Religion

marylandblue

(12,344 posts)

142. Metaphysics is a pretty broad field

Thu Nov 9, 2017, 11:53 PM

Nov 2017

Many people think about questions of ultimate meaning and purpose, can experience emotional connection to the universe, or even just enjoy a good fantasy story like Star Wars. In the past, these things were often connected to religion, but in modern times, we can still experience these things with or without religion. But the fact that most people think or feel these things at least a little bit, suggests it may be an inborn trait.

The rest of the article fails to distinguish between cognitive beliefs and natural mental processes. So if we have a natural mental process of talking to other people in our heads, perhaps those others were once thought to be gods. But if you recognize it as just a natural mental process, then it is not theism for you.

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Scientists discover that atheists might not exist, and thats not a joke [View all] guillaumeb Nov 2017 OP

Weird. Act_of_Reparation Nov 2017 #1

I found the article to be very interesting for a variety of reasons. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #3

You found it interesting because you feel it justifies faith, broadly. Act_of_Reparation Nov 2017 #58

I felt it would provoke discussion. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #70

I sincerely doubt that. Act_of_Reparation Nov 2017 #113

I am not certain that you exist. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #122

Nor I you. Act_of_Reparation Nov 2017 #126

I hate to say this, but I do not exist. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #129

I don't think so. Act_of_Reparation Nov 2017 #130

I knew that you would say that. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #132

More from the same article: guillaumeb Nov 2017 #2

Hong Kong Poly is not a highly esteemed institution Bretton Garcia Nov 2017 #104

Can one be spiritual without belong to a religion? guillaumeb Nov 2017 #116

Which I guessed is your main hypothesis here. Bretton Garcia Nov 2017 #134

Do you believe that one can be spiritual without belonging guillaumeb Nov 2017 #138

Maybe. Which relates to your major point on DU overall. Bretton Garcia Nov 2017 #144

A nice point, that I will not dispute. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #149

Religion is a psychological quirk? As an atheist, I can live with that. DetlefK Nov 2017 #4

If it is present in everyone in one form or another, guillaumeb Nov 2017 #9

Maybe it is better termed "ignorance" Bretton Garcia Nov 2017 #105

Fascinating jimlup Nov 2017 #5

And tribalism, or social organizations, are also essential. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #10

Why do you separate tribalism and religion? Lordquinton Nov 2017 #28

Where did I separate them? guillaumeb Nov 2017 #33

Clever attempt at framing Lordquinton Nov 2017 #36

It is an aspect of social behavior. eom guillaumeb Nov 2017 #42

which one is an aspect of social behavior?? Angry Dragon Nov 2017 #48

Tribalism, language, religion, politics. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #51

Religion is an aspect of tribalism Lordquinton Nov 2017 #54

I actually stated that in #10. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #68

Clever attempt at dismissal. whathehell Nov 2017 #77

But tribes often war with each other Bretton Garcia Nov 2017 #106

I would never say that it is always good. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #123

Everywhere you talk about them. Act_of_Reparation Nov 2017 #114

I think that you are confused. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #124

Seeing as you just did it again... Act_of_Reparation Nov 2017 #125

I will concede that you have convinced yourself of something. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #127

That you view tribalism and religion as divisible? Act_of_Reparation Nov 2017 #128

This is where I am leaning as well. Freethinker65 Nov 2017 #101

Fake news True Dough Nov 2017 #6

Yo! Pascal sends me! He said you lost the bet and owe him! DetlefK Nov 2017 #8

Polygraphic testimony is not proof. eom guillaumeb Nov 2017 #11

No, the Bible is proof! True Dough Nov 2017 #15

The author of the essay you referenced in the OP didn't even offer that much evidence. AtheistCrusader Nov 2017 #84

I saw the article as an opinion piece. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #87

