On the Topic of Blind Faith...

[johnny861]

We've seen this in the extremes... radical christians and muslims...

We've seen arguments for and against organized religion...


And we've seen arguements for and against blind faith...


Whether God exists or whether we have an afterlife are all arguments based on blind faith..

we can't scientifically confirm the existence of god or an afterlife... it's a regular athiest's dream...

however, on that note, what is the point of blue laws and morality... if we all live here for less than a century?

doesn't matter much in the end.. sex, drugs and death as far as one would be concerned...

however, that is not the case.. so why is there adversion to trying to advance our efforts to extend our lives? why ban stem-cell research? if the rewards could grant us another 20-50 years of life? and there are people content with dying... passing on to the unknown, which could quite possibly be non-existence... is this based on a blind faith assessment?


but blind faith is an interesting concept... do we all just happen to reach some conclusion that there is something significant going on? or is it a genetic disposition that maybe something is going on and we haven't discovered it yet...


What are your thoughts on blind faith? Are you a blind faith believer in something or have an athiest philosophy that goes against an afterlife?

[Adam D]

As far as religion goes, I've yet to see credible evidence for any of them.

Originally posted by Adam D
As far as religion goes, I've yet to see credible evidence for any of them.

hmmmmm Adam - were you trying to be ironic?

Religion is entirely based on faith - without it God is nothing and on to the babel fish story...

[bfp]

Originally posted by xiannaix
hmmmmm Adam - were you trying to be ironic?

I doubt it.

[Element4040]

Stupid is as Stupid does

I think about this alot....

i guess i have some faith in karma, i don't think im going to come back to earth as another being, but I try to have faith that if I promote positive energy, I will recieve positive energy in return

as for death...i don't know...I usually imagine my self flying through the cosmos like when Gandalf dies...

Originally posted by solointer
I think about this alot....

i guess i have some faith in karma, i don't think im going to come back to earth as another being, but I try to have faith that if I promote positive energy, I will recieve positive energy in return

as for death...i don't know...I usually imagine my self flying through the cosmos like when Gandalf dies...

Sounds a lot like do unto others - followed of couse by a reward of interesting opportunities

[bfp]

I am of the opinion we are the result of a genetic mutation that was able to pass its genetic code on to succesive generations because it was just a little bit smarter.

But, there is only one way to find out.

We are of course a mutation, but what sparked that mutation?

Just as Einstein said, the further he looked to the outer perimeters of his mind regarding science and creation he came to one conclusion. That there was a God, a creator of all kinds.

As for the different religions on earth. It's obvious that different cultures tend to create a religion for their kind. They do though have similarities regarding good and evil. I do believe that the trait was given to mankind somehow. Not from picking an apple from a tree. Why we come to think of such things, is perhaps proof that something such as heaven and hell exists?

There was some guy on PBS, I forgot his name, he was on a while back connecting all of the religions showing each similarity of human nature and the events that happened in each religion and their past cultures, it was pretty intresting.

Originally posted by WarLord
To quote George Burns playing God:

"There is no unknown because what is unknown, I know."

Humanity has used religion to explain what we could not understand at the time.

I am of the opinion we are the result of a genetic mutation that was able to pass its genetic code on to succesive generations because it was just a little bit smarter.

But, there is only one way to find out. Suicide.

Wonderful - yes - "God of the gaps" has been around forever.

religion of course started out as a way to explain how the universe worked and where it came from.
then the priests got ahold of it and fucked it up by making stupid rules to go with it.


god is the best explination for the impossible questions we seek. what god or what it says to you is up in the air, but what matters is, is that you get peace of mind from it.

Religion- latin;religio; to link back...
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:qoute:
we can't scientifically confirm the existence of god or an afterlife... it's a regular athiest's dream...
-----
An athiest's dream is the "believers" reality.


:quote:
however, on that note, what is the point of blue laws and morality... if we all live here for less than a century?
------
what exactly is a blue law?


:quote:
doesn't matter much in the end.. sex, drugs and death as far as one would be concerned...
-------
How can you say that the present does not affect the future? is "much" the key word in the sentence?

