Religion
In reply to the discussion: what is the most important aspect of the interaction between belivers and non believers [View all]AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)That's a wonderfully convenient assertion you have not lifted one finger to support.
"The simplest psychological way that I can demonstrate this is as follows: I want you to not think of an red elephant. It is impossible. The moment you think about 'not thinking' about a red elephant, you have to think about a red elephant. This 'reality' is provable daily in cognitive studies, AI, and psychology. "
Mis-framed argument. Better:
"There is a real, living elephant in my pocket".
*I look at you*
"I don't believe that there is a real, living elephant in your pocket.
That I might momentarily consider what sort of piston would be required to fully jam an elephant into your pocket, and the resulting bulge in your pocket, and whether the elephant might survive, implies no belief on my part whatsoever.
Visualizing your red elephant is part and parcel of evaluating the claim of a red elephant existing. Asking me not to visualize one, and then my mind happily visualizing it anyway, has nothing WHATSOEVER TO DO with advancing positive belief.
It's really a terrible and completely inapplicable argument on your part.
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