yeah i enjoyed that discussion. people should check out the political forum, they actually have some really stimulating discussion there. underrated imo.
generally i think science has all the answers, but damn, some of the stuff in nature and the human body are just so damn complex and elegantly organized that i find it hard to believe evolution and random chance can fully explain this stuff.
but then part of me wonders if im just afraid to face the harsh reality that this existence is it. i like reading nietzsche, and he seem to suggest that this realization that god is dead is actually liberating, but i find it more depressing.
i kinda like pascal's "wager"-- basically its riskier to be an atheist and believe nothing than it is to believe in something. kinda lame reason to be religious tho.
Last edited by Til the End of Time: 08-28-2012 at 07:39 PM.
That was probably the most civil discourse on that topic I have ever come across on the internet, haha.
I'm too busy to really get involved, that's why
Camus should be required reading for everyone. I really need to go back and read his stuff again...college got in the way of me thinking...
__________________
“The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile, but that it is indifferent. If we can come to terms with this indifference and accept the challenges of life within the boundaries of death, our existence as a species can have genuine meaning and fulfillment. However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light.” - Stanley Kubrick
I, for the life of me, cannot remember this one novel who's author was talking about it on talk radio last Friday. It was about the afterlife and how many (infinitely) possibilities there were for it -- I believe he wrote 40 variations. He's a neuroscientist if that helps at all. Any one know what I'm talking about?
I, for the life of me, cannot remember this one novel who's author was talking about it on talk radio last Friday. It was about the afterlife and how many (infinitely) possibilities there were for it -- I believe he wrote 40 variations. He's a neuroscientist if that helps at all. Any one know what I'm talking about?
yeah i enjoyed that discussion. people should check out the political forum, they actually have some really stimulating discussion there. underrated imo.
Some of the discussions are interesting if you can sift through the sarcasm and personal attacks.
The political board used to be the single worst place I've ever ventured onto in the internet (I'm sure it's still in the 50%th percentile overall...), but it's made some strides...mostly in the sense that not only are there actually liberals there, they make up the majority now.
It used to be nothing but birthers, creationists, conspiracy theorists, and libertarians.
*shivers*
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Jiggyfly
Anyone who tells me for sure either way there is or is not an afterlife, I blow off their arrogance and laugh.
Ironically, looking at Big's quote from Kubrick, many believe he was an atheist, but his own daughter, Katharina, has been quoted as saying he "hoped" there was an afterlife.
So we can use quotes from people like Kubrick (no offense Big) to try and reinforce what we think "may" be the truth, but the man himself wasn't sure what he believed either.
Well most people "hope" there is an afterlife. I'm a firm Atheist and believe with 99.99992934999% certainty that there is no afterlife or anything of the ilk...but we'll never be able to know for sure and though I see it as extremely unlikely, we'll never know for sure, which means it is possible. I hope there is an afterlife. You won't find many people who believe that people live a finite existence and the end result of life is decomposing in the ground that want that to be the end. I think both heaven and hell are nothing more than the creation of man, but the very reason we've thought of those concepts makes sense...nothingness is a horrifying concept. I hope there is an afterlife...I want to believe in reincarnation more than anything, but I can't bring myself to believe that such a thing is possible...but I won't say it's absolutely impossible.
People will grab hold of whatever mindset gives them comfort. I lost my mother twice, essentially (first mentally to Alzheimer's and then physically this April), and no one in my immediate family responded the same way; the biggest contrast being the way my sister and I reacted. I was driven to philosophy books and abandoning what little faith I had left (I was raised Catholic and have nothing positive to say of that experience) and started referring myself as an existentialist three years before I ever actually took a class that mentioned what that meant. My sister, who never was a 'good' Catholic, gravitated to the Church and is now the type that goes to Church 4 times a week.
Science isn't perfect in the sense that science is partaken by mortal humans and we are fallible beings...but I do believe there is an absolutely logical explanation for everything that has ever happened. We'll never know everything and I don't think it's even possible for any being to begin to comprehend a lot of the answers out there (or questions, for that matter).
Last edited by Big McLargehuge: 08-29-2012 at 01:33 AM.
I, for the life of me, cannot remember this one novel who's author was talking about it on talk radio last Friday. It was about the afterlife and how many (infinitely) possibilities there were for it -- I believe he wrote 40 variations. He's a neuroscientist if that helps at all. Any one know what I'm talking about?
