The mere fact that other people wholeheartedly endorsed Him meant that He must have been more confident in identifying such "hallucinations". This meant that He may have literally created an entire world of His own by cementing His "dreams". — Michael McMahon
For example we can see how complex Middle Earth is from JRR Tolkien and the author didn't even have anyone praying to him — Michael McMahon
But you are missing an important point: faith. Believe or not believe in God depends on faith. — javi2541997
So no matter how much you or your society reject God, you are still influenced by the genes of religious ancestors. — Michael McMahon
Would you put yourself in heaven if you could externally assess your past life once you had died? — Michael McMahon
If your mind expanded after you died, would you be able to excuse your past crimes as "work"?! — Michael McMahon
So how do you account for 'the magical thinking stage of early childhood development' that begins prior to using language? Vestiges of this formative emotional cognitive stage last through most of childhood and are usually only limited – but never eliminated – by disiciplined literacy and numeracy as well as cosmopolitan socialization. Magical thinking – natural, visible 'effects caused by' supernatural, invisible agencies – drives religiousity, no? 'Homo religiosi' might be an overstatement, but not by very much ...Being religious is not inherited in our DNA. — javi2541997
Cite a culture or society of any antiquity that completely lacks religious iconography or rites (i.e. storytelling aka "myths"). :chin:The OP said that we cannot deny the religiousity of our ancestors. That's a fallacy. Religion has not existed forever or everywhere. — javi2541997
Cite a culture or society of any antiquity that completely lacks religious iconography or rites (i.e. storytelling aka "myths") — 180 Proof
What would happen if we meditated to Jesus instead of praying to Jesus? — Michael McMahon
But what I reach as conclusion is that meditation cannot be connected with Jesus because with the act of meditation we are separating ourselves from any kind of identity.
So, we can only "pray" to Jesus not meditate about him. — javi2541997
It's better than nothing! — Michael McMahon
So an atheist doesn't just lack a belief, a real atheist also lacks certain emotional responses to death and has a specific attitude?A real atheist would not find "peace" in Christianity (or other dogmas) because he already accepted the emptiness of afterlife.
And the people who lack a belief in god or believe there is no God, but are terrifed of death, they aren't real atheists? — Bylaw
Yes, they are not afraid of experiencing 'things' after death. But they fear no longer existing, no longer experiencing, no longer being alive. — Bylaw
:up: "God" is the ur-placebo or cosmic lollipop.I still think religion is not the answer. — javi2541997
The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. — Henry David Thoreau
Whether or not one believes in a god, cowardice is sin against oneself, and many, maybe most, are damned to remain cowards their entire lives. — 180 Proof
So the benevolence of Jesus appears to be of a slightly different kind. — Michael McMahon
The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. — Henry David Thoreau
"The pen/spoken is mightier than the sword" so to speak. — Benj96
A difficulty with faith is that the mind is partially deterministic such that your subconscious mind forces you to reconcile conflicting beliefs. So religious people who are exposed to a lot of science are often forced to analyse their faith to the same degree of logic. A little problem is that while religion is very intelligent it's self-referential to some extent. Thus faith directly clashes with materialism since the material world is more observable. Religion would almost need to investigate science solely to present religious claims more analytically. Otherwise they'd need to conceptualise the afterlife more vividly in order to sway agnostics. — Michael McMahon
Yes they both explain with different methods but they can both approach the actual Truth (existence/universe) as it actually is without bias and contradictions between selves. — Benj96
. In other words the fact that some of them don't blaspheme during their life might be an accident — Michael McMahon
So if evil people are capable of being forgiven in the afterlife then both deeds and faith would be relevant. — Michael McMahon
As I discern these concepts ...1. Deism
2. Pandeism
3. Panendeism
4. Panentheism
5. Pantheism — Agent Smith
Get involved in philosophical discussions about knowledge, truth, language, consciousness, science, politics, religion, logic and mathematics, art, history, and lots more. No ads, no clutter, and very little agreement — just fascinating conversations.