God is a byproduct of your hard-wired narcissism

[cleanhippie]

"At the “Science Technology Future” conference in Melbourne, Australia last month, theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss was asked whether spiritual experiences could ever be scientifically validated.

“The spiritual things — the exotic phenomena people experience — in general violate the things we know to be correct on the basis of experiment, so they’re highly likely to be wrong,” Krauss answered.

“I can’t say to someone who’s heard God in their ears that they’re not hearing God,” he continued. “But I can say that it’s much more likely that they’re hallucinating, based on what we know.”

--snip--

“So I can’t tell someone that what they’ve heard, or what they’ve seen, or [have had] some mystical experience — I can only say that it’s likely a coincidence,” he concluded.

“But none of us like to believe that things that happen to us are coincidences. We’re all hard-wired to believe that things that happen to us are significant.”

Watch video of the conference via organizer Adam Ford on YouTube below.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/10/lawrence-krauss-spiritual-experiences-are-a-byproduct-of-humanitys-hard-wired-narcissism/

[Tikki]

1. I think " there are people who need these coincidences to make it through their life...'

I learned to leave them alone, let them do their thing.

Now, it is only fair they leave me alone and let me do my coincidence free thing.

I am so proud of myself; when someone I know said they had been praying
I would go to church, I didn't respond.

Tikki

[cleanhippie]

2. "Now, it is only fair they leave me alone and let me do my coincidence free thing. "

If only that were the case...

[roguevalley]

12. perhaps but i need to hear more than his assertions to take him seriously

If you have this hypothesis you have data to support it as true or you are just another hard wired narcissist

[Tikki]

15. I think the data lies in the people one comes in contact with...

In some places, 'what church do you go to?' is the first question asked of a newcomer...


Tikki

[gcomeau]

16. The data is abundant and obvious.

Has there *ever* been an objectively reproducible experimental result validating that any of these experiences reflect some real supernatural influence? No.

Are the claims these people are making about their experiences consistent with any of our understanding of the laws of physics? No.

Since that was Krauss's entire point, that's the data that supports his point.

[roguevalley]

17. if you are going to assert something as scientifically true, both sides have to show

data. Just saying it isn't so isn't enough. I don't see anything that disputes one way or the other his assertion. Another ass clown who doesn't respect the scientific method. IMO

[gcomeau]

18. His data...

..is the sum total of our entire scientific understanding of the universe. The claims made by people attempting to assign supernatural causes to their "spiritual experiences" are inconsistent with said understanding. With all the data. With all the testing. Data says X, spiritual supernaturalists say Y. Is this in some way unclear?


So Krauss has data. All the data actually. His entire statement is "here's all the data we have, and that claim over there doesn't fit. What DOES fit the data we have is that they're imagining things, or hallucinating, or just generally mistaken."


Which is a position that is totally in line with the data available.

[cleanhippie]

19. He never stated anything was "scientifically true", he said it was "highly likely..."

“The spiritual things — the exotic phenomena people experience — in general violate the things we know to be correct on the basis of experiment, so they’re highly likely to be wrong,” Krauss answered.

You seem to want proof of something he never claimed.

[rug]

3. What does yours produce?

[ZombieHorde]

13. Mine produces nihilism.

I enjoy nihilism very much.

[rug]

14. There's something to be said for that.

[bravenak]

4. God for me is a product of too much Acid at once.

She's nice though. A Hindu lady made of fractals and colors and incense.
I find God in others to be reflections of the people themselves. Fearful people seem to hav jealous gods, mean people have vicious gods, etc.

[edgineered]

5. Hey, you got the rest of that acid?

Huh?

There were five hits on that paper!

Whoa, check that out. What is it?

It's called "The Smurfs"
-------------------------
Seriously though, I like your philosophy on people finding god to be a reflection of themselves. With the belief that one is created in the image of god, the most recognizable existence of a god comes from within ones self.

If one were to look beyond ones self to find the image of a god it stands to reason that a male god could only contribute to the giving of life, she brings the life to existence.

[goldent]

6. Is this guy saying there is no scientific evidence for God?

and that people who claim God exists are wrong?

Wow, what a breakthrough! Get him some funding!

[edhopper]

8. Did you watch the video

Which was an answer to an audience members question?

Is that what you got from it?

Hmmm?

[goldent]

9. Yes, I watched the video.

[edhopper]

10. Okay

So you disagree with what he said?

[beam me up scottie]

11. Yes, that's exactly what he's saying.

[trotsky]

7. Naw dude, I'm sure it's a total coincidence...

that everyone believes in a god who supports and opposes the EXACT SAME THINGS they do.