:quote:
however, that is not the case.. so why is there adversion to trying to advance our efforts to extend our lives? why ban stem-cell research? if the rewards could grant us another 20-50 years of life? and there are people content with dying... passing on to the unknown, which could quite possibly be non-existence... is this based on a blind faith assessment?
-----
imo this is the result of ignorance that's about all I can say


:qoute:
but blind faith is an interesting concept... do we all just happen to reach some conclusion that there is something significant going on? or is it a genetic disposition that maybe something is going on and we haven't discovered it yet...
-----
I feel we all have that gentic disposition, yet "i" always diffrent than the next.

:quote:
What are your thoughts on blind faith? Are you a blind faith believer in something or have an athiest philosophy that goes against an afterlife?
------
i wish i was better with words to reply to your question about faith. but all i can draw up is a blank.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bfp
There was some guy on PBS, I forgot his name, he was on a while back connecting all of the religions showing each similarity of human nature and the events that happened in each religion and their past cultures, it was pretty intresting.

Campbell??

Originally posted by ffrresshman
Religion- latin;religio; to link back...
------
:qoute:
we can't scientifically confirm the existence of god or an afterlife... it's a regular athiest's dream...
-----
An athiest's dream is the "believers" reality.


quote:
however, on that note, what is the point of blue laws and morality... if we all live here for less than a century?
------
what exactly is a blue law?

http://webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionar...ry&va=blue+law

Main Entry: blue law
Function: noun
1 : one of numerous extremely rigorous laws designed to regulate morals and conduct in colonial New England
2 : a statute regulating work, commerce, and amusements on Sundays

Although the term is frequently more loosely applied.

Originally posted by ffrresshman
:quote:
doesn't matter much in the end.. sex, drugs and death as far as one would be concerned...
-------
How can you say that the present does not affect the future? is "much" the key word in the sentence?

Appears to be part of a carpe diem approach? I agree with the author that regardless of what we do in this earth while alive - we'll still die. However, choices we make do affect the quality of that life and those around us as well as impact upon those we are unaware of.

Originally posted by ffrresshman
:quote:
however, that is not the case.. so why is there adversion to trying to advance our efforts to extend our lives? why ban stem-cell research? if the rewards could grant us another 20-50 years of life? and there are people content with dying... passing on to the unknown, which could quite possibly be non-existence... is this based on a blind faith assessment?
-----
imo this is the result of ignorance that's about all I can say

Stem cell research may improve or extend life. Part of the fear is the notion of a 'fetus' industry. There has been recent commentary on a New Jersey bill that will permit creation of human embryos through cloning, paying a woman to be impregnanted and to carry that embryo for eight months and then to sell the cloned fetus and or its parts for research - and all of this would be permissible under the law. I think the commentary was probably a bit of a paranoid rmbling on what the current boundries of the law are rather than on what is being done or what is planned to be done. However, if it is permissible - expect that some one will begin to test those boundries. At a minimum - it is true that research agencies are now planning to clone human embryos for the purpose of research - something that had prior been declared a zero possibility or being permitted. It's not ignorance - it is fear of a slippery slope that drives part of the debate over stem cell research. Ultimately - the science and research end will win - we do not turn back the clock. However, there are tremendous ethical issues that need resolution. If they are not the cost is the further degredation of the value of the individual as a unique and special person and the reduction of the person to a unit.


[QUOTE]Originally posted by ffrresshman
:qoute:
but blind faith is an interesting concept... do we all just happen to reach some conclusion that there is something significant going on? or is it a genetic disposition that maybe something is going on and we haven't discovered it yet...
-----
I feel we all have that gentic disposition, yet "i" always diffrent than the next.

:quote:
What are your thoughts on blind faith? Are you a blind faith believer in something or have an athiest philosophy that goes against an afterlife?
------
i wish i was better with words to reply to your question about faith. but all i can draw up is a blank.

Originally posted by Bfp
There was some guy on PBS, I forgot his name, he was on a while back connecting all of the religions showing each similarity of human nature and the events that happened in each religion and their past cultures, it was pretty intresting.

