moment awareness is where it’s at!
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 27, 2019:
The Bible makes no sense, but for some it’s interesting literature I guess. I prefer Hindu scriptures.
Nothing written down is worth stewing over in hatred and disdain. Moment by moment awareness is where it’s at!
Groupthink, a term coined by social psychologist Irving Janis, occurs when a group makes faulty ...
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 27, 2019:
The irony is that those caught up in groupthink don’t know they are engaged in groupthink. If it’s someone else’s group it’s very easy to make that characterization—to view them that way. But remember, from their perspective it might be you who are caught up in groupthink.
Maybe it’s not absolute. Maybe there are elements of groupthink in all of us from time to time, but we also are critical thinkers in some areas.
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 27, 2019:
The irony is that those caught up in groupthink don’t know they are engaged in groupthink. If it’s someone else’s group it’s very easy to make that characterization—to view them that way. But remember, from their perspective it might be you who are caught up in groupthink.
Maybe it’s not absolute. Maybe there are elements of groupthink in all of us from time to time, but we also are critical thinkers in some areas.
We're on a road to destruction if we don't make changes.
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 27, 2019:
I fully support the idea of a status update section where we treat each other with kindness. It happens that I just had some trauma. It would be nice to have polite exchanges so that such things can be aired.
These extreme differences—liberal/conservative, religious/atheist—they are only skin deep and in no way define who a person really is. It’s sometimes stimulating to banter about politics or religion but we should try to remember that each person, no matter what their opinion, represents something dear and special, to be revered and respected.
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 27, 2019:
I fully support the idea of a status update section where we treat each other with kindness. It happens that I just had some trauma. It would be nice to have polite exchanges so that such things can be aired.
These extreme differences—liberal/conservative, religious/atheist—they are only skin deep and in no way define who a person really is. It’s sometimes stimulating to banter about politics or religion but we should try to remember that each person, no matter what their opinion, represents something dear and special, to be revered and respected.
"Atheism deserves better than the new atheists whose methodology consists of criticizing religion ...
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 27, 2019:
I agree fully with Jonathan Sacks. A good religion does not require belief, and it’s not about the so-called supernatural. Good religion is a way of life that fosters reverence love and awe for the miracle of every second of existence. Good religion is in no way opposed to science.
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 27, 2019:
I agree fully with Jonathan Sacks. A good religion does not require belief, and it’s not about the so-called supernatural. Good religion is a way of life that fosters reverence love and awe for the miracle of every second of existence. Good religion is in no way opposed to science.
Online activists of South Asia united in London !!
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 27, 2019:
They are a hearty looking lot. What are their goals?
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 27, 2019:
They are a hearty looking lot. What are their goals?
400-year-old Bible stolen from US found in Netherlands
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 26, 2019:
It’s an old book and very valuable. The FBI is correct to track down the 300+ artifacts that were stolen.
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 26, 2019:
It’s an old book and very valuable. The FBI is correct to track down the 300+ artifacts that were stolen.
“The goal of a good society is to structure social relations and institutions so that cooperative ...
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 26, 2019:
Who gets to decide what the goal is of a good society. Who decreed that societies should have goals? What is a good society in the first place? Which are the good ones and which the bad?
Humans have evolved over millions of years, and what you see is what you get. Things are as they are for reasons, and trying to impose your personal sentimental values on humanity will result in failure.
Producing goods and services, and trading in those things—that is in our blood. It’s innate. Put whatever label you want on it but that doesn’t change basic human behavior.
WilliamFleming comments on Apr 26, 2019:
Who gets to decide what the goal is of a good society. Who decreed that societies should have goals? What is a good society in the first place? Which are the good ones and which the bad?
Humans have evolved over millions of years, and what you see is what you get. Things are as they are for reasons, and trying to impose your personal sentimental values on humanity will result in failure.
Producing goods and services, and trading in those things—that is in our blood. It’s innate. Put whatever label you want on it but that doesn’t change basic human behavior.
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