An alternative to atheist thought

[Cyberman]

Oh, and "uni-verse" is an inaccurate breakdown of the word and its etymology. It means "the whole thing ", not "one whole thing". Sloppy definitions lead to sloppy conclusions.

[BlindedWantsToSee]

I'm sorry. I assure you, no offense was ever meant by anything I said.

I said "normal standards" to avoid specifying that I am OK emotionally, financially, in family relationships, health-wise, etc; but not OK by the standards I postulated in my writings.

I'm not sure what you mean with your question, but I think I can tell the difference between an assertion and it's evidence. I rely on the evidence and advise everyone to do the same. The assertions I make are my best attempt (I know they are lacking, but that's the best I can do for now) to describe the reality I perceive (my interpretation of the evidence that  I experience). I don't want to convince anybody of anything. I just hope people will start seeing things for what they are, and will make their own deliberate decisions regarding what to do with their reality.

You neglected to mention psychologically, and that's where the primary issue that you're causing to be suspect lies. This woo-crap you're spouting, religiously based or not, is evidence of a tremendously unhealthy mind. I was not exaggerating that my preadolescent self would think you were crazy or stupid based on what you're claiming here. Since you're claiming you're not religious (and I'll uncharacteristically take you at your word here) then I can't also assume that some form of indoctrination is what made you this way (although it's possible it did, and you escaped whatever form it took and just latched onto something else because of all the damage it did to your psyche) so whether you've just got some defect making you predisposed to believe in utter nonsense or you've been trained like a seal, it's very, very clear that something is not right upstairs.

Your denial of reality notwithstanding, it comes across as enormously condescending when you intransigently claim you've got the right answer and offer spurious 'reasons' for why that is so. You are pretty far behind on your apologies for this disrespect and seem to have only superficial remorse without actually understanding the nature of what you're saying that is so irritating and insulting.

You should really stop, demolish this whole inane hypothesis, go back to the beginning, and try to build it back up. When you realize you fail to do so, you'll be ready to sit at the adults' table. Until then, go stand in the corner while the seven-year-olds tell you you're too little to play with them.

I do not seek to force  my views onto anybody. I'm just extremely sure of what I am saying. What I tried to do is just share my interpretations of life (as a whole) with people, so they can see if that's something they consider useful; and if not now, maybe later. And if not ever, that's fine too.

---

Oh, and "uni-verse" is an inaccurate breakdown of the word and its etymology. It means "the whole thing ", not "one whole thing". Sloppy definitions lead to sloppy conclusions.

You may disagree, but I think most people will agree that "the whole thing" is singular. It is referring to one thing. In other words, to all individual things taken as one whole thing or system. This discussion is silly.

[Cyberman]

No, it's not silly to clarify definitions. Because now I've nailed your trousers to the mast, nobody can use the smuggled concept of this oneness for some other purpose.

[Astonished]

You neglected to mention psychologically, and that's where the primary issue that you're causing to be suspect lies. This woo-crap you're spouting, religiously based or not, is evidence of a tremendously unhealthy mind. I was not exaggerating that my preadolescent self would think you were crazy or stupid based on what you're claiming here. Since you're claiming you're not religious (and I'll uncharacteristically take you at your word here) then I can't also assume that some form of indoctrination is what made you this way (although it's possible it did, and you escaped whatever form it took and just latched onto something else because of all the damage it did to your psyche) so whether you've just got some defect making you predisposed to believe in utter nonsense or you've been trained like a seal, it's very, very clear that something is not right upstairs.

Your denial of reality notwithstanding, it comes across as enormously condescending when you intransigently claim you've got the right answer and offer spurious 'reasons' for why that is so. You are pretty far behind on your apologies for this disrespect and seem to have only superficial remorse without actually understanding the nature of what you're saying that is so irritating and insulting.

You should really stop, demolish this whole inane hypothesis, go back to the beginning, and try to build it back up. When you realize you fail to do so, you'll be ready to sit at the adults' table. Until then, go stand in the corner while the seven-year-olds tell you you're too little to play with them.

I do not seek to force  my views onto anybody. I'm just extremely sure of what I am saying. What I tried to do is just share my interpretations of life (as a whole) with people, so they can see if that's something they consider useful; and if not now, maybe later. And if not ever, that's fine too.

---

Oh, and "uni-verse" is an inaccurate breakdown of the word and its etymology. It means "the whole thing ", not "one whole thing". Sloppy definitions lead to sloppy conclusions.

You may disagree, but I think most people will agree that "the whole thing" is singular. It is referring to one thing. In other words, to all individual things taken as one whole thing or system. This discussion is silly.