Campbell??

The term "Blind faith" is perhaps a bit harsh. It assumes that one either denies faith or is a blind adherent. Most of the people I have gone to church with, growing up and as an adult, will tell you that their faith is not blind - I will tell you mine is not. That they see evidence of god around them all the time, that they have seen the direct influence or interaction of god in their life (easy examples - meeting their husband or wife, child birth, major life crises resolved etc - answered prayers)

Afterlife is afterlife. Who knows what it is. Do I believe it exists - yes. Can I describe it - No. Do I think anyone could do so with specificity - No.

Augustine in large part based his philosophy and description of the holy trinity on the teachings of Plotinus. What Plotinus tells us, and I'll try to be as brief and concise on this as I can (any philosphy majors out there who could lend a hand?) Anyway..... there are essentially 3 elements to existence - the One, the Nous (although I was reading from a french translation rfom Greek so this may merely mean "We") and the World Soul. The "One" being one is beyond description because to do so would give it parts and deny being "one." Everything eminates from the "one." Think of it as the singular part of a flame from a match in a dark space - the further from the "One" the darker everything becomes as boundries move - from the "one" to the "nous" and eventually into the world soul. It has been said that the sould strives to return to god - the "one." Heaven is then nearness to the "one" god or light. But - as I said - how the hell should I know - I don't. But the idea is attractive and seems to me to make sense.

Originally posted by bfp
We are of course a mutation, but what sparked that mutation?

Just as Einstein said, the further he looked to the outer perimeters of his mind regarding science and creation he came to one conclusion. That there was a God, a creator of all kinds.

As for the different religions on earth. It's obvious that different cultures tend to create a religion for their kind. They do though have similarities regarding good and evil. I do believe that the trait was given to mankind somehow. Not from picking an apple from a tree. Why we come to think of such things, is perhaps proof that something such as heaven and hell exists?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The picking an apple from a tree statment reminds me of a quote from the movie Apocalypse Now Redux. " The harder they tried to make it seem like home the more they missed it"..

Originally posted by ffrresshman
Originally posted by bfp
We are of course a mutation, but what sparked that mutation?

Just as Einstein said, the further he looked to the outer perimeters of his mind regarding science and creation he came to one conclusion. That there was a God, a creator of all kinds.

As for the different religions on earth. It's obvious that different cultures tend to create a religion for their kind. They do though have similarities regarding good and evil. I do believe that the trait was given to mankind somehow. Not from picking an apple from a tree. Why we come to think of such things, is perhaps proof that something such as heaven and hell exists?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The picking an apple from a tree statment reminds me of a quote from the movie Apocalypse Now Redux. " The harder they tried to make it seem like home the more they missed it"..

Surely even Pope JPII has declared evolution to be more than just a theory..... but this goes to the how question....it does not begin to address the "why" life question. To reduce it to simlpy a random occurrance seems awfully cold and cynical.

regarding, as a philosophy prof of mine called, The Einstein - order suggests design. God does not play dice with the universe.

The knowledge of good and evil makes us flawed - and human. We know the difference - and still sometimes choose evil - - a gift - - free will - - a curse?

God of the gaps developed everywhere - however - the Judeo/Christian/Islamic tradition (with a few notable exceptions - all of which have relatively no modern significance) gave rise to Monotheism quite early on. The Law was given so that society could have rules to avoid conflict and create greater harmony - as well as defining what actions could have dire consequences - if not in this life but later.

Surely other religions fit other cultures - they develope together - religion does serve a function that is too often disregarded as quaint..

blah blah blah

[johnny861]

I always liked to think of religion as a quick response for the questions philosophy poses for science to eventually answer...


I would imagine religion has simply served as an order and possibly a catalyst for civilization... Civilization in its various format have always consisted of a hierarchial system, be it rulers or institutions.


Maybe it was the next evolutionary step between humans and that of animals in nature...

Maybe we are not that far off from shedding our religio to move onto another step, then perhaps we are pushing the fold and are not ready to shed our traditions, which bind us back together as groups of people with said "cultural" identity...