hutch6 550 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 The existence of "something more" has been documented by all cultures right through history and mostly at a time when people were far more in touch with nature and the world than we will ever be. That is purely because we are more aware of our world than any other animal on the planet and have a far more developed brain than any other animal which leads us to question why does it get dark and light? What is that big glowing thing up there that brings us warmth, energy, safety and makes shit grow? Why do all the other sparkly things only come out when the big bright thing goes away? The sun was by far the first thing to be worshipped due the advantages it brings us over the night. People were far more in touch with nature due to us coming from their and having to be to survive. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Born Hunter 17,763 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Supernatural experiences are just part of our psychology, it's been shown that environmental factors effect the brain and consciousness in ways that make people believe they are being touched by a ghost, have been abducted by aliens or are being spoken to by spirits. We're only really starting to understand the capability of the human brain.... My own theory of theism is that it is a naturally selected survival mechanism (that'll really upset the creationists). I believe that humans being self aware and able to question their environment have developed faith as a means of remaining strong at challenging times. It's no coincidence that people turn to faith in times of desperation and find comfort in knowing they are part of a bigger picture and that there is a universal law to live by. How many times do theists use this as justification for their beliefs? The alternative quite frankly scares them. Seeing how many isolated human populations have all developed their own theistic systems based around that core belief of a superior 'father' (god) but starkly different in detail supports this concept, as if their was one god surely all these isolated systems would be similar in detail following the same dogma? Yet the dogma of any given religion or theistic system is only ever spread by man.... That's my tuppence worth.... Link to post Share on other sites
WILF 46,786 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Ah, but if we are saying religion is simply a "coping" mechanism out fear of the finality of things then surely the same claim could be levelled at strongly anti religious people for fear of the unknown ? Link to post Share on other sites
mushroom 12,915 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Near death and afterlife explained http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/N,N-Dimethyltryptamine bh I remember seeing a Program about some scientists who reported seeing spooky things happening I'm their periphial vision in a certain part of this lab. The theory put forward was that it had something to do with infrasound or waves or something created from the recently installed fan turbine in the air circulation system. They turned it off and voilà the apparitions stopped. They just weren't sure the exact as to how and why it affected people. Link to post Share on other sites
tb25 4,627 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 if theres one thing for sure..we will all find out one way or another when our time comes.. Link to post Share on other sites
Born Hunter 17,763 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 I'm not sure I understand what you are saying WILF? There are surely some people that claim to be atheists simply because they don't want to follow the teachings of a given religion with no real logical thought as to the existence of a deity, if that's what you mean. As well as some that are scared of judgement from this alleged greater power so choose not to believe simply for that reason. I'm not sure if that is what you meant but I don't see that as a reason to support the existence of a god.... just another example of human psychology.... Link to post Share on other sites
Born Hunter 17,763 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Shroom, yeah they're exactly the sort of environmental effects I was talking about. Magnetism, electrical fields, acoustic waves, radiation etc. etc. It's really quite amazing how human perception can be influenced by such things.... Link to post Share on other sites
paulus 26 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Shroom, yeah they're exactly the sort of environmental effects I was talking about. Magnetism, electrical fields, acoustic waves, radiation etc. etc. It's really quite amazing how human perception can be influenced by such things.... magnetic fields have always been linked to effects on the brain, it is believed migratory birds use these magnetic fields to navigate great distances without ever having made the journey before, then there's the effect of the moon as it changes phases as in the word lunatic studies in scientific litrature discribe how many animals fron whales and dolphins to hummingbirds and wildebeests rely on the earths magnetic superhighways to navigate their way to feeding and mating grounds. humans dont use these superhighways or so it was thought. In 1993 an international team studying magnetoreception, the ability of our brains to detect magnetic changes in the earth.the team published the remarkable findings that the human brain contains millions of tiny magnetic particles. these particals conect us just as they do animals, to earths magnetic field in a powerfull direct, and intimate way. we know that for example magnetic fields have a profound influence over our nervous systems, our immune systems and our perception of time,space,dreams, and maybe even reality itself. Link to post Share on other sites
desertbred 5,490 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 may be the same magnetic forces at work with the word c**t Link to post Share on other sites
WILF 46,786 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 (edited) What I mean is, if we can simply "write off" billions of people through history as simply needing a coping mechanism because there is no hard concrete evidence for what that feel, experience and believe then I am afraid that's not good enough mate. And this is what I meant by could such things exist, which should put everybody firmly into 3 camps: Yes No Maybe And I would say the definite "no" people may be the deluded ones simply because they can not connect with what "yes" people feel, experience and believe You cant use atheist as a cover all term because there are ao many degrees and types of atheist. By the way, non believers/atheists call them what you will are firmly in the minority whic basically means out of a 100 people, 1 person is telling the other 99 they are mad Makes you think don't it Edited November 11, 2014 by WILF 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Born Hunter 17,763 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Well of course that explanation will not be good enough for somebody that believes in a greater supernatural being (a deity/god). But that's where we fundamentally disagree mate. I would just add that I'm not writing them off as anything other than human and I believe faith is an evolved part of our psychology. Religious and spiritual beliefs are a very natural consequence of that and have historically enabled populations to do quite incredible things.... Link to post Share on other sites
WILF 46,786 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 I don't think it's good enough full stop mate and especially for those who claim to deal in facts or at least the balance of probability. Because if 99 people say something is black and your the only one saying it's white then where does that leave you I do like our discussions, they are very interesting matey. Link to post Share on other sites
Born Hunter 17,763 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Aye, I find you very easy to talk to on the subject.... and I can talk about deep stuff until the cows come home. On your point about statistics I would agree with you, but as I say imo all it does is show that humans as a biological species have a natural faith function in our psychology..... As proven by the fact that just about every human society in recorded history has had with it some sort of theistic system/religion. However, one of the reasons I give for this being 100% human and not divine is that there is no consistency between the isolated religions, there is so much variation it's really quite marvellous. The only thing they share is faith in a greater power. Which when you view as a mechanism for survival has proven itself very effective. Add to that rational explanations for these recorded and previously labelled supernatural/divine experiences, I personally, start to see this mysterious puzzle come together.... Link to post Share on other sites
Born Hunter 17,763 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 And can I just add, that that isn't a particularly pleasant conclusion to come to...... When I'm dead, I'm fecking dead! LOL And if somebody wrongs me, there is no universal law on morality that will put it right for me. So coming to the beliefs I have is all rather shite from the consequences, though very fulfilling intellectually. Link to post Share on other sites
gnasher16 30,098 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 What I mean is, if we can simply "write off" billions of people through history as simply needing a coping mechanism because there is no hard concrete evidence for what that feel, experience and believe then I am afraid that's not good enough mate. And this is what I meant by could such things exist, which should put everybody firmly into 3 camps: Yes No Maybe And I would say the definite "no" people may be the deluded ones simply because they can not connect with what "yes" people feel, experience and believe You cant use atheist as a cover all term because there are ao many degrees and types of atheist. By the way, non believers/atheists call them what you will are firmly in the minority whic basically means out of a 100 people, 1 person is telling the other 99 they are mad Makes you think don't it Come on Wilfy get with the program son we are being told all this for our own good you know......forget billions of people over centuries and centuries thats all old hat now theres no such thing as God the aethiests said so.....tell all your friends and one day we might all be saved from ourselves ! Link to post Share on other sites
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