jay pettitt on 3/8/2009 at 22:27
Quote:
St Anselm, Onthological argument
Let me see if I've got this.
1. God is really awesome
2. He wouldn't be really awesome if he were made up would he :D
4. QED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's so special.
oh - atheist, by the way :)
st.patrick on 3/8/2009 at 22:31
St Anselm's argument in fact sums up rather nicely (though indirectly and unintentionally) how belief in paternalistic god(s) probably sprung up in the first place. Man examining his surroundings and observing natural phenomena he could neither explain nor fully comprehend: If I, a Man, am able to construct objects and imagine ideas of amazing complexity, these phenomena must have a creator as well. Since I am not able to reconstruct said phenomena, someone more powerful than me must be able to, therefore, such being must be able to induce (almost) anything. Given the patriarchal character of most ancient societies, both patriarchal polytheism and monotheism are a logical consequence.
Taffer36 on 3/8/2009 at 22:52
The keyword there was "devoting".
Actually, no. No keyword necessary. Just read the damn sentence and it's obvious what I mean.
Quote Posted by catbarf
But really, theism/atheism is a binary thing. The fact is that you either believe or you don't.
Yeah, but there's other factors. Primarily, KNOWING versus THINKING. You know there is a god, you think there is a god, you think there is no god, or you know there is no god.
Mingan on 4/8/2009 at 00:01
Could somebody explain to me whatever the fuck is speaking in tongues?
SD on 4/8/2009 at 00:05
Quote Posted by Taffer36
The keyword there was "devoting".
Actually, no. No keyword necessary. Just read the damn sentence and it's obvious what I mean.
Well, I'm not really sure what you could possibly mean by "devoting" oneself to atheism, since atheism (unlike religion) isn't something one can devote oneself to.
Quote Posted by Mingan
Could somebody explain to me whatever the fuck is speaking in tongues?
It's the noise a 14-year-old choirboy makes when he's being raped up the arse by a priest.
catbarf on 4/8/2009 at 00:15
Quote Posted by Mingan
Could somebody explain to me whatever the fuck is speaking in tongues?
It's a subconscious action reinforced by example. Basically, you disengage higher thought and let your brain's speech center go wild. This disconnection makes you think that the meaningless shit pouring out of your mouth (That's what it is- speaking random syllables) is coming out of its own accord, rather than because your brain is actively producing it. This is the same type of disconnection used in Ouija boards and other such silliness- it makes you think that some other being has possession of your body.
AR Master on 4/8/2009 at 01:12
this thread: the best thread?
Aerothorn on 4/8/2009 at 01:12
I used to think about this a lot, but not so much any more.
I definitely don't believe in organized religeous systems and texts, i.e. the Bible or the rules of the Catholic Church. As for any spiritual phenomena itself, it gets more complex. I don't believe in an anthropormorphic god, and find it likely that any one explanation is wrong. But I cannot dismiss the possiblity of a creative force, a being more intelligent or complex than humanity. But, as others have said, it's not really relevant to my life one way or the other, so I don't put a lot of thought into it.
Also, this thread has inspired me to use my lazy summer to create my long-delayed "Fett Bible", compiling his responses to the previous Big Topic on this issue.
Mingan on 4/8/2009 at 01:59
Quote Posted by catbarf
It's a subconscious action reinforced by example. Basically, you disengage higher thought and let your brain's speech center go wild. This disconnection makes you think that the meaningless shit pouring out of your mouth (That's what it is- speaking random syllables) is coming out of its own accord, rather than because your brain is actively producing it. This is the same type of disconnection used in Ouija boards and other such silliness- it makes you think that some other being has possession of your body.
So it's basically the same as self-onduced automatic writing? Hoo-ha :erg:
