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"People of color may also hold prejudices and discriminate against white people,but they lack the ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 29, 2018:
Yes, I agree.
All of us have prejudices—it’s part of the human condition due to the fact that no one has the whole picture. Some people seem unwilling to enlarge that picture.
IMO since we are all in the same situation there’s nothing to be gained by hostility or by demonizing people whom we think are prejudiced.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
That said, in some situations it might become a duty to defend yourself with whatever force is necessary.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 29, 2018:
Yes, I agree.
All of us have prejudices—it’s part of the human condition due to the fact that no one has the whole picture. Some people seem unwilling to enlarge that picture.
IMO since we are all in the same situation there’s nothing to be gained by hostility or by demonizing people whom we think are prejudiced.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
That said, in some situations it might become a duty to defend yourself with whatever force is necessary.
I stumbled off and got caught reading through some threads.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 29, 2018:
I’m with you 100% Tony, Keep posting your opinions.
You might like this:
http://m.nautil.us/issue/47/consciousness/roger-penrose-on-why-consciousness-does-not-compute
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 29, 2018:
I’m with you 100% Tony, Keep posting your opinions.
You might like this:
http://m.nautil.us/issue/47/consciousness/roger-penrose-on-why-consciousness-does-not-compute
How is it that there are still so many people who think global warming is a hoax, or that it is not ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 29, 2018:
There are large numbers of professional meteorologists and climatologists who are not in accord with the UN position.
https://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/BAMS-D-13-00091.1
While most don’t say it’s a hoax, they don’t view global warming as a dire emergency that requires drastic action. They generally agree that the earth is warming, but they are not alarmed because the rate of warming is rather low, no one knows if the warming will continue, the human contribution to warming is only a fraction of that of natural causes, and climate models have proven to be unreliable.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 29, 2018:
There are large numbers of professional meteorologists and climatologists who are not in accord with the UN position.
https://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/BAMS-D-13-00091.1
While most don’t say it’s a hoax, they don’t view global warming as a dire emergency that requires drastic action. They generally agree that the earth is warming, but they are not alarmed because the rate of warming is rather low, no one knows if the warming will continue, the human contribution to warming is only a fraction of that of natural causes, and climate models have proven to be unreliable.
[learning-mind.com] there are many articles on this. Take time to read this and your thoughts?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 28, 2018:
Great article! Thanks.
I think this soul that is being discussed is not some magical supernatural disembodyment but rather is natural and can be tested and studied. Roger Penrose wouldn’t be associated with woo IMO.
I have never liked the word “soul” because of how it’s taught in Christianity, but this is different. I hope to learn more, and I’ll be eagerly awaiting new developments.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 28, 2018:
Great article! Thanks.
I think this soul that is being discussed is not some magical supernatural disembodyment but rather is natural and can be tested and studied. Roger Penrose wouldn’t be associated with woo IMO.
I have never liked the word “soul” because of how it’s taught in Christianity, but this is different. I hope to learn more, and I’ll be eagerly awaiting new developments.
To know a little about a lot or to know a lot about too little?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 28, 2018:
You can do both. We all need to know a little about a lot, and it’s nice also to have a special area of expertise.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 28, 2018:
You can do both. We all need to know a little about a lot, and it’s nice also to have a special area of expertise.
There's a higher possibility of mankind destroying ourselves before this will happen but .
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 28, 2018:
Interesting article.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 28, 2018:
Interesting article.
Why did they write all the outlandish stories and called them miracles in the bible?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 28, 2018:
No one knows. What’s done is done. Just give it a sideways glance in passing and move to something better.
Speaking of miracles, reality with conscious life is a profound, amazing miracle a thousand times more noteworthy than any puny little miracle in the Bible.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 28, 2018:
No one knows. What’s done is done. Just give it a sideways glance in passing and move to something better.
Speaking of miracles, reality with conscious life is a profound, amazing miracle a thousand times more noteworthy than any puny little miracle in the Bible.
Took my daughter Trick or Treating the other night at one of those Ol' Main Street/downtown ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 28, 2018:
A toothbrush? Now that’s appropriate to use after eating candy.
The New Testament can be read as just literature—it’s not a grievous encroachment to give one away. What is so irritating is to realize that someone is arrogant, condescending, and would like to lead your child to Christ, and that they fully believe that their opinions about religion are the only correct ones. Whatever you think about it has no bearing. What About Jewish or Muslim kids? Do their parents get a say?
If you know who the culprit is maybe you could give them some literature that reflects your own opinions.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 28, 2018:
A toothbrush? Now that’s appropriate to use after eating candy.
The New Testament can be read as just literature—it’s not a grievous encroachment to give one away. What is so irritating is to realize that someone is arrogant, condescending, and would like to lead your child to Christ, and that they fully believe that their opinions about religion are the only correct ones. Whatever you think about it has no bearing. What About Jewish or Muslim kids? Do their parents get a say?
If you know who the culprit is maybe you could give them some literature that reflects your own opinions.
Can an adverb modify a noun?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 28, 2018:
Maybe in that particular case “yesterday” is an adjective.
In “build high”, “high” serves as an adverb, modifying “build”, but in “high building” it is an adjective.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 28, 2018:
Maybe in that particular case “yesterday” is an adjective.
In “build high”, “high” serves as an adverb, modifying “build”, but in “high building” it is an adjective.
Do you celebrate Christmas as a family social gathering without God?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 27, 2018:
No, it’s Yule.
Call it Yule please.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 27, 2018:
No, it’s Yule.
Call it Yule please.
Some Thoughts About The Reality Of Space
Premise: Space is NOT a thing.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 27, 2018:
The concept of a thing is sort of nebulous. Maybe there are no things.
According to quantum gravity theory, space is granular rather than a smooth expanse. Space does not extend to infinity either. There are a finite number of the space “particles”.
According to the same theory time does not exist. If time doesn’t exist how can there be a creation? There is something drastically wrong with our world view. The mental model of matter moving in space and time seems to be nothing but illusion.
The nature of ultimate reality is a profound mystery. Creepy, aye?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 27, 2018:
The concept of a thing is sort of nebulous. Maybe there are no things.
According to quantum gravity theory, space is granular rather than a smooth expanse. Space does not extend to infinity either. There are a finite number of the space “particles”.
According to the same theory time does not exist. If time doesn’t exist how can there be a creation? There is something drastically wrong with our world view. The mental model of matter moving in space and time seems to be nothing but illusion.
The nature of ultimate reality is a profound mystery. Creepy, aye?
Havin fun with pics and words
graphics and story by donald harry roberts
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 27, 2018:
Great artwork!
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 27, 2018:
Great artwork!
Why Are Americans Still Uncomfortable with Atheism?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
It’s a good article, but one thing caught my eye that I question:
“...Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, who fought to keep God out of the document. But, while neither was a creedal Christian, both men were monotheists, and, like John Locke, their ideas about tolerance generally extended only to those who believed in a higher power.”
I can not believe that Jefferson was not tolerant of atheists. If you click on the link below you’ll see his letter to Thomas Carr, a young man. Scroll down to paragraph four, about religion. It is eye-opening.
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-12-02-0021
I am in general agreement with the article. It is important that we not allow religious zealots to seize the reins of government. As a practical matter though, I doubt if such a thing is likely. Religious organizations are on the wane, and they are very much divided.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
It’s a good article, but one thing caught my eye that I question:
“...Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, who fought to keep God out of the document. But, while neither was a creedal Christian, both men were monotheists, and, like John Locke, their ideas about tolerance generally extended only to those who believed in a higher power.”
I can not believe that Jefferson was not tolerant of atheists. If you click on the link below you’ll see his letter to Thomas Carr, a young man. Scroll down to paragraph four, about religion. It is eye-opening.
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-12-02-0021
I am in general agreement with the article. It is important that we not allow religious zealots to seize the reins of government. As a practical matter though, I doubt if such a thing is likely. Religious organizations are on the wane, and they are very much divided.
Do you think that if God does not exist, life is ultimately absurd?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
The nature of ultimate reality is a vast and impenetrable mystery. Whether you slap the god word on it or not, the fact remains that we humans are abysmally ignorant.
Yet we enjoy self-awareness. The nature of this self-awareness is also a very deep mystery, but given the overwhelming implications, I think that without doubt there is both objective and subjective purpose of enormous value when looked at as a unified whole.
Objective and subjective are actually not opposites. In a sense it’s all subjective IMO.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
The nature of ultimate reality is a vast and impenetrable mystery. Whether you slap the god word on it or not, the fact remains that we humans are abysmally ignorant.