Francis s collins is the only one I can think about that somewhat fits the description. But iirc he was a geneticist.
I remember watching the series on TV. So mad when it was canceled. And the movie ... well. Somehow, it comes as no surprise that you're a fan of the show.
I remember watching the series on TV. So mad when it was canceled. And the movie ... well. Somehow, it comes as no surprise that you're a fan of the show.
looks like i've become predictable. i've managed to avoid the movies. i avoided the x-files movies as well.
i'd like to see some people's lists of their favorite shows from before the 00s (since there have been so many excellent shows since then). i can't say it was the era of my most active (or distinguished) tv watching, but here goes:
1. The Larry Sanders Show (92-98)
2. The Rockford Files (74-80)
3. Twin Peaks (90-91)
4. Dream On (90-96)
5. Homicide: Life On The Street (93-99)
HM1: something from our friends across the pond like Blackadder, Father Ted or Are You Being Served?
HM2: westerns from the 50s - The Rifleman, Rawhide, Have Gun - Will Travel
looks like i've become predictable. i've managed to avoid the movies. i avoided the x-files movies as well.
i'd like to see some people's lists of their favorite shows from before the 00s (since there have been so many excellent shows since then). i can't say it was the era of my most active (or distinguished) tv watching, but here goes:
1. The Larry Sanders Show (92-98)
2. The Rockford Files (74-80)
3. Twin Peaks (90-91)
4. Dream On (90-96)
5. Homicide: Life On The Street (93-99)
HM1: something from our friends across the pond like Blackadder, Father Ted or Are You Being Served?
HM2: westerns from the 50s - The Rifleman, Rawhide, Have Gun - Will Travel
Haha ... Have gun, will travel, reads the card of a man ...
See, now you have surprised me ... no love for Buffy? (97-03) or the original Battlestar Gallactica with Lorne Green? Have to agree with your numbers 3 & 4, though.
And, while it actually aired from 62-71, can't talk great western TV without a nod to 'The Virginian'.
Well most people "hope" there is an afterlife. I'm a firm Atheist and believe with 99.99992934999% certainty that there is no afterlife or anything of the ilk...but we'll never be able to know for sure and though I see it as extremely unlikely, we'll never know for sure, which means it is possible. I hope there is an afterlife. You won't find many people who believe that people live a finite existence and the end result of life is decomposing in the ground that want that to be the end. I think both heaven and hell are nothing more than the creation of man, but the very reason we've thought of those concepts makes sense...nothingness is a horrifying concept. I hope there is an afterlife...I want to believe in reincarnation more than anything, but I can't bring myself to believe that such a thing is possible...but I won't say it's absolutely impossible.
People will grab hold of whatever mindset gives them comfort. I lost my mother twice, essentially (first mentally to Alzheimer's and then physically this April), and no one in my immediate family responded the same way; the biggest contrast being the way my sister and I reacted. I was driven to philosophy books and abandoning what little faith I had left (I was raised Catholic and have nothing positive to say of that experience) and started referring myself as an existentialist three years before I ever actually took a class that mentioned what that meant. My sister, who never was a 'good' Catholic, gravitated to the Church and is now the type that goes to Church 4 times a week.
Over the last nine years I have experienced several tragedies that left me beyond numb, with the culmination of my mother's death this past January.
She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last Sept... there was hope, but it was all dashed just after the New Year when my aunt called me and told me my mother's liver was failing and she only had a couple of weeks left to live.
There is no way to prepare yourself for that... every ounce of hope I had saved up over the last four months left my body at once and I crumpled to the ground in sheer agony... She was my rock... she is the reason I am the person I am today...
My baby daughter was born almost a year to the day she passed and my mom always wanted a daughter... she was so excited and filled with joy when my daughter was born.
Even while the chemo and cancer was ravaging her body, she was so filled with hope and positivity she would live; she often talked of how, when she was better, that she would put on music and dance around with my daughter...
My faith had already been dangling by a thread over the years and now my mother was taken from me. It was the final blow and I didn't want to get back up and push on anymore... the pain was beyond anything I knew was even possible. But I had to be there for my wife and daughter... I didn't have the luxury of going into a depression. I had to find a way to find something positive to focus on each day and not fall into the abyss...
