I never stated it was either. That's the problem with spiritual matters.
Tom Send a noteboard - 20/12/2011 08:43:46 PM
The nature of these experiences is such that we cannot test them, run experiments or replicate them, yet enough people have enough things happen that they cannot explain that we owe it to ourselves to consider that there might be something to them. My position is not in defense of a particular belief system or even in defense of affirmative belief of any sort, but that atheism discounts evidence solely because it cannot, at the present day and with our present understanding of the universe, be scientifically tested, replicated in experiments or used consistently to achieve results. At the same time, we know that many things that we now know about could not be tested or measured in antiquity because our ancestors lacked the understanding necessary to even be looking in the right place.
Perhaps some day my odd dreams can be explained with science, and the blurred line between life and death can be measured as some sort of energetic residue, but until that time, we should remain curious and open-minded.
By the way, you're quite wrong about physics saying that bumblebees can't fly. That statement is a myth, which has been discredited and which you can see if you look on the wikipedia page for bumblebee.
People used to say the same thing about ball lightning - it couldn't possibly exist and was the result of hysteria, delusion, etc. However, now scientists are able to create it in laboratory settings, even though we don't understand it very well.
Perhaps some day my odd dreams can be explained with science, and the blurred line between life and death can be measured as some sort of energetic residue, but until that time, we should remain curious and open-minded.
By the way, you're quite wrong about physics saying that bumblebees can't fly. That statement is a myth, which has been discredited and which you can see if you look on the wikipedia page for bumblebee.
People used to say the same thing about ball lightning - it couldn't possibly exist and was the result of hysteria, delusion, etc. However, now scientists are able to create it in laboratory settings, even though we don't understand it very well.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
Kim Jong-il is dead. Would you become a fervent believer?
19/12/2011 03:37:28 AM
- 1523 Views
If I was a Christian, I'd pray that he would burn forever in hell.
19/12/2011 03:47:52 AM
- 935 Views
See, I can't be an atheist.
19/12/2011 03:53:55 AM
- 903 Views
I agree about atheism
19/12/2011 04:19:02 AM
- 763 Views
It's an approximation.
19/12/2011 05:40:05 PM
- 783 Views
no, I'm not saying that the sheer number of people alone is sufficient
19/12/2011 10:13:09 PM
- 665 Views
No, Pascal's Wager is stupid.
19/12/2011 03:09:42 PM
- 765 Views
You obviously misread my comments or ignored them.
19/12/2011 03:39:59 PM
- 751 Views
You're answering a different point to the one I was addressing.
19/12/2011 04:01:54 PM
- 687 Views
For atheism to be a tenable position, one must assume that millions lie about their experiences.
20/12/2011 04:11:53 AM
- 779 Views
Look, doesn't this go against your most sacred principle?
20/12/2011 06:43:27 AM
- 741 Views
No, it doesn't.
20/12/2011 08:30:55 PM
- 667 Views
Re: No, it doesn't.
20/12/2011 09:21:22 PM
- 710 Views
This militant atheism is somewhat amusing.
20/12/2011 09:48:57 PM
- 730 Views
... somewhat irrational at times too
21/12/2011 01:22:54 AM
- 642 Views
Huh?
21/12/2011 10:47:06 AM
- 689 Views
That's somewhat unrelated to the intended point of the post
21/12/2011 12:41:49 PM
- 696 Views
My "Huh?" was at your claim that any reasonable definition Kim Jong-il was a millitant athiest
21/12/2011 12:58:44 PM
- 687 Views
You're objecting to me calling the Military Dictator militant?
21/12/2011 03:13:35 PM
- 727 Views
Your position isn't rational nor logical
20/12/2011 12:45:03 PM
- 714 Views
I never stated it was either. That's the problem with spiritual matters.
20/12/2011 08:43:46 PM
- 643 Views
How about a faith atheist?
19/12/2011 04:28:59 PM
- 835 Views
Nevermind. It appears you answered that in your reply to Tim. *NM*
19/12/2011 04:32:19 PM
- 406 Views
Re: See, I can't be an atheist.
19/12/2011 04:57:23 PM
- 790 Views
It's impossible to tell if worshipping a false god would be worse than worshipping no god at all.
20/12/2011 04:14:59 AM
- 601 Views
Sounds like you must be a modern-day prophet
19/12/2011 05:24:24 PM
- 636 Views
Idiocy. Confirmation bias doesn't explain away external phenomena.
20/12/2011 04:19:10 AM
- 760 Views
Well.
21/12/2011 01:49:36 PM
- 673 Views
I didn't forget about it. I was getting ready to give up on it.
21/12/2011 02:27:18 PM
- 666 Views
Also, learn to use the subjunctive. It's "if I WERE a Christian..."
19/12/2011 03:54:20 AM
- 753 Views
The sad thing about that comment...
19/12/2011 04:52:57 AM
- 882 Views
I'm pretty sure there's plenty of middle ground between those two examples
19/12/2011 05:31:13 PM
- 649 Views
Tom, I think this means you should take up ForEx trading. *NM*
19/12/2011 04:00:20 AM
- 357 Views
I might. I'm close enough to it as is. I just did some ForEx ISDAs for clients...
19/12/2011 04:03:11 AM
- 819 Views
I thought you were asking if I believed in KJ-I, the Eternal Leader
19/12/2011 06:55:08 AM
- 658 Views
The article I just read said he died on Saturday.
19/12/2011 08:58:17 AM
- 732 Views
Yeah, he actually died on a train Saturday morning before Tom made the comment. *NM*
19/12/2011 09:13:44 PM
- 300 Views
I'm not claiming causality. And, for the record, I first made the comment on Friday afternoon.
20/12/2011 04:25:07 AM
- 729 Views
You know what's really weird?
19/12/2011 11:32:23 AM
- 728 Views
They took it down, apparently. *NM*
20/12/2011 04:40:24 AM
- 314 Views
Not surprising, still in the revisions if anyone wants to see of course
20/12/2011 11:06:05 AM
- 872 Views
He's not dead-dead. Neither is his father. Just ask the North Koreans.
19/12/2011 04:23:48 PM
- 713 Views
Re: He's not dead-dead. Neither is his father. Just ask the North Koreans.
19/12/2011 09:15:09 PM
- 635 Views
The problem with predictions that come true
19/12/2011 05:28:24 PM
- 751 Views
I don't make a lot of predictions. *NM*
19/12/2011 08:18:53 PM
- 453 Views
Well you should start at least journaling the ones that you do make.
19/12/2011 08:40:18 PM
- 699 Views
I actually now do tell my friends when I have dreams that have the "feel" to them.
20/12/2011 04:36:07 AM
- 774 Views
I can attest to the fact that this conversation took place on Facebook Saturday.
19/12/2011 09:19:06 PM
- 674 Views
Yes, TMJ, you also contributed in this case. *NM*
20/12/2011 04:38:42 AM
- 304 Views
Jeez, I hope I never get on your bad side
20/12/2011 12:06:54 AM
- 600 Views
Things did change for the better with Stalin's death.
20/12/2011 02:51:12 AM
- 714 Views
So I guess you want me to destroy the voodoo doll I have of you? Oh wait...never mind. *NM*
20/12/2011 04:37:35 AM
- 295 Views