I think you'll find it was posted here years ago. AtheistCrusader Nov 2017 #91

Fascinating article HopeAgain Nov 2017 #7

True. And no matter the "label" we wear, it is our actions that define us. eom guillaumeb Nov 2017 #12

I speak of my soul as an atheist. Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #13

I believe, for me, HopeAgain Nov 2017 #27

I understand what you are saying. Nt d_r Nov 2017 #102

I believe when I die, I will know nothing, be nothing angstlessk Nov 2017 #88

And then, there's this from that site's home page: MineralMan Nov 2017 #14

Check True Dough Nov 2017 #16

LMAO trotsky Nov 2017 #17

Well, all I did was click through to the link. MineralMan Nov 2017 #20

Well, to be fair, you have to "know science" first. Cuthbert Allgood Nov 2017 #30

Well, I know science. I took classes. I did experiments. MineralMan Nov 2017 #38

I am not a scientist. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #19

Neither are most of that site's writers. MineralMan Nov 2017 #24

The "some scientists say" is from the actual article. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #29

Yes, indeed it is. Just like "sources with links to the administration" MineralMan Nov 2017 #31

Feel free to send an article to the site, or post a refutation here. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #35

Sorry. No time for either. MineralMan Nov 2017 #39

It was soundly refuted years ago, but the site authors don't care. It's still good clickbait. AtheistCrusader Nov 2017 #89

It's not actually an "article" but someone's blog. trotsky Nov 2017 #37

It's not just about me. yallerdawg Nov 2017 #79

It has all the qualifications of 'science' that you do. AtheistCrusader Nov 2017 #86

Nominate me for a position. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #90

The 'science' site you referenced in the OP doesn't require even that much. AtheistCrusader Nov 2017 #92

Tell me something, g-man. trotsky Nov 2017 #18

Absolutely. All religions are equally valid, apparently, MineralMan Nov 2017 #22

Belief does not equate with proof. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #23

Then you have made a severe logical error and humiliated yourself yet again. trotsky Nov 2017 #26

Back to a near default response again. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #32

Well yeah, because you keep making the same mistakes. trotsky Nov 2017 #40

More default responses. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #44

I should. trotsky Nov 2017 #46

What you mean is: guillaumeb Nov 2017 #50

Good for you! trotsky Nov 2017 #53

You started well, guillaumeb Nov 2017 #66

"But none of that makes your religion or your god real" trotsky Nov 2017 #80

I feel it actually bothers you. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #83

You bet, g-man. trotsky Nov 2017 #94

Why does it bother you? guillaumeb Nov 2017 #96

If religion cannot be proven to be true? Then it could be false. Bretton Garcia Nov 2017 #107

Why even mention proof? guillaumeb Nov 2017 #117

But if there is no proof, possibly even by definition? Bretton Garcia Nov 2017 #135

If you feel that I am misinformed about the nature of religion, guillaumeb Nov 2017 #139

Your overall theology seems to be that ultimate reality, God, cannot be known with certainty. Bretton Garcia Nov 2017 #145

If spiritual feelings are a human feature, guillaumeb Nov 2017 #150

More from the article: guillaumeb Nov 2017 #47

That may indeed be the case. trotsky Nov 2017 #49

What is your personal definition of "truth"? eom guillaumeb Nov 2017 #52

Depends on the claim. trotsky Nov 2017 #57

Millions of readers, too. For a time, MineralMan Nov 2017 #103

Evolution Cartoonist Nov 2017 #21

A belief of yours? guillaumeb Nov 2017 #25

An observation Cartoonist Nov 2017 #45

Trump got 90% of the white evangelical vote Bretton Garcia Nov 2017 #108

Another mark against religion Cartoonist Nov 2017 #115

I'm ready for gym class after all that stretching Lordquinton Nov 2017 #34

The term "good" is a term of judgment. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #41

My new autocorrect is an atheist Lordquinton Nov 2017 #56

I would never assume that it was an error. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #69

