...suffer from what I call EDD - Evidence Deficit Disorder (obviously I'm not saying it's necessarily a real mental illness).

Thoughts?

(Just as a way to start up a topic on this thought I had ).

EvF

Actually, FYI, people who identify as non-christian or non-religious are more likely to believe in psychics and paranormal activity.

The reason behind it is when you rid yourself of one form of supernatural crap your mind is vulnerable to others. Being an atheist doesn't guarantee you are safe from all forms of nonsense. To be that you have to be a true skeptic, which is not the same as atheism but often coincides.

Human beings naturally look for patterns that aren't there and this is easily related to religion since theists do it all the time. Anything visual can trigger the imagination to explain whatever they see and try to find purpose for it. Not actually realising that not everything needs nor has a purpose.
I've seen theists use the word "evidence" and alter it's meaning to support their claims. Claims that are based on beings and places that are supposedly outside physics. Altering the meaning of a single word obviously will not automatically mean they now have supporting evidence for their claims that is supposedly beyond our observation abilities.

I think they are aware of the actual meaning of evidence but it's the actual meaning of evidence that they cannot compete with.

I think that the people who suffer from EDD, usually also suffer from the Refusal to Discus Complex, and are more likely to suffer from Black and White Syndrome...

Perhaps all three of them are linked?

I went on a ride at Disneyland called "Superman" and at the top of the ride is a life sized Superman figure. The only evidence I have for that, is my own two eyes and I believe it to be true. I wouldn't expect anyone to believe it without seeing a picture or seeing it for themselves. This would be a strong belief. Can we trust our senses?

I would process things like this:

1. If objective evidence then real
2. If no objective evidence then maybe real (This include god, souls, spirits, fairys...)
3. If personal experience then probably real but subject to further analysis
4. There is no path that leads to definitly not real unless you prove the reality of something that negates the other like we know that A=A so therefore A is not equal to not A.

I've shed most of my squirrely beliefs but have a hard time ignoring personal experience. I've been high as fuck on LSD and have never seen anything that wasn't at least extrapolated from something real i.e. my hand lit on fire and melted like purple clay 'til it hit the floor then promptly fused to the wall I was next to but it was still a hallucination based on a real object and I was guiding the hallucination. I know myelf so I know from what parts of my mind all those images come from and how I used them to cause the visual image that I saw.

Rhizo

Christians entertaining the supernatural learn to distinguish superstition. Without an interest in the supernatural people are more open to confusion, hence the propensity for superstition amongst non believers.

(September 10, 2009 at 4:00 pm)fr0d0 Wrote: Christians entertaining the supernatural learn to distinguish superstition. Without an interest in the supernatural people are more open to confusion, hence the propensity for superstition amongst non believers.

Distinguish it from what?



Kyu

@ Eilonnwy

Indeed, that's why I said 'and believers in superstition in general'. I'm not saying only theists have it, that would be stupid lol [on my part].

EvF

"Christians entertaining the supernatural learn to distinguish superstition."

Fr0d0 are you kidding me? Christianity is a superstitious belief and until proven otherwise falls under the category of myth and superstition.

Well that's your personal issue CP. Keep takin the pills k