2012 : is the world ending? and what happens after that?

[Ferdinanda]

So I guess my goal of jumping Benicio Del Toro, Matt Dillon and Ryan Taylor's bones before I die will have to happen sooner than I thought...

Oh Devon.

 

[MulletProof]

^^^^.. I'm not going to try to change your mind cause it's pretty obvious there's no chance in your book for anyone with a belief you don't sympathise with.
what puzzles me is your concept of god, what kind of god are you talking about?. everyone carries their meaning in a personal way, it's not necessarily that character we knew as children when we'd spend hours wondering, 'but who came before him?', that's just an incentive... once you grow up, just like you realised where babies come from , you're also supposed to realise god lives within you. it's an energy called hope... resistance.. drive, whatever you want to call it, everyone names it differently but we all have it from the moment we're born up until our last beat, some people don't even acknowledge it ever in their lives but those you mentioned that have been in near death experiences, often times they hung up to something.. and trust me, it wasn't for everybody a guy with a beard wearing a white robe lending them a hand or a moment of truth where they apologised for not going to church and promised they'd never do it again... not everyone's that shallow.. or naive.

now your last paragraph... I'm not sure.. you're basically looking down on people based upon a very personal preference.. you seem to know there's a possibility that they can be good people yet you don't see them on the same level as you because you think they're being delusional?. talk about illusions. I don't know if it's just an age thing or whatever but you'll be surprised one day to realise not everything's that black and white, that every head is a world and a lifestyle does not define you as a person unlike actions driven by ethics...

.. and just for the record, saying religion is to blame for all of our unfortunate events is like blaming marx for guerrilla supporters that turned into drug trafficking after the fall of the soviet union. it's nonsense. there are too many interests involved when you have a vulnerable mass at your disposal, and there's a profound lack of education that turns into bigotry if you're smart enough to mold it.

 

[justinleaddict]

sorry, i accidentally posted in the middle of my post..

just a moment...

 

[Nemova]

^ actually you are sort of manipulating yourself

religion is an illusion. sorry, but deal with it...

How condescending of you.

Humans naturally believe in God because we fear nature, and need protection... then we won't fear death. It falls in with our instinctual desires. It is an illusion because we need to believe in it; we cause ourselves to be religious. This is why people tend to turn to God after a near death experience.

Religion somehow tends to be the best for society, but it is not necessary. It influences our morals. But morality doesn't depend on religion. An atheist can be a good person of course.

Also, your environment definitely influences your beliefs... for example, if your family is religious, you might adopt their beliefs because they work for you.

Now, I tend to look down on religious people- Yes, they can be good people. A lot of times they are... But the fact is, you can either believe in science or religion. I prefer people who live in reality and value knowledge.. thats just me. And from my experience, religion has caused more trouble in the world than good.

That's why I tend to look down on atheists - always wanting to keep the upper hand and decide what's wrong and what's right and what's fit for human beings to believe in. There's no contradiction in believing in science and religion - no contradiction at all. Have you ever heard of a guy named Einstein? Or another one named Freud? Apparently, you haven't.

And growing up in a religious environment doesn't necessarily mean one will be religious or will follow the same religion as their peers. My family is Catholic and many of us - including myself - follow different religions. I'm not an exception, as I've learned throughout my life.

Having a biased view on religion doesn't make you look smart. It makes you look biased.

 

[justinleaddict]

Freud was an atheist. He wrote a book on it... "Future of an illusion"...

no changing my mind?... the best way to have a discussion is by not insulting the other person. ok?.... The reason i enjoy discussing things like this is to gain another perspective, and perhaps learn something.

now...

i think the only way to scientifically prove that God does not exist is to explain why, psychologically, humans believe in Him. That is the way I look at it. And in my post i was mostly talking about western religion.

God lives in me? You ask me to explain why i feel Religion is an Illusion, and i tell you.... Sure, people can have different ideas of how he exists and what he does.. but I was trying to analyze why people believe in God, and i feel that that is the best way to explain why I do not believe in Him.

Also, i did not blame religion for all of the worlds problems. Where did I say this?... It does cause problems sometimes though.

No contradictions between science and religion?... There are.

 

[Nemova]

Freud was an atheist. He wrote a book on it... "Future of an illusion"...

Interesting read:

http://www.freud.org.uk/religion.html

 

[The Joker]

Oh no, I'd better go marry a random dude on the street and get naughty before it's too late!!!

Actually, any volunteers ?!!

 

[Nemova]

Oh no, I'd better go marry a random dude on the street and get naughty before it's too late!!!

Actually, any volunteers ?!!

Why marry a random one if you can choose?

 

[The Joker]

Why marry a random one if you can choose?

Hello there. You know, i'm very open to new experience.

 

[justinleaddict]

Interesting read:

http://www.freud.org.uk/religion.html

I dont understand, why did you post this?