No, it's 'god' that is the imaginary friend, not 'good.' MineralMan Nov 2017 #43

My new phone... Lordquinton Nov 2017 #55

Damned autocorrect! MineralMan Nov 2017 #59

More afraid of Yahweh and his random tantrums Lordquinton Nov 2017 #62

What you say makes excellent sense. MineralMan Nov 2017 #63

Exactly Lordquinton Nov 2017 #64

God is. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #75

This argument falls on it's face if you're a masochist. DeadLetterOffice Nov 2017 #97

But if one wishes to be happy, guillaumeb Nov 2017 #98

And if I don't wish to be happy, or don't know what I want? marylandblue Nov 2017 #110

I would argue to do nothing until you decide. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #119

I know someone who is miserable all the time marylandblue Nov 2017 #143

I worked with a person who was always unhappy, or appeared so. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #148

she does have a few physical issues, but I know her well marylandblue Nov 2017 #158

And that is an interesting example. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #159

If someone like that is thought to seek happiness marylandblue Nov 2017 #160

Happiness is a relative term. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #161

Not even close rock Nov 2017 #60

The matter is settled. End of discussion. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #71

Ageed rock Nov 2017 #76

I forgot to add: guillaumeb Nov 2017 #78

Some responses to your 3+ year old blog post: trotsky Nov 2017 #61

They are also opinon pieces. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #72

Awesome, I am glad you finally admit you posted a simple opinion piece. trotsky Nov 2017 #93

work? guillaumeb Nov 2017 #95

He keeps saying 'scientists say' or 'have discovered', yet he cites no actual papers. SeattleVet Nov 2017 #65

It is an opinion piece, not a paper destined for peer review. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #73

Opinion pieces on science still have an obligation to represent science correctly marylandblue Nov 2017 #111

How would you defend the opening statement? guillaumeb Nov 2017 #120

Metaphysics is a pretty broad field marylandblue Nov 2017 #142

Sorry, I'm genetically hardwired to think those people are full of shit. Girard442 Nov 2017 #67

But if you were in fact created that way............ guillaumeb Nov 2017 #74

Not all humans are predisposed to faith. A large percentage, but it is not universal. AtheistCrusader Nov 2017 #81

I think. Therefore I am.... aka-chmeee Nov 2017 #82

A nice GIF. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #85

That's like pointing to intrinsic racist bias and claiming it makes us all Nazis. enki23 Nov 2017 #99

A better analogy would be that intolerance for others is intrinsic, guillaumeb Nov 2017 #100

And like tribes, most religions are highly intolerant of each other Bretton Garcia Nov 2017 #109

Reject tribalism? guillaumeb Nov 2017 #118

In favor of an international, more universal, inclusive humanity, say. Bretton Garcia Nov 2017 #136

Going against 300,000 years of history? guillaumeb Nov 2017 #140

It has begun, of course. The Democratic Party is about inclusivity Bretton Garcia Nov 2017 #147

And Europe illustrates the reverse. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #151

Temporary, hopefully. The EU is still there, so far. Bretton Garcia Nov 2017 #153

The EU does need defenders. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #155

That's what I said. enki23 Nov 2017 #137

And if that tendency is inherent in humans, guillaumeb Nov 2017 #141

Saying we are born believers EvilAL Nov 2017 #112

Then where did the belief or the impulse come from? guillaumeb Nov 2017 #121

People told stories. EvilAL Nov 2017 #146

I don't think we are wired for belief. I think we are wired for fear. Binkie The Clown Nov 2017 #131

Sometimes I am wired on caffeine. guillaumeb Nov 2017 #133

I'm wired to be a lesbian - OhZone Nov 2017 #152

Humans are, as you noted, logical and illogical at times. eom guillaumeb Nov 2017 #157

Perhaps the study was conducted in front line foxholes. Pinna Nov 2017 #154

A wise move to hide. Welcome to DU, guillaumeb Nov 2017 #156