Then I had several unusual things happen to me after my mother's death. I am very logical by nature and tried to convince myself that it was just the unbearable stress and grief playing tricks on my mind. The mind is a very powerful thing and I wouldn't be the first one to fall victim to its mysteries. However, just when I thought I was losing my mind, my wife (who is far from religious) experienced similar things.
I have no explanation for what happened, nor does my wife. I know I can't discount what happened, but I still believe it was my grieving mind trying to help me cope.
The reality is, I will never know.
None of us want to be made fools of, so it is difficult, personally, for me to keep putting my faith in God when He let me down when I needed Him the most. I wasn't one to only pray when I needed something...
I have been told these tragedies were God's plan and perhaps that is the case, but it seems like a simple answer to why sometimes our prayers are randomly answered or not.
You look back at Greek and Roman mythology and we tend to mock them for believing in their gods, but I often wonder how we will be judged centuries from now.
Will we be mocked for believing some entity we can't see created and cared for us? As I said, none of us want to be made fools of, and that is the very reason many people turn to Atheism.
All of that said, I simply am not foolish enough to believe I know the answers to these questions. I want answers, but that doesn't mean I will ever have them, or even be able to comprehend them.
Quote:
Science isn't perfect in the sense that science is partaken by mortal humans and we are fallible beings...but I do believe there is an absolutely logical explanation for everything that has ever happened. We'll never know everything and I don't think it's even possible for any being to begin to comprehend a lot of the answers out there (or questions, for that matter).
Once again, I think we have to be very careful to believe science, as we understand it, will resolve all of our questions. Knowledge never stagnates... it is always moving forward...
All I have read over the years hasn't really provided me with the answers I seek, nor will it ever, I fear.
However, I have learned that our society is so unhappy because we are constantly fast forwarding through our lives. We don't appreciate the little moments and people would rather be cowardly and focus on the negatives in life, than be positive.
I'm guilty as charged and find that in my grief, some days it is hard not to be negative. However, my mother's greatest lesson to me was that you have to find the courage to be positive, no matter the cards you are dealt.
I now appreciate the little things... the moments my daughter actually sits in my lap while I read her a book, the joy I get out of seeing her each morning when she wakes up, watching my wife's sexy curves when she just gets out of the shower and has to stretch on her toes to get her clothes out of the closet, finding beauty in places others are too busy to notice and enjoy...
I will always have questions and ask "why", but one thing I know to be true, is that I must pass on my mother's message of positivity to my daughter and be thankful for the loved ones I still have left.
Last edited by Mr Jiggyfly: 08-29-2012 at 03:24 PM.
Thanks for sharing Jigg. Holds a real important message about life in there.
I try to live my life by two sayings, one is love all - create no sorrow and the other is a variant of the swedish word for expectation (förväntan) which if you break it down is two words put together.
För which means "for" and väntan which means "waiting". So if you would break that word in two you'd get - För väntan (for the waiting)
Which in my philosophical mind means that one should live for the small moments and not get hooked up on the "great goals of life" and disregard the rest of ones life but cherish the small things.
Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives
David Eagleman
Quote:
SUM is a dazzling exploration of funny and unexpected afterlives that have never been considered–each presented as a vignette that offers us a stunning lens through which to see ourselves here and now.
In one afterlife you may find that God is the size of a microbe and is unaware of your existence. In another, your creators are a species of dim-witted creatures who built us to figure out what they could not. In a different version of the afterlife you work as a background character in other people’s dreams. Or you may find that God is a married couple struggling with discontent, or that the afterlife contains only those people whom you remember, or that the hereafter includes the thousands of previous gods who no longer attract followers. In some afterlives you are split into your different ages; in some you are forced to live with annoying versions of yourself that represent what you could have been; in others you are re-created from your credit card records and Internet history. David Eagleman proposes many versions of our purpose here; we are mobile robots for cosmic mapmakers, we are reunions for a scattered confederacy of atoms, we are experimental subjects for gods trying to understand what makes couples stick together.
These wonderfully imagined tale–at once funny, wistful, and unsettling–are rooted in science and romance and awe at our mysterious existence: a mixture of death, hope, computers, immortality, love, biology, and desire that exposes radiant new facets of our humanity.
I love driving in the city. Whether it's the middle aged *****es flicking you off or the d-bag blasting Disturbed in his old ass Buick, there's always some excellent personalities in the great land of Pittsburgh.
i've managed to avoid the movies. i avoided the x-files movies as well. 