Yet we enjoy self-awareness. The nature of this self-awareness is also a very deep mystery, but given the overwhelming implications, I think that without doubt there is both objective and subjective purpose of enormous value when looked at as a unified whole.
Objective and subjective are actually not opposites. In a sense it’s all subjective IMO.
Would u argue that all life, I mean the lives of ppl, r of equal value, regardless of their status ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
In the world of human robotic bodies of which you speak, different bodies are of unequal value depending on who is doing the rating. No one of them has much value though, and they are all short-lived like leaves on a tree.
IMO we are not our bodies. What we share in common—that which is of astronomic value, is conscious self-awareness. Not only are our true selves of EQUAL value. They are extensions of a unified whole. My opinion.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
In the world of human robotic bodies of which you speak, different bodies are of unequal value depending on who is doing the rating. No one of them has much value though, and they are all short-lived like leaves on a tree.
IMO we are not our bodies. What we share in common—that which is of astronomic value, is conscious self-awareness. Not only are our true selves of EQUAL value. They are extensions of a unified whole. My opinion.
What is the true purpose of religion?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
Just about any organization attracts people who, for some reason, want to be in charge. It’s a big ego-boost I suppose, and it can be irritating. Yet those controlling people are useful. They exist for reasons. Some of them learn to moderate their egos and develop into true leaders.
It’s not just churches. The same phenomenon occurs in businesses, in government, and in social organizations. Maybe those controlling folks are eldest siblings. WAIT! That’s not very tactful. Disregard that.
I Am not in accord with the tenets of Christianity as presented by traditional churches, but I do believe that Christian Churches serve a valuable purpose to those who belong. As skado says, religion provides a means whereby people can learn to live fully and joyfully.
Much church dogma is pure rot IMO, and I have thrown it out. Like skado, I threw out the bath water but kept the baby. For me the baby is awareness, awe, appreciation, courage, and joy.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
Just about any organization attracts people who, for some reason, want to be in charge. It’s a big ego-boost I suppose, and it can be irritating. Yet those controlling people are useful. They exist for reasons. Some of them learn to moderate their egos and develop into true leaders.
It’s not just churches. The same phenomenon occurs in businesses, in government, and in social organizations. Maybe those controlling folks are eldest siblings. WAIT! That’s not very tactful. Disregard that.
I Am not in accord with the tenets of Christianity as presented by traditional churches, but I do believe that Christian Churches serve a valuable purpose to those who belong. As skado says, religion provides a means whereby people can learn to live fully and joyfully.
Much church dogma is pure rot IMO, and I have thrown it out. Like skado, I threw out the bath water but kept the baby. For me the baby is awareness, awe, appreciation, courage, and joy.
"It is not that the methods and institutions of science somehow compel us to accept a material ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
Matter is like God. One mystery is substituted for another. What is matter? According to some it is an interaction between covariant quantum fields. Great, what the hell is a field? Not a “thing” for sure.
Maybe Donald Hoffman is on to something with his conscious realism.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
Matter is like God. One mystery is substituted for another. What is matter? According to some it is an interaction between covariant quantum fields. Great, what the hell is a field? Not a “thing” for sure.
Maybe Donald Hoffman is on to something with his conscious realism.
If you could solve one world problems it would be…?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
I try not to dwell on world problems. About all I can do is advocate for love, respect and optimism on an individual level and hope that all these world problems work themselves out. How many times has the implementation of one solution opened up different unforeseen problems?
Progress was originally a good idea but it has gone on for way too long.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
I try not to dwell on world problems. About all I can do is advocate for love, respect and optimism on an individual level and hope that all these world problems work themselves out. How many times has the implementation of one solution opened up different unforeseen problems?
Progress was originally a good idea but it has gone on for way too long.
... And you wonder why they're known for fighting and drinking? [washingtonpost.com]
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
There are six US states with blasphemy laws, unenforceable of course.
I’ve only met a few people from Ireland. One of them was quite the drinker, and one was somewhat combative, but that’s not enough of a sample size to be making broad judgments.
As for me, I’m going to try and stay away from stereotypes. As an ethnic Cracker I’ve too often been on the receiving end of that nonsense.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
There are six US states with blasphemy laws, unenforceable of course.
I’ve only met a few people from Ireland. One of them was quite the drinker, and one was somewhat combative, but that’s not enough of a sample size to be making broad judgments.
As for me, I’m going to try and stay away from stereotypes. As an ethnic Cracker I’ve too often been on the receiving end of that nonsense.
Expression, a key to a door led away from depression, that reminds me of a time where my heart could...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
If that’s you in the picture there’s obviously no depression in sight.
That smile raises my spirits!
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
If that’s you in the picture there’s obviously no depression in sight.
That smile raises my spirits!
Fear of death
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
Identify with all of life, not as a separate individual. As long as one person is alive we are all alive. Walk through a forest and you’ll see death and destruction everywhere, but from a distance all you see is a beautiful forest. It’s a matter of perspective.
Better yet view your identity as consciousness itself. After all, that is really the thing we want to see survive isn’t it? Consciousness creates the sense of time so is immortal by default. What if some cataclysmic event destroyed all life, but that in a trillion years life returned. From the perspective of consciousness that trillion years would have elapsed in the blink of an eye.
There is nothing to fear.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
Identify with all of life, not as a separate individual. As long as one person is alive we are all alive. Walk through a forest and you’ll see death and destruction everywhere, but from a distance all you see is a beautiful forest. It’s a matter of perspective.
Better yet view your identity as consciousness itself. After all, that is really the thing we want to see survive isn’t it? Consciousness creates the sense of time so is immortal by default. What if some cataclysmic event destroyed all life, but that in a trillion years life returned. From the perspective of consciousness that trillion years would have elapsed in the blink of an eye.
There is nothing to fear.
The Bible is not my book and Christianity is not my religion.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
It’s not mine either. We should give it a sideways glance and move on to something positive.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
It’s not mine either. We should give it a sideways glance and move on to something positive.
"I grew up in poverty and felt a deep sense of shame about being poor.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
It starts with dividing humanity into “us vs them”. Then we make comparisons and judgments. “We” see that the “others” have valuable characteristics that are superior to our own and “we” begin to fear that “they” will overpower and annihilate our group. This calls for aggressive promotion of our own group.
The truth is that people are about the same the world over. It’s just that we notice and magnify in our minds the significance of what is insignificant. All peoples have valuable genetic and cultural traits—that’s why their group is still surviving.
There is nothing whatsoever to fear as evolution takes its course. The human landscape in a thousand years will be made up of people who are intelligent, strong, energetic, creative and beautiful. They’ll have a variety of whatever genetic traits prove valuable in the environment of the future.
They are us and we are them. We/they are not our bodies IMO.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
It starts with dividing humanity into “us vs them”. Then we make comparisons and judgments. “We” see that the “others” have valuable characteristics that are superior to our own and “we” begin to fear that “they” will overpower and annihilate our group. This calls for aggressive promotion of our own group.
The truth is that people are about the same the world over. It’s just that we notice and magnify in our minds the significance of what is insignificant. All peoples have valuable genetic and cultural traits—that’s why their group is still surviving.
There is nothing whatsoever to fear as evolution takes its course. The human landscape in a thousand years will be made up of people who are intelligent, strong, energetic, creative and beautiful. They’ll have a variety of whatever genetic traits prove valuable in the environment of the future.
They are us and we are them. We/they are not our bodies IMO.
In God's Image - Religion's spirit-body split has produced many dualistic divisions like Hell and ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
I agree that the sick-minded people who thought up and propagated the hell concept have caused untold grief. They should be dug up and flogged.
Not all religions teach duality. Most of the Hindu schools teach non-duality. We need dualistic thinking in our day to day lives in order to stay organized and survive. Only with contemplation do we realize that hot and cold are not opposites for example. There—I’ve artificially divided life into the ordinary and the contemplative in order to make a point.
Advanced religions help people to see beyond the artificial world of dualism. In moments of contemplation and meditation we achieve a higher, more cosmic perspective.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
I agree that the sick-minded people who thought up and propagated the hell concept have caused untold grief. They should be dug up and flogged.
Not all religions teach duality. Most of the Hindu schools teach non-duality. We need dualistic thinking in our day to day lives in order to stay organized and survive. Only with contemplation do we realize that hot and cold are not opposites for example. There—I’ve artificially divided life into the ordinary and the contemplative in order to make a point.
Advanced religions help people to see beyond the artificial world of dualism. In moments of contemplation and meditation we achieve a higher, more cosmic perspective.