 

[Nemova]

Hello there. You know, i'm very open to new experience.

Well, not me. But I can point you in the direction of some very interesting people if you want.

 

[Nemova]

I dont understand, why did you post this?

Because it's about Freud and his (contradictory) views on religion.

 

[justinleaddict]

Have you ever heard of a guy named Einstein? Or another one named Freud? Apparently, you haven't.

why did you say that if you knew he was atheist? ^

 

[The Joker]

Well, not me. But I can point you in the direction of some very interesting people if you want.

Joker picked you. It's done. Sacrifice or die.

JK

 

[Nemova]

why did you say that if you knew he was atheist? ^

Oh God, nevermind. There's no point in discussing if you won't read what's behind the link.

Joker picked you. It's done. Sacrifice or die.

JK

I surrender!

 

[The Joker]

 

[MulletProof]

Freud was an atheist. He wrote a book on it... "Future of an illusion"...

no changing my mind?... the best way to have a discussion is by not insulting the other person. ok?.... The reason i enjoy discussing things like this is to gain another perspective, and perhaps learn something.

now...

i think the only way to scientifically prove that God does not exist is to explain why, psychologically, humans believe in Him. That is the way I look at it. And in my post i was mostly talking about western religion.

God lives in me? You ask me to explain why i feel Religion is an Illusion, and i tell you.... Sure, people can have different ideas of how he exists and what he does.. but I was trying to analyze why people believe in God, and i feel that that is the best way to explain why I do not believe in Him.

Also, i did not blame religion for all of the worlds problems. Where did I say this?... It does cause problems sometimes though.

No contradictions between science and religion?... There are.

..but why are you trying to prove scientifically the god that only a selected
group of people believe in?, what's the point in that and what do you care?, do you also want to scientifically prove that there's sadness, that there's hate?, have you ever thought that god could be a spiritual concept and not such a mundane character with magic skills as the one promoted by a section of the vatican?, that 'god' equals a feeling...hope, life and even pride for some people?.
the west does not own the meaning of religion, we're not talking about the west, at least I wasn't... imagine what it would be like if I based all my perceptions of religion on the only priest I know that asks for money even to clean our local church's windows?. I don't think that very fair... nor objective.

what you call your analysis on the reasons behind people's need to believe in something greater than they are.. which is Marx's analysis actually.. it is perfectly understandable and I couldn't agree with you more.. but again, you're misunderstanding the difference between digging into yourself for strength and sharing it with those around you and irrationally abandoning yourself into the hands of a system obeying and conceiving without questioning.. that's some people's practice, not everyone's... religion is the former, the latter is the most popular misconception not just of religion but even ways of conducting that one would think everyone's digested properly already... like democracy. now tell me that just because every government out there has failed to achieve democracy you look down on people who vote (and chose them)?. perhaps it would be slightly less unfair and hypocrite than judging those who genuinely have hope or believe in any form of god and didn't even have the smallest say when their religious leaders and a few other depraved supporters screwed the concept.

 

[CharlottefromCA]

I love the emoticons on this thread.. HIlarious.

 

[katieo]

2012? That means the world would end right as I start medical school... which would mean I spent the last years of my life studying organic chemistry for nothing!

If the world really is going to end, someone tell me so I can switch majors, or just drop out and travel the world and eat lots of dark chocolate.

 

[CharlottefromCA]

Humans naturally believe in God because we fear nature, and need protection... then we won't fear death. It falls in with our instinctual desires. It is an illusion because we need to believe in it; we cause ourselves to be religious. This is why people tend to turn to God after a near death experience.

Religion somehow tends to be the best for society, but it is not necessary. It influences our morals. But morality doesn't depend on religion. An atheist can be a good person of course.

Also, your environment definitely influences your beliefs... for example, if your family is religious, you might adopt their beliefs because they work for you.

Now, I tend to look down on religious people- Yes, they can be good people. A lot of times they are... But the fact is, you can either believe in science or religion. I prefer people who live in reality and value knowledge.. thats just me. And from my experience, religion has caused more trouble in the world than good.

blah blah blah blah blah

One of the most annoying things in this entire world are people who look down on other people due to their beliefs.

I go to pharmacy school and my preceptor was telling me about this woman (from Mexico I believe) who was taking rattle snake pills to cure her arthritis, she ended up going to the ER due to Salmonella poisoning.

Do I disagree with her beliefs and logic, Obviously... do I look down on her? Absolutely not.

And for the record I believe in god so I'm not associating religion with a lack of scientific knowledge (like the woman in the above example). I just really get peeved when people tell other people THIS IS THE WAY IT IS. Which is actually the basis of organized religion.. thats why I think its important for people growing up to learn to find their own beliefs (which is a WHOLE other post..)

Sorry if that was more than two cents.