This surety of yours is unwarranted and has serious connotations of condescension. Your casting aspersions on us because we just don't 'see' what you're getting at and that's extremely insulting, even moreso when you fail to present evidence for your claims and expecting others, whether us or those you hope will read your bullshit book, to be stupid enough to buy into it. You're no different than those asshole televangelists who peddle their invisible products and aren't 'forcing' anything onto anyone but have no compunctions about fleecing the gullible. We see right through that shit around here. You're not going to make a buck off anyone with a functioning brain.

[BlindedWantsToSee]

Words good, but evidence baby!!!

WTF is non-material?

Our consciousness is an emergent property of a physical brain. Electro chemical activity. Post mortem nada.

Makes me happy coz I can enjoy being a decent human being and not worry about the unsaved portion of my skepticism.

Death is an earlier form of the heat death of the universe.

Entropy baby, no bullshit required.

Have fun and try to be decent.

It really makes no difference whether or not consciousness is material or non-material. It very well could be a purely material thing, but we have it. That's what I'm talking about: our human experience, our life experience, what is in our minds, in our memories, our thoughts, our desires; ours and also other people's, in fact everybody, everywhere, including all other forms of life.

When somebody we love loves us back we are happy; that experience of happiness, whether material or spiritual, matters to me and to most people. When injustices are committed against people they suffer; that experience of suffering matters, whether material or spiritual. That's what I am trying to explain. There is a reason why the world is the way it is. I called it the Source, you call it Energy and Matter. The name does not matter. Our experience as human beings, and I maintain also that all other life forms are just as important, matters. Hey, but if it does not matter to some people, that's OK.

[JackRussell]

Cosmos baby.

Physics ain't easy and certainty is for fools to claim to understand life, the universe and everything.

It's okay to say I don't know, or I don't understand.

---

Words good, but evidence baby!!!

WTF is non-material?

Our consciousness is an emergent property of a physical brain. Electro chemical activity. Post mortem nada.

Makes me happy coz I can enjoy being a decent human being and not worry about the unsaved portion of my skepticism.

Death is an earlier form of the heat death of the universe.

Entropy baby, no bullshit required.

Have fun and try to be decent.

It really makes no difference whether or not consciousness is material or non-material. It very well could be a purely material thing, but we have it. That's what I'm talking about: our human experience, our life experience, what is in our minds, in our memories, our thoughts, our desires; ours and also other people's, in fact everybody, everywhere, including all other forms of life.

When somebody we love loves us back we are happy; that experience of happiness, whether material or spiritual, matters to me and to most people. When injustices are committed against people they suffer; that experience of suffering matters, whether material or spiritual. That's what I am trying to explain. There is a reason why the world is the way it is. I called it the Source, you call it Energy and Matter. The name does not matter. Our experience as human beings, and I maintain also that all other life forms are just as important, matters. Hey, but if it does not matter to some people, that's OK.

---

I agree that life matters. I am a a life long old fart, anti-fascist ambulance driving vegetarian. I just don't ascribe agency or purpose to life.

[mordant]

I agree that life matters. I am a a life long old fart, anti-fascist ambulance driving vegetarian. I just don't ascribe agency or purpose to life.

Well put. Not assigning purpose, meaning or agency is not even remotely the same as claiming life doesn't matter.

This is the fundamental error of many, probably most believers: assuming that purpose, meaning, virtue, civility, love and joy can come only from their pet deity. From that, generally, flows a lack of understanding of what unbelief is and isn't, the motivations for it, and the implications of it. And that's being charitable; it's usually not just a lack of understanding but a lack of interest / curiosity / desire to understand. It's far easier to mischaracterize if not outright dehumanize people who aren't impressed with your beliefs, than to even entertain the possibility that they might have an honest point of some kind.

[Astonished]

I agree that life matters. I am a a life long old fart, anti-fascist ambulance driving vegetarian. I just don't ascribe agency or purpose to life.

Well put. Not assigning purpose, meaning or agency is not even remotely the same as claiming life doesn't matter.

This is the fundamental error of many, probably most believers: assuming that purpose, meaning, virtue, civility, love and joy can come only from their pet deity. From that, generally, flows a lack of understanding of what unbelief is and isn't, the motivations for it, and the implications of it. And that's being charitable; it's usually not just a lack of understanding but a lack of interest / curiosity / desire to understand. It's far easier to mischaracterize if not outright dehumanize people who aren't impressed with your beliefs, than to even entertain the possibility that they might have an honest point of some kind.

Also, I would ask, what is it that gives their pet deity meaning, purpose, etc., particularly throughout and eternal existence? Passing the buck never fixes the problem.

[BlindedWantsToSee]

I agree that life matters. I am a a life long old fart, anti-fascist ambulance driving vegetarian. I just don't ascribe agency or purpose to life.

Well put. Not assigning purpose, meaning or agency is not even remotely the same as claiming life doesn't matter.

This is the fundamental error of many, probably most believers: assuming that purpose, meaning, virtue, civility, love and joy can come only from their pet deity. From that, generally