Climate Change
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
Maybe, maybe not.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
Maybe, maybe not.
Science can only provide facts (and there no other way to get reliable facts about our world).
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
Maybe some people look outside science, not because they are looking for life-meaning that doesn’t exist, but because they just want to enjoy the inherent meaning that DOES exist. They want to bask in the beauty, majesty and mystery of nature.
Doing so requires no belief whatsoever, just awareness, awe and appreciation for the staggering implications of existence. Such people love and embrace science, but they can see its limitations. Science is not their God.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 26, 2018:
Maybe some people look outside science, not because they are looking for life-meaning that doesn’t exist, but because they just want to enjoy the inherent meaning that DOES exist. They want to bask in the beauty, majesty and mystery of nature.
Doing so requires no belief whatsoever, just awareness, awe and appreciation for the staggering implications of existence. Such people love and embrace science, but they can see its limitations. Science is not their God.
Honoring the Enemy
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 25, 2018:
Beautiful bit of information.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 25, 2018:
Beautiful bit of information.
Ireland is about to vote on removing the offense of blasphemy from the constitution
...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 25, 2018:
Six US states have blasphemy laws, with Massachusetts being the oldest.
They are just relics, not enforceable. Any idea of when Ireland’s law was last enforced?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 25, 2018:
Six US states have blasphemy laws, with Massachusetts being the oldest.
They are just relics, not enforceable. Any idea of when Ireland’s law was last enforced?
One of the best descriptions of Fundamentalism I've seen.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 25, 2018:
Steven Pressfield has it wrong. Fundamentalism did not arise in the American South during reconstruction. Fundamentalism began in the early years of the twentieth century in the Northeast US and did not become prominent until 1942.
With such a glaring error, I consider his whole thesis to be undermined and his essay worthless.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 25, 2018:
Steven Pressfield has it wrong. Fundamentalism did not arise in the American South during reconstruction. Fundamentalism began in the early years of the twentieth century in the Northeast US and did not become prominent until 1942.
With such a glaring error, I consider his whole thesis to be undermined and his essay worthless.
I’ve reached my limit.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 25, 2018:
That’s big city behavior. Move to rural Alabama.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 25, 2018:
That’s big city behavior. Move to rural Alabama.
Just thought I’d share this.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 25, 2018:
Great! Maybe she’ll be an Olympic swimmer.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 25, 2018:
Great! Maybe she’ll be an Olympic swimmer.
There is a question of "Do you believe in god" My answer was no.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 25, 2018:
Hawking said that there is no one who directs the universe. His concept of God, the God in which he disbelieved, was objective. He was thinking of a God who is “out there”—something like a person but with supernatural powers. I don’t believe anything like that myself and never have.
There is however an ultimate reality that is deeply enmeshed with conscious awareness IMO. I would not label that as “God”, but some people do. True reality is subjective—“WE” collectively are that reality.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 25, 2018:
Hawking said that there is no one who directs the universe. His concept of God, the God in which he disbelieved, was objective. He was thinking of a God who is “out there”—something like a person but with supernatural powers. I don’t believe anything like that myself and never have.
There is however an ultimate reality that is deeply enmeshed with conscious awareness IMO. I would not label that as “God”, but some people do. True reality is subjective—“WE” collectively are that reality.
A thought crossed my mind and I'd like the input/opinions of others on it.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 25, 2018:
“The theists/religious etc.” encompasses a very broad spectrum. I imagine the typical member of that group is disinterested in the opinions of atheists—those who are religious on a deep level are not thinking about belief or disbelief at all.
Suppose there were a few people who felt envious of atheists. That would mean that their religion was skin-deep. They could easily declare themselves to be atheists if they felt that way.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 25, 2018:
“The theists/religious etc.” encompasses a very broad spectrum. I imagine the typical member of that group is disinterested in the opinions of atheists—those who are religious on a deep level are not thinking about belief or disbelief at all.
Suppose there were a few people who felt envious of atheists. That would mean that their religion was skin-deep. They could easily declare themselves to be atheists if they felt that way.
Regarding Reincarnation
In the literature you'll find many discussions on the alleged factual ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 24, 2018:
Good point about the memory. If memories consist only of data stored somehow in the brain then clearly reincarnation reports make no sense. If we choose to believe the reports we have to think that some aspect of at least part of a person’s memory is somehow present outside the body
I do not reject the latter out of hand. I am undecided. Label me as an undecidedist. I understand that not all Buddhists believe in reincarnation either.
In remote viewing a psychic is said to somehow sense impressions from another person. Maybe the reincarnated person is doing remote viewing. The idea fits well with the concept of universal consciousness.
I’m afraid all this woo is going to get me banished. :-(
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 24, 2018:
Good point about the memory. If memories consist only of data stored somehow in the brain then clearly reincarnation reports make no sense. If we choose to believe the reports we have to think that some aspect of at least part of a person’s memory is somehow present outside the body
I do not reject the latter out of hand. I am undecided. Label me as an undecidedist. I understand that not all Buddhists believe in reincarnation either.
In remote viewing a psychic is said to somehow sense impressions from another person. Maybe the reincarnated person is doing remote viewing. The idea fits well with the concept of universal consciousness.
I’m afraid all this woo is going to get me banished. :-(
Crop Circles: The Julia Set Near Stonehenge: July 1996
It only takes one crop circle incident to ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 24, 2018:
That’s a lot of damage to someone’s crop.
The person who admitted to being involved might be questioned further. Sometimes things just go unnoticed.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 24, 2018:
That’s a lot of damage to someone’s crop.
The person who admitted to being involved might be questioned further. Sometimes things just go unnoticed.
Does a post or comment make you feel a little ill? We now have a nausea icon under "Like".
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 24, 2018:
I just tried it out on the post below, an apt candidate. I see my green face appears in place of the thumb. I’m assuming it’s the latest rating that will be displayed.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 24, 2018:
I just tried it out on the post below, an apt candidate. I see my green face appears in place of the thumb. I’m assuming it’s the latest rating that will be displayed.
Going backwards
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 24, 2018:
You didn’t say that the person was an atheist. There are a lot of Christian humanitarians, free thinkers, and followers of science. (Though their thinking might not be as free as some others.)
If they said that they were an atheist, and then recanted, I’d say that they were basically undecided at this point and they need more time. That shouldn’t be a problem to anyone.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 24, 2018:
You didn’t say that the person was an atheist. There are a lot of Christian humanitarians, free thinkers, and followers of science. (Though their thinking might not be as free as some others.)
If they said that they were an atheist, and then recanted, I’d say that they were basically undecided at this point and they need more time. That shouldn’t be a problem to anyone.
If it was discovered, for whatever reason, that in seven days the USA was to become uninhabitable, ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
I’d think about Australia. Do you have a spare bedroom?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
I’d think about Australia. Do you have a spare bedroom?
A concept of a god.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
Beautifully said.
We’re on the same wavelength.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
Beautifully said.
We’re on the same wavelength.
1) Is freethinking possible or are we all conditioned by culture, class, past, environment etc.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
My body is conditioned by culture, class, past environment, etc., and also by genetics. Conscious awareness might step in and coax that body into having free thoughts—creating new ideas. Of course there are limitations.
Because of those limitations we don’t know everything. It is a mistake to make harsh judgments about the opinions of others. They can’t help but believe what they believe. Their beliefs or opinions are a small part of the whole person.
Point of fact: They could be right and we might be wrong.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
My body is conditioned by culture, class, past environment, etc., and also by genetics. Conscious awareness might step in and coax that body into having free thoughts—creating new ideas. Of course there are limitations.
Because of those limitations we don’t know everything. It is a mistake to make harsh judgments about the opinions of others. They can’t help but believe what they believe. Their beliefs or opinions are a small part of the whole person.
Point of fact: They could be right and we might be wrong.
The Corny Bible
Can anyone help me out here with a rational explanation?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
Wheat has ears too:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_(botany)
In Britain “corn” I’m told refers to any grain.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
Wheat has ears too:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_(botany)
In Britain “corn” I’m told refers to any grain.
So if we reject the idea that a transcendental force has predetermined what should be the human ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
The human condition is fine with me. Transcendent or not, we are subject to the workings of nature. Things are the way they have to be IMO, and it is neither good nor bad.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
The human condition is fine with me. Transcendent or not, we are subject to the workings of nature. Things are the way they have to be IMO, and it is neither good nor bad.
How to reply when someone says 'have a blessed day'
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
It doesn’t bother me at all, but then I’m not really a legitimate atheist.
Maybe the person just wants to convey warm wishes. No need to hurt their feelings.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
It doesn’t bother me at all, but then I’m not really a legitimate atheist.
Maybe the person just wants to convey warm wishes. No need to hurt their feelings.
Pretty cool eh? [msn.com]
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
Very interesting article! Thanks
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
Very interesting article! Thanks
An interesting analysis about atheism in America.
[newyorker.com]
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
It is an EXCELLENT article. Thanks for posting.
“...philosopher John Gray demonstrates in his new book, “Seven Types of Atheism” (Farrar, Straus & Giroux), and one that could help Americans move beyond their intractable fight over the existence of God“
It sounds like a book I want to read.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
It is an EXCELLENT article. Thanks for posting.
“...philosopher John Gray demonstrates in his new book, “Seven Types of Atheism” (Farrar, Straus & Giroux), and one that could help Americans move beyond their intractable fight over the existence of God“
It sounds like a book I want to read.
[foxnews.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
It’s way too broad of a brush IMO, but there are some shreds of truth. How can you fault someone for what they believe or don’t believe? Do we really have any choice? Such an angry and aggressive stance by the author is totally ineffective and will generate nothing but defensiveness and counter-anger. On the other hand, anger and aggression by a handful of strident atheists is responsible for generating that same response.
IMO it is silly to argue over the existence of “God”. No one knows what that is. No one understands what “existence” means . We don’t know what “know” means. We don’t even know what we ourselves are, but by all means, go at each other with sticks and stones if you want to. That’ll settle the issue.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
It’s way too broad of a brush IMO, but there are some shreds of truth. How can you fault someone for what they believe or don’t believe? Do we really have any choice? Such an angry and aggressive stance by the author is totally ineffective and will generate nothing but defensiveness and counter-anger. On the other hand, anger and aggression by a handful of strident atheists is responsible for generating that same response.
IMO it is silly to argue over the existence of “God”. No one knows what that is. No one understands what “existence” means . We don’t know what “know” means. We don’t even know what we ourselves are, but by all means, go at each other with sticks and stones if you want to. That’ll settle the issue.
Discussion point - One is going to have a far more interesting conversation with a Buddhist than an ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
I agree so far as concerns those atheists who strongly identify with atheism. The person tethered to his atheism has nothing to say about religion except that he doesn’t believe in gods and that the burden of proof is on you.
The Buddhists that I have met are modest and don’t like to flaunt their religion, so you might not get much out of them either.
You can have very interesting conversations with open-minded people who are fellow humans first and who happen not to believe in God secondly. Lots of examples on this forum.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 23, 2018:
I agree so far as concerns those atheists who strongly identify with atheism. The person tethered to his atheism has nothing to say about religion except that he doesn’t believe in gods and that the burden of proof is on you.
The Buddhists that I have met are modest and don’t like to flaunt their religion, so you might not get much out of them either.
You can have very interesting conversations with open-minded people who are fellow humans first and who happen not to believe in God secondly. Lots of examples on this forum.
Perhaps this site should change its name to atheist.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 22, 2018:
Good point. Atheists say they have no burden of proof but some of them sure make a lot of attacks.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 22, 2018:
Good point. Atheists say they have no burden of proof but some of them sure make a lot of attacks.
Do you agree that all forms of religion should be banished from the Earth as a bad case of mental ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 22, 2018:
Such an old idea, and it’s been tried multiple times all around the world, never to avail.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_atheism
Other than pure ego, why would anyone have the arrogance to impose their views through coercion?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 22, 2018:
Such an old idea, and it’s been tried multiple times all around the world, never to avail.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_atheism
Other than pure ego, why would anyone have the arrogance to impose their views through coercion?
I believe it's a good practice to base one's worldview, to the extent humanly possible, only on ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 22, 2018:
My world view consists of abject bewilderment. That’s because as I see it, science provides only superficial answers.
Maybe we need two world views: one based on science, that helps us survive in our daily physical existence, and another based on a keen sense of awe and wonder, where new ideas are pounced upon with greed regardless of whether they arise from science, metaphysics, mysticism, philosophy or art.
The latter is a subjective world view and should not contain firm beliefs at all. It is a world view of personal experiences.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 22, 2018:
My world view consists of abject bewilderment. That’s because as I see it, science provides only superficial answers.
Maybe we need two world views: one based on science, that helps us survive in our daily physical existence, and another based on a keen sense of awe and wonder, where new ideas are pounced upon with greed regardless of whether they arise from science, metaphysics, mysticism, philosophy or art.
The latter is a subjective world view and should not contain firm beliefs at all. It is a world view of personal experiences.
Hey evangelicals, which church is President Horseface J. Mushroomdick worshiping at this morning?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 21, 2018:
Old DT is actually a secular kind of guy and a sleazy liar like most politicians.
It’s the Clinton woman who is an evangelical, or claims to be—Methodist that is.
I voted Libertarian.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 21, 2018:
Old DT is actually a secular kind of guy and a sleazy liar like most politicians.
It’s the Clinton woman who is an evangelical, or claims to be—Methodist that is.
I voted Libertarian.
“Some theists, observing that all ‘effects’ need a cause, assert that God is a cause but not ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 21, 2018:
Quantum physics has it that events are random and don’t need causes. “Indeterminacy” is their word. Current theories of quantum gravity hold that time does not exist.
With that in mind, the idea of creation appears as meaningless. The nature of underlying Ultimate Reality is staggeringly unknowable in terms of our human based model of matter moving through space and time.
Nothing will come of the argument—no one knows what they are arguing about.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 21, 2018:
Quantum physics has it that events are random and don’t need causes. “Indeterminacy” is their word. Current theories of quantum gravity hold that time does not exist.
With that in mind, the idea of creation appears as meaningless. The nature of underlying Ultimate Reality is staggeringly unknowable in terms of our human based model of matter moving through space and time.
Nothing will come of the argument—no one knows what they are arguing about.
What difference does it make for one to believe in the divine or not?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 21, 2018:
I agree with your post. It really is a waste of time because none of us have any knowledge or understanding of this God that we are arguing over. To say that you believe or disbelieve is meaningless if you have no idea of the thing to be believed or disbelieved. In that the nature of ultimate reality is a profound, overwhelming mystery, it seems to me that the natural reaction would be awe and wonder rather than belief or disbelief.
There are however, some very astute people on this site who have positive ideas and probing questions, and I enjoy reading their posts and exchanging ideas with them.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 21, 2018:
I agree with your post. It really is a waste of time because none of us have any knowledge or understanding of this God that we are arguing over. To say that you believe or disbelieve is meaningless if you have no idea of the thing to be believed or disbelieved. In that the nature of ultimate reality is a profound, overwhelming mystery, it seems to me that the natural reaction would be awe and wonder rather than belief or disbelief.
There are however, some very astute people on this site who have positive ideas and probing questions, and I enjoy reading their posts and exchanging ideas with them.
Religious conservatives lead the nation in online porn searches.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 20, 2018:
It is a very biased article. A third of all homemade sex videos are from the South. Guess what! A third of the nation’s population lives in the South.
Religion in the "Bible Belt"
http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/region/south/
If you click on the above link you'll see a rating of various religious practices and values in the South. Under each table is a tab to click on and see how the various regions compare in religious practices. If you look you'll see that while the South is indeed more religious, the differences among the regions are not very great. There are certainly not enough differences to warrant labeling the South as the "bible belt". The South is a huge and diverse region, the most populous region, with every conceivable religion and religious opinion.
Detractors seem to imply that southern religion is somehow inferior, pointing to a literal interpretation of the Bible rampant in the South. Such interpretations are common all over the world. While I personally do not agree with those interpretations I feel that such dogma is basically superficial and should not be used to disparage people. The marks of religious people are prayer, meditation, compassion, and awe or appreciation for existence, and are common to people of all religions. IMO belief is not important.
There is a line of reasoning by some which goes like this: Conservatives are selfish and lack compassion. The South is conservative. The south is the Bible Belt. Therefore southerners are hypocrites. Each assertion is either outright false or is an over-generalization, and the conclusion is nothing but a vicious stereotype. Please stop.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 20, 2018:
It is a very biased article. A third of all homemade sex videos are from the South. Guess what! A third of the nation’s population lives in the South.
Religion in the "Bible Belt"
http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/region/south/
If you click on the above link you'll see a rating of various religious practices and values in the South. Under each table is a tab to click on and see how the various regions compare in religious practices. If you look you'll see that while the South is indeed more religious, the differences among the regions are not very great. There are certainly not enough differences to warrant labeling the South as the "bible belt". The South is a huge and diverse region, the most populous region, with every conceivable religion and religious opinion.
