a reply to:
chr0naut
Humans do have a sense of the numinous. We can stimulate the brain with TMS and cause these types of sensations, but why would we have such neural
configuration in the first place? How could natural selection select for these configurations and what evolutionary process could they serve?
Language.
Then there is our innate ethical and moral codes which we know are not learned and are sometimes at odds with our own survival and comfort. These are
better explained in religion than in psychology or biology.
Captured animals sometimes attempt suicide, a whole array of animals seek other species out for assistance. Are we really that special?
Science also reveals contradictions, and discoveries which break previous paradigms, and so it cannot be thought of as an unassailable source of truth
and the only determinator of fact.
I didn't say it was. If theories doesn't fit the facts it changes the theory, not the facts.
Spirituality is entirely normal to the human population. Very few people have ever been atheist. Atheists are still a minority, despite the
advancements of humanist movements.
Human languages are infused with ideas of the spiritual. You cannot discuss atheism or philosophy without utilizing wording based upon spiritual
beliefs.
That's seemingly how language and culture evolves, spirituality identifies the points of contention but it's culture that insists on conflict. Seems
to me you really want your Christianity to be right which is evidenced by the way you look down on gods and the cultures that had them whilst having
little respect for humanist movements.
Yes, but the majority of it was. If you were to remove the magic, woo-woo and crazy stories from it, there wouldn't be much reasonable stuff left.
You might be looking at them wrong. I'd suggest studying them with less bias and more understanding. Why is homosexuality somewhat common throughout
more advanced animals and why were the sacred band of Thebes the greatest of fighters bar none? To quote you whilst taking a bit liberty: "Those
people cannot reproduce anymore, and as their death is inevitable, there is no evolutionary advantage or reason for the whole process." Yet, it
happens... The Greeks knew more about love and the rest of emotions which is exemplified within their faith systems than any that survives today, just
like the Norse knew more about democracy and freedom than anybody today. I'd say it depends entirely on what the culture holds dear and what they wish
to work on. You could call it advancing the human condition but it's probably more likely they're merely understanding it which can also be reflective
in regards to other species or even gods. But yeah, they were a bunch of weirdos just like many homesteaders are weirdos when they keep chickens well
after their "sell by" date and are no longer edible and egg laying was a fond memory.
The stories are crazy at face value but so are monotheistic religions.
All morality is to "temper aspects of the human". There are humans who kill for power they feel it gives them. There are masochists who take things
too far. There are people who do regrettable things in a moment of insanity. Are we sure that we want to embrace every aspect of our 'humanity' in
everyone at all times?
They don't dissolve because they are denied. If God tells you to kill your own flesh and you're a God fearing/loving man... What do you do?
Morality and faith should always be an individual thing. Personally I find it atrocious that individuals are blindsided because their eyes were
fixated on something another demanded they look at.
I believe that the way observation modifies wave-particle outcomes, and embedded error correcting code in the underlying structure of matter,
indicates that the universe only fully renders to the observer, and is set up to have corrective redundancy in case of spurious error.
At the same time you'll look at non Christian faiths and claim I may as well watch the looney tunes? Like I said in the beginning it is quite possible
we've made our own gods, how can we have plausible deniability whilst insisting on the implausible? Apollo shines on the city builders... And they say
it's the country bumpkins that are inbred! Just a dumb joke about logic and wisdom btw.
Why would God "crunch some numbers"? A monotheistic God would define the outcome (and would also be omniscient). A calculating machine is not a
monotheistic God as it implies a domain where mathematics works in a particular way, and which directs how it operates.
Mortals explaining a God/god's motivations would be the height of hubris, especially a God. Unless they're all just reflections of us. I learned Thor
is a metaphor for the thinking mind is it irony he is killed by a snake? Anyway, I'm not that clever but it's been a fun spar. I would suggest being a
little more open-minded towards others cultures and especially their faith systems because one day people might just be looking at this time in
history with a similar reproach. To consider ones own culture and civilization as the height of human achievement whilst directly ascribing it to
one's own faith is quite the egotistical thing and dare I say it, full of hubris. It's also doggedly ignorant of difference which ofcourse does breed
conflict "woof" some might call that indoctrination. Personally I say you do you whilst softly mentioning the same things that makes others can also
afford you a little respect for others and understanding.
The fact is all of us are only here today because of what was done yesterday (metaphorically speaking) so dismissive thinking patterns are going to
hold no justice whilst being hardly righteous.