Detractors seem to imply that southern religion is somehow inferior, pointing to a literal interpretation of the Bible rampant in the South. Such interpretations are common all over the world. While I personally do not agree with those interpretations I feel that such dogma is basically superficial and should not be used to disparage people. The marks of religious people are prayer, meditation, compassion, and awe or appreciation for existence, and are common to people of all religions. IMO belief is not important.
There is a line of reasoning by some which goes like this: Conservatives are selfish and lack compassion. The South is conservative. The south is the Bible Belt. Therefore southerners are hypocrites. Each assertion is either outright false or is an over-generalization, and the conclusion is nothing but a vicious stereotype. Please stop.
SHOULD WE RESPECT RELIGION?
[barbara.smoker.freeuk.com]
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 20, 2018:
To “respect” is to “look again”, thereby gaining greater knowledge and awareness for the value of something. You can spout off your hatred and bigotry toward groups of people all you want, and if you live where there is freedom of speech you will not be arrested. If you say those things in my house though, you will be asked to leave.
We should respect each other at all times and not attack or judge each other, not because we are trying to be nice, but because of logical necessity. It should be impossible for us to do otherwise.
A simple, calm statement that you are not in accord with particular religion dogmas has a lot more impact than an angry judgmental rant IMO.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 20, 2018:
To “respect” is to “look again”, thereby gaining greater knowledge and awareness for the value of something. You can spout off your hatred and bigotry toward groups of people all you want, and if you live where there is freedom of speech you will not be arrested. If you say those things in my house though, you will be asked to leave.
We should respect each other at all times and not attack or judge each other, not because we are trying to be nice, but because of logical necessity. It should be impossible for us to do otherwise.
A simple, calm statement that you are not in accord with particular religion dogmas has a lot more impact than an angry judgmental rant IMO.
Religion is like chemotherapy, it may solve one problem, but it can cause a million more.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 20, 2018:
Some forms of religion maybe.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 20, 2018:
Some forms of religion maybe.
The Exodus: Nice Story; Pity About The Reality: Part Two
THE TEN PLAGUES
We’ve all learned ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 20, 2018:
I have long since lost interest in the miracles described in the Bible. Even if they really happened, which is extremely unlikely, they are nothing but anomalies of nature that are of little significance. What is significant is every moment of conscious awareness—now that is truly miraculous IMO.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 20, 2018:
I have long since lost interest in the miracles described in the Bible. Even if they really happened, which is extremely unlikely, they are nothing but anomalies of nature that are of little significance. What is significant is every moment of conscious awareness—now that is truly miraculous IMO.
The Ongoing Enigma of the Crop Circles: Part One
One, just one, of numerous bits of suggestive ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 20, 2018:
Those damned aliens ought to be made to pay for the damage they do.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 20, 2018:
Those damned aliens ought to be made to pay for the damage they do.
Science rocks. ;)
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
Oh, I thought this was a post about geology. Excuse me!
How much grant money do you suppose was spent to learn that about panic disorder?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
Oh, I thought this was a post about geology. Excuse me!
How much grant money do you suppose was spent to learn that about panic disorder?
What would you consider "The meaning of life" to be?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
I think the meaning is to wonder what the meaning is, and to revel in that mystery and to communicate with each other.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
I think the meaning is to wonder what the meaning is, and to revel in that mystery and to communicate with each other.
Quote of the day: "Blind believe in authority is the greatest enemy of truth." Albert Einstein
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
Maybe that’s why Al didn’t get along very well in his Catholic school. You can bet he wasn’t in the gifted program, and he no doubt got his knuckles rapped more than a few times. Anger and rebellion might have fueled his entire amazing career, and we are the beneficiaries.
It reminds me of Edison, who never darkened the door of a school, and William Faulkner who dropped out after sixth grade. You can bet that if Faulkner had taken creative writing classes we would never have heard of him.
Besides churches and schools, most of the authority figures I have had to deal with were silly bureaucrats and politicians. But those were nothing compared to figures like Marx, Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, etc. Yet misguided people are clamoring to bring that sort of authoritarianism to the US.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
Maybe that’s why Al didn’t get along very well in his Catholic school. You can bet he wasn’t in the gifted program, and he no doubt got his knuckles rapped more than a few times. Anger and rebellion might have fueled his entire amazing career, and we are the beneficiaries.
It reminds me of Edison, who never darkened the door of a school, and William Faulkner who dropped out after sixth grade. You can bet that if Faulkner had taken creative writing classes we would never have heard of him.
Besides churches and schools, most of the authority figures I have had to deal with were silly bureaucrats and politicians. But those were nothing compared to figures like Marx, Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, etc. Yet misguided people are clamoring to bring that sort of authoritarianism to the US.
Simple, yet so difficult to master. At least for me.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
Beautifully said!
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
Beautifully said!
With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
Good and evil as opposites—that is an artificial concept with no real meaning. Someone acts in a way of which I don’t approve and I give him the label of evil. It’s all about me and what I dislike.
The concept of good, in its highest context is in an entirely different category. Good pervades the universe. Reality is made out of good. Everyone is good.
I don’t like certain aspects of some religious organizations, but that is a long way from declaring religion in general to be evil. The religious impulse is man’s highest and best attribute, the source of all human creativity IMO.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
Good and evil as opposites—that is an artificial concept with no real meaning. Someone acts in a way of which I don’t approve and I give him the label of evil. It’s all about me and what I dislike.
The concept of good, in its highest context is in an entirely different category. Good pervades the universe. Reality is made out of good. Everyone is good.
I don’t like certain aspects of some religious organizations, but that is a long way from declaring religion in general to be evil. The religious impulse is man’s highest and best attribute, the source of all human creativity IMO.
Perhaps consciousness continues after physical death. If so, what then?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
A particular body dies, and no longer exhibits consciousness or deep awareness, but consciousness continues through other people and other organisms. IMO the body never was consciously aware in the first place. How could a hunk of meat be conscious just through the firing of neurons?
We often take our conscious awareness for granted, but awareness is truly a profound impenetrable mystery and a precious gift of enormous value. There is nothing much of value to a particular body with its thoughts and memories, certainly nothing deserving of immortality, but conscious awareness lives forever. Awareness creates the sensation of time.
Our true Self is in “heaven” right now and always will be. The sensation of selfhood as a separate individual is just a temporary illusion.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
A particular body dies, and no longer exhibits consciousness or deep awareness, but consciousness continues through other people and other organisms. IMO the body never was consciously aware in the first place. How could a hunk of meat be conscious just through the firing of neurons?
We often take our conscious awareness for granted, but awareness is truly a profound impenetrable mystery and a precious gift of enormous value. There is nothing much of value to a particular body with its thoughts and memories, certainly nothing deserving of immortality, but conscious awareness lives forever. Awareness creates the sensation of time.
Our true Self is in “heaven” right now and always will be. The sensation of selfhood as a separate individual is just a temporary illusion.
Neocons, neofascists, and tRump supporters, seem to be incapable of making cogent arguments or for ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
The typical citizen is not a scientist nor is much given to mental analysis. I think the typical citizen votes for a big, brash, mouthy guy like DT who tells lies and dares to wear a baseball cap with his suit.
Maybe it’s for the best. The leader of a wolfpack will always be the most wolffish of the wolves.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
The typical citizen is not a scientist nor is much given to mental analysis. I think the typical citizen votes for a big, brash, mouthy guy like DT who tells lies and dares to wear a baseball cap with his suit.
Maybe it’s for the best. The leader of a wolfpack will always be the most wolffish of the wolves.
Socially Responsible Investing
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
I’m okay with guns and gold but don’t like candy and soft drinks. Trouble is that my fund is managed at different layers and I have no input, or if I do I am not aware of it.
If a corporation’s stock gets pushed down in value does that really hurt them or deter them? The remaining stockholders will still get their dividends, and after all, they are the real owners. I think if you wanted to put corporations out of business it would be more effective to take the campaign to the users.
BTW, what is wrong with gold mining?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
I’m okay with guns and gold but don’t like candy and soft drinks. Trouble is that my fund is managed at different layers and I have no input, or if I do I am not aware of it.
If a corporation’s stock gets pushed down in value does that really hurt them or deter them? The remaining stockholders will still get their dividends, and after all, they are the real owners. I think if you wanted to put corporations out of business it would be more effective to take the campaign to the users.
BTW, what is wrong with gold mining?
What was something you once believed and later discovered you were wrong
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
I once thought I had made a mistake but then I learned that I hadn’t.
That’s all I can think of right now.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
I once thought I had made a mistake but then I learned that I hadn’t.
That’s all I can think of right now.
How would pain work in Hell if there would be no physical body there?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
Good point!
The whole concept of hell is stupid and ridiculous.
There is no hell.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
Good point!
The whole concept of hell is stupid and ridiculous.
There is no hell.
I've finally given some responses to the people who responded to my not thought out post about ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
Don’t sweat it. Some of ‘em ARE lazy and/or stupid. On the other hand, some people just like the freedom of sleeping outdoors. After all, it is cheaper.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
Don’t sweat it. Some of ‘em ARE lazy and/or stupid. On the other hand, some people just like the freedom of sleeping outdoors. After all, it is cheaper.
Survey: Half of parents think flu shot causes the flu - Orlando Sentinel
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
Put them through a few epidemics like those of past years and they’ll change their tunes. How many deadly diseases have been wiped out through vaccination? Without vaccinations the world population would be a fraction of what it is.
Just one hundred years ago one third of the world’s population had the Spanish flu and over 100 million died. My parents remembered that epidemic well.
We are spoiled.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
Put them through a few epidemics like those of past years and they’ll change their tunes. How many deadly diseases have been wiped out through vaccination? Without vaccinations the world population would be a fraction of what it is.
Just one hundred years ago one third of the world’s population had the Spanish flu and over 100 million died. My parents remembered that epidemic well.
We are spoiled.
What do you think of MGTOW (Men Going Their Own Way)?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
I intended to live that way but I got lonely and horny and went off track. Eventually things turned out ok.
There is nothing inherently anti-female about the statement. There’s nothing to keep women from taking similar stances, and in fact many do. I wish them all success and happiness, these MGTOW.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
I intended to live that way but I got lonely and horny and went off track. Eventually things turned out ok.
There is nothing inherently anti-female about the statement. There’s nothing to keep women from taking similar stances, and in fact many do. I wish them all success and happiness, these MGTOW.
Do only humans have a soul? What is a soul? Would you ever trade yours for anything?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
Who or what is it that is “having” all these souls? It would make more sense to say that soul-stuff is observing and supervising an organic body of some sort for awhile.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
Who or what is it that is “having” all these souls? It would make more sense to say that soul-stuff is observing and supervising an organic body of some sort for awhile.
Do you believe that racism and hatred is taught in childhood?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
As a primate supremacist I associate socially only with my fellow primates. I am not a hater. The other mammals are ok in their places but I certainly wouldn’t want my daughter to marry one of them.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
As a primate supremacist I associate socially only with my fellow primates. I am not a hater. The other mammals are ok in their places but I certainly wouldn’t want my daughter to marry one of them.
Do you believe that racism and hatred is taught in childhood?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
I believe that there is an innate tendency for kinsmen to stick together. It’s the birds of a feather thing and it is neither good nor evil. It is nature’s way of preserving valuable genetic and cultural traits. At the same time nature likes to experiment, so there will be a bit of mixing along the edges. It might take a very long time for things to get sorted out, but eventually a new mixed population might emerge that is superior in surviving in a particular environment. I see evidence for that every week.
So far as racial hatred, that comes from fear, and fear comes from the thinking of untrue thoughts.There is nothing under the sun to fear. Every person alive is the culmination of a very long line of survivors and is logically due the utmost respect and love.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 19, 2018:
I believe that there is an innate tendency for kinsmen to stick together. It’s the birds of a feather thing and it is neither good nor evil. It is nature’s way of preserving valuable genetic and cultural traits. At the same time nature likes to experiment, so there will be a bit of mixing along the edges. It might take a very long time for things to get sorted out, but eventually a new mixed population might emerge that is superior in surviving in a particular environment. I see evidence for that every week.
So far as racial hatred, that comes from fear, and fear comes from the thinking of untrue thoughts.There is nothing under the sun to fear. Every person alive is the culmination of a very long line of survivors and is logically due the utmost respect and love.
I wish Triscuits would focus less on that basket weave design and more on not tasting like an actual...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 18, 2018:
The Walmart version is better and cheaper IMO.
Odd that an American would refer to them as biscuits.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 18, 2018:
The Walmart version is better and cheaper IMO.
Odd that an American would refer to them as biscuits.
Our Latest Global Warming Scare
by Richard A. Epstein
[hoover.org]
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 18, 2018:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_by_temperature
Average annual temperature of NYC is 55.3 degrees Fahrenheit
Average annual temperature of Boston is 51.7 degrees Fahrenheit
NYC, which is about 200 miles from Boston is 3.6 degrees warmer than Boston on average.
According to NASA satellite measurements, the earth is warming at the rate of 0.13 degrees Celsius per decade, or 0.23 degrees Fahrenheit.
http://www.drroyspencer.com/2018/09/uah-global-temperature-update-for-august-2018-0-19-deg-c/
Divide 3.6 by 0.23 and you learn that Boston is projected to be as warm as NYC in 15.7 decades, or 157 years.
No one knows if temperatures will continue as they are going, but if they do, assuming uniform change, in 157 years Boston will be as warm as NYC is currently. Would that be a sky-falling catastrophe?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 18, 2018:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_by_temperature
Average annual temperature of NYC is 55.3 degrees Fahrenheit
Average annual temperature of Boston is 51.7 degrees Fahrenheit
NYC, which is about 200 miles from Boston is 3.6 degrees warmer than Boston on average.
According to NASA satellite measurements, the earth is warming at the rate of 0.13 degrees Celsius per decade, or 0.23 degrees Fahrenheit.
http://www.drroyspencer.com/2018/09/uah-global-temperature-update-for-august-2018-0-19-deg-c/
Divide 3.6 by 0.23 and you learn that Boston is projected to be as warm as NYC in 15.7 decades, or 157 years.
No one knows if temperatures will continue as they are going, but if they do, assuming uniform change, in 157 years Boston will be as warm as NYC is currently. Would that be a sky-falling catastrophe?
The Eugenics Crusade on PBS's "American Experience" - utterly disturbing
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 17, 2018:
Shamefully, groups of Americans traveled to Germany to help Hitler in setting up his own eugenics program. The idea of gas ovens was hatched right here in the US.
But by all means, let’s not talk about that.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 17, 2018:
Shamefully, groups of Americans traveled to Germany to help Hitler in setting up his own eugenics program. The idea of gas ovens was hatched right here in the US.
But by all means, let’s not talk about that.
"So, you wake up one morning and realize that you’re not the person you wanted to be.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 17, 2018:
We can’t achieve everything but we can at least accomplish something. Our goals should arise from deep personal intuitions rather than being based on social expectations. We don’t have to fight our way to our goals—we are simply drawn relentlessly along in the right direction by hidden forces.
It’s a rather negative essay, but no matter how your life has gone, if you still enjoy conscious awareness you have a very valuable gift. Every second of conscious awareness makes it all worthwhile IMO.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 17, 2018:
We can’t achieve everything but we can at least accomplish something. Our goals should arise from deep personal intuitions rather than being based on social expectations. We don’t have to fight our way to our goals—we are simply drawn relentlessly along in the right direction by hidden forces.
It’s a rather negative essay, but no matter how your life has gone, if you still enjoy conscious awareness you have a very valuable gift. Every second of conscious awareness makes it all worthwhile IMO.
Article about why these types of illusions trick our brains: [scientificamerican.com]
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 17, 2018:
Interesting article.
Am I supposed to see motion in the picture?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 17, 2018:
Interesting article.
Am I supposed to see motion in the picture?
Computers and deep data can make better decisions than Christian politions.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 17, 2018:
Would atheist politicians do any better? The world has experienced droves of them.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 17, 2018:
Would atheist politicians do any better? The world has experienced droves of them.
PragerFU: Free Will Follow-up - misterdeity
[youtube.com]
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 17, 2018:
By all rights we ought not have free will, or conscious awareness either, but we do. It is something that we experience continually.
Direct experience trumps philosophy.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 17, 2018:
By all rights we ought not have free will, or conscious awareness either, but we do. It is something that we experience continually.
Direct experience trumps philosophy.
The Social Brain: culture, change and evolution | Bret Weinstein
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 16, 2018:
I really woke up about twenty minutes in when Weinstein started talking politics. The left and the right might come together on policy if they started trying to learn truth rather than to win.
An idea I favor is that government should deal in stocks and bonds—manage a huge public fund on behalf of the people. This is not a utopian idea—it’s been proven to work in several countries. It is working in China and in Norway, and even Alaska has its Permanent Fund. Also I believe that Canada has such a fund for financing pensions.
It would take many years to fully implement such a plan, but the ultimate result would be the elimination of taxes, elimination of all social programs, and the institution of a lifelong subsistence income for all citizens. The goal should be efficiency and abundance for all of society. Creation of jobs is a liability, not an asset.
It is a great video, full of interesting ideas. Thanks for posting skado.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 16, 2018:
I really woke up about twenty minutes in when Weinstein started talking politics. The left and the right might come together on policy if they started trying to learn truth rather than to win.
An idea I favor is that government should deal in stocks and bonds—manage a huge public fund on behalf of the people. This is not a utopian idea—it’s been proven to work in several countries. It is working in China and in Norway, and even Alaska has its Permanent Fund. Also I believe that Canada has such a fund for financing pensions.
It would take many years to fully implement such a plan, but the ultimate result would be the elimination of taxes, elimination of all social programs, and the institution of a lifelong subsistence income for all citizens. The goal should be efficiency and abundance for all of society. Creation of jobs is a liability, not an asset.
It is a great video, full of interesting ideas. Thanks for posting skado.
Are positive illusions a necessary condition for being happy?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 16, 2018:
By all rights we should not have to pump up our psyches with exaggerated thoughts, because every moment of awareness is profoundly beautiful and miraculous. If an alien spaceship landed in our front yard we’d get all excited, but the basic implications of existence far far outdo anything like that. We tend to take our lives for granted—allow them to be just drab and commonplace by forgetting just how amazing and awesome reality is.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 16, 2018:
By all rights we should not have to pump up our psyches with exaggerated thoughts, because every moment of awareness is profoundly beautiful and miraculous. If an alien spaceship landed in our front yard we’d get all excited, but the basic implications of existence far far outdo anything like that. We tend to take our lives for granted—allow them to be just drab and commonplace by forgetting just how amazing and awesome reality is.
What religion is the most ridiculous?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 15, 2018:
Scientism.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 15, 2018:
Scientism.
Outside Time and Space?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 15, 2018:
According to “Reality is not What it Seems” by physicist Carlo Rovelli, time does not exist and space is not smooth and infinite, but finite and granular.There are no “things” in the way we usually think of things. Particles of matter exist only as interactions between covariant quantum fields.
In other words our perception of reality is nothing but an illusion based on crude symbolism of ultimate reality which lies beyond.
It’s a matter of semantics. You could label ultimate reality as “God” if you wanted—I’d prefer not to. But in the final analysis we are arguing about something of which we are totally ignorant. We need to stop.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 15, 2018:
According to “Reality is not What it Seems” by physicist Carlo Rovelli, time does not exist and space is not smooth and infinite, but finite and granular.There are no “things” in the way we usually think of things. Particles of matter exist only as interactions between covariant quantum fields.
In other words our perception of reality is nothing but an illusion based on crude symbolism of ultimate reality which lies beyond.
It’s a matter of semantics. You could label ultimate reality as “God” if you wanted—I’d prefer not to. But in the final analysis we are arguing about something of which we are totally ignorant. We need to stop.
Here's a mystery I've been trying to solve for a long time.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 15, 2018:
I am not an atheist, but like you, I do not believe in God as taught by traditional churches.There are other options. I think each person has to find his own place. Some people need traditional religion—it is their comfort and they aren’t interested in rationality. Others have faith in scientism—it is their comfort. They think they are rational, but at heart they are as irrational as the most close-minded Bible thumper.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 15, 2018:
I am not an atheist, but like you, I do not believe in God as taught by traditional churches.There are other options. I think each person has to find his own place. Some people need traditional religion—it is their comfort and they aren’t interested in rationality. Others have faith in scientism—it is their comfort. They think they are rational, but at heart they are as irrational as the most close-minded Bible thumper.
Is religion natural or does it need indoctrination?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 15, 2018:
Yes, I think religion is natural. Primitive people don’t even think of themselves as being religious. They just live. Tell a shaman that you are an atheist and I doubt he’ll understand what you mean.
In modern society we have the option of selecting a religion that is natural for us, or we can be non-religious if that feels right for us.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 15, 2018:
Yes, I think religion is natural. Primitive people don’t even think of themselves as being religious. They just live. Tell a shaman that you are an atheist and I doubt he’ll understand what you mean.
In modern society we have the option of selecting a religion that is natural for us, or we can be non-religious if that feels right for us.
We should be responsible and live a debt-free life.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 14, 2018:
To set up that US student loan program was a dire mistake IMO. The program has caused costs to skyrocket. Just as with medical insurance, the money is there for the getting and greedy administrators act accordingly. Many young victims have been caught up in the scheme. I don’t know the answer. Could the loans just be forgiven? Refinanced?
I feel so lucky and grateful that my father was able to pay my way. How is it done in the Netherlands?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 14, 2018:
To set up that US student loan program was a dire mistake IMO. The program has caused costs to skyrocket. Just as with medical insurance, the money is there for the getting and greedy administrators act accordingly. Many young victims have been caught up in the scheme. I don’t know the answer. Could the loans just be forgiven? Refinanced?
I feel so lucky and grateful that my father was able to pay my way. How is it done in the Netherlands?
To you "Spiritualists" out there:
How were the "rules" of your afterlife set up?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 14, 2018:
I put myself down as “spiritual”, but none of your questions apply to me. I am not claiming that there is a soul that flies up to heaven at death, etc. “Spirituality“ to me means that a person realizes that our perception of reality is illusional and that behind the scene lies true reality that we can not detect with our senses or understand in terms of our matter/space/time model. The nature of that higher reality is a profound mystery. Science, with its mathematical models gives only a superficial glimmer. Viewed in this way, the implications of existence are staggering.
Sir Arthur Eddington:
“The universe is of the nature of a thought or sensation in a universal Mind... To put the conclusion crudely — the stuff of the world is mind-stuff.”
“We are no longer tempted to condemn the spiritual aspects of our nature as illusory because of their lack of concreteness.”
“The scientific answer is relevant so far as concerns the sense-impressions... For the rest the human spirit must turn to the unseen world to which it itself belongs.”
So far as “believing in a creator”, I for one have not ruled out that possibility, but I would never phrase it in that way. It’s not about belief, and it’s not about “a creator” IMO. To create means to bring into existence at a particular time. The meaning of existence is very obscure and time does not exist in the most recent theories of physics, so questions about a creator are probably meaningless. What does it mean to say that you believe in something when you haven’t the faintest idea of the nature of that thing. The most rational response IMO is not belief but total bewilderment.
So far as your last paragraph, you are stating your opinion that consciousness arises from the body and disappears upon death. That is just your opinion and is not proven fact. The nature of deep conscious awareness is unknown and possibly unknowable.
I lean toward the idea of universal consciousness, or Ultimate Reality as embodied in the Brahman concept. There is no proof but my confidence level is currently 89.46%. :-)
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 14, 2018:
I put myself down as “spiritual”, but none of your questions apply to me. I am not claiming that there is a soul that flies up to heaven at death, etc. “Spirituality“ to me means that a person realizes that our perception of reality is illusional and that behind the scene lies true reality that we can not detect with our senses or understand in terms of our matter/space/time model. The nature of that higher reality is a profound mystery. Science, with its mathematical models gives only a superficial glimmer. Viewed in this way, the implications of existence are staggering.
Sir Arthur Eddington:
“The universe is of the nature of a thought or sensation in a universal Mind... To put the conclusion crudely — the stuff of the world is mind-stuff.”
“We are no longer tempted to condemn the spiritual aspects of our nature as illusory because of their lack of concreteness.”
“The scientific answer is relevant so far as concerns the sense-impressions... For the rest the human spirit must turn to the unseen world to which it itself belongs.”
So far as “believing in a creator”, I for one have not ruled out that possibility, but I would never phrase it in that way. It’s not about belief, and it’s not about “a creator” IMO. To create means to bring into existence at a particular time. The meaning of existence is very obscure and time does not exist in the most recent theories of physics, so questions about a creator are probably meaningless. What does it mean to say that you believe in something when you haven’t the faintest idea of the nature of that thing. The most rational response IMO is not belief but total bewilderment.
So far as your last paragraph, you are stating your opinion that consciousness arises from the body and disappears upon death. That is just your opinion and is not proven fact. The nature of deep conscious awareness is unknown and possibly unknowable.
I lean toward the idea of universal consciousness, or Ultimate Reality as embodied in the Brahman concept. There is no proof but my confidence level is currently 89.46%. :-)
Regarding the Soul / Afterlife: Some Random Thoughts.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 14, 2018:
Those extra personalities that share a single body are illusions, no different than the illusions you and I create when we identify with our bodies.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 14, 2018:
Those extra personalities that share a single body are illusions, no different than the illusions you and I create when we identify with our bodies.
The Flat Earth movement - so, this was the lead story on CBS Sunday Morning today - these people ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 14, 2018:
I guess it gives an ego boost to read about these misguided idiots. All of us are, oh so far above them in intellect.
Actually the flat earth model has some good uses. Navigation of short distances is one. Mapping of small areas is another.
The planetary model, which has a spheroidal earth orbiting the sun, is also nothing but a model, useful for many things, but still only a model. Ultimate reality is a deep unfathomable mystery. We need models or symbols to stay organized.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 14, 2018:
I guess it gives an ego boost to read about these misguided idiots. All of us are, oh so far above them in intellect.
Actually the flat earth model has some good uses. Navigation of short distances is one. Mapping of small areas is another.
The planetary model, which has a spheroidal earth orbiting the sun, is also nothing but a model, useful for many things, but still only a model. Ultimate reality is a deep unfathomable mystery. We need models or symbols to stay organized.
Here's a good philosophical question (I took it from a philosophy podcast):
Suppose there existed...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 14, 2018:
In a crucial way “We” do live forever and don’t need pills. “We” keep shedding our old worn out bodies and getting new ones.
If one of the old bodies refuses to die is it going to be productive and carry its own weight or is going to be a burden to other bodies? Maybe it ought to get the hell out of the way and make room.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 14, 2018:
In a crucial way “We” do live forever and don’t need pills. “We” keep shedding our old worn out bodies and getting new ones.
If one of the old bodies refuses to die is it going to be productive and carry its own weight or is going to be a burden to other bodies? Maybe it ought to get the hell out of the way and make room.
One Man Could End World Hunger, but He Won’t
[truthdig.com]
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 13, 2018:
Baloney! If all of Jeff Bezos’s assets were evenly divided each person would receive five bucks, enough for a hamburger with fries. The thinking in this article is based on envy, and ignores some basic facts of economics. Paper wealth is not wealth. Real wealth consists of goods and services, and those have to be created continuously. You could give every person in the world a million dollars and it wouldn’t change a thing.
People like Jeff Bezos contribute greatly to society by facilitating the distribution of goods and services. They richly deserve their rewards, and no one is harmed in the least by those rewards. In fact we all benefit greatly!
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 13, 2018:
Baloney! If all of Jeff Bezos’s assets were evenly divided each person would receive five bucks, enough for a hamburger with fries. The thinking in this article is based on envy, and ignores some basic facts of economics. Paper wealth is not wealth. Real wealth consists of goods and services, and those have to be created continuously. You could give every person in the world a million dollars and it wouldn’t change a thing.
People like Jeff Bezos contribute greatly to society by facilitating the distribution of goods and services. They richly deserve their rewards, and no one is harmed in the least by those rewards. In fact we all benefit greatly!
Religion and cultural evolution - - - -
One of my intellectual guiding principles is: "Nothing in ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 13, 2018:
I agree that the parasite analogy is a poor one. “Parasite” is just a slur—an epithet thrown out in anger and it means nothing.
Anger is just anger—part of our natural world, but view religion with dispassion and you must admit that throughout history it has been the religious societies that survived and prospered.
Attempts to eradicate religion have generally been unsuccessful. There have been many such attempts. One example is in Mexico. Click on this link and you’ll see a gruesome picture of Mexico’s priests hanging alongside a roadway. Yet, today there is religion in Mexico.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristero_War
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_atheism
I think there will be religions in the future, but they will be advanced, enlightened religions that promote only awareness, awe, appreciation, and gratitude.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 13, 2018:
I agree that the parasite analogy is a poor one. “Parasite” is just a slur—an epithet thrown out in anger and it means nothing.
Anger is just anger—part of our natural world, but view religion with dispassion and you must admit that throughout history it has been the religious societies that survived and prospered.
Attempts to eradicate religion have generally been unsuccessful. There have been many such attempts. One example is in Mexico. Click on this link and you’ll see a gruesome picture of Mexico’s priests hanging alongside a roadway. Yet, today there is religion in Mexico.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristero_War
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_atheism
I think there will be religions in the future, but they will be advanced, enlightened religions that promote only awareness, awe, appreciation, and gratitude.
Can I talk about my feelings for a bit?
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 12, 2018:
Examine those feelings and identify the thoughts you are having that bring on the feelings. Analyze the thoughts and determine if they are true. Write it all out so that the truth will be keyed into all levels of your consciousness. In some cases the truth might be that the answer is not known, but that in any event there is nothing to fear. In truth, there is absolutely NOTHING to fear.
Read “The Church’s development of the Hell Myth” by Denker, just below your post. Consider reading “Help Yourself to Happiness” by Dr Maxie Maultsby Jr. Find other social outlets.
Good luck in your journey. Stick it out and you’ll be in for a joyous life of deep awareness, awe and appreciation. Remember, THERE IS NOTHING TO FEAR!
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 12, 2018:
Examine those feelings and identify the thoughts you are having that bring on the feelings. Analyze the thoughts and determine if they are true. Write it all out so that the truth will be keyed into all levels of your consciousness. In some cases the truth might be that the answer is not known, but that in any event there is nothing to fear. In truth, there is absolutely NOTHING to fear.
Read “The Church’s development of the Hell Myth” by Denker, just below your post. Consider reading “Help Yourself to Happiness” by Dr Maxie Maultsby Jr. Find other social outlets.
Good luck in your journey. Stick it out and you’ll be in for a joyous life of deep awareness, awe and appreciation. Remember, THERE IS NOTHING TO FEAR!
The Reality of Something: Matter & Energy
We live in the world of the macro and in the realm of ...
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 11, 2018:
It’s all so very confusing. Please don’t start talking about multiverses unless it’s poetry.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 11, 2018:
It’s all so very confusing. Please don’t start talking about multiverses unless it’s poetry.
I don't watch tv.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 11, 2018:
TV is a good thing to be without IMO.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 11, 2018:
TV is a good thing to be without IMO.
The Church's Development of the Hell Myth
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 11, 2018:
Extremely good thing to read! Thank you so much for posting.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 11, 2018:
Extremely good thing to read! Thank you so much for posting.
An excerpt from a Book I am writing.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 11, 2018:
“1. A human experience of morality is observed.”
True, and the same thing is observed in wolf packs, herds of ruminants and other social animals. Without such behavior social groups can not survive.
“2. God is the best or only explanation for this moral experience.”
Not true. God is no explanation at all. “God” is just a word, an icon for the great mysterious ultimate reality. To invoke that word explains nothing. It is merely the substitution of one mystery for another, or rather, it is the attempted substitution of a fairly simple phenomenon with a very profound mystery.
“3.Therefore God exists”
By what rule of logic is such an inference made. It is ridiculous. First of all, “God” does not need proving, and there is no proof. There is an ultimate reality of some sort but its nature is a total mystery in terms of our human way of understanding. How can we pretend to prove or disprove God when we don’t understand conscious awareness, which frames our every experience. In that we don’t know what conscious awareness is we also don’t know what we ourselves are. The whole exercise is an absurd waste of verbiage.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 11, 2018:
“1. A human experience of morality is observed.”
True, and the same thing is observed in wolf packs, herds of ruminants and other social animals. Without such behavior social groups can not survive.
“2. God is the best or only explanation for this moral experience.”
Not true. God is no explanation at all. “God” is just a word, an icon for the great mysterious ultimate reality. To invoke that word explains nothing. It is merely the substitution of one mystery for another, or rather, it is the attempted substitution of a fairly simple phenomenon with a very profound mystery.
“3.Therefore God exists”
By what rule of logic is such an inference made. It is ridiculous. First of all, “God” does not need proving, and there is no proof. There is an ultimate reality of some sort but its nature is a total mystery in terms of our human way of understanding. How can we pretend to prove or disprove God when we don’t understand conscious awareness, which frames our every experience. In that we don’t know what conscious awareness is we also don’t know what we ourselves are. The whole exercise is an absurd waste of verbiage.
As we settle into fall I'm thinking of christmas.
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 11, 2018:
Yes, truth is better. Tell the kids that we give presents for fun and because we love each other.
It’s not Christmas, it’s YULE!
WilliamFleming comments on Oct 11, 2018:
Yes, truth is better. Tell the kids that we give presents for fun and because we love each other.
It’s not Christmas, it’s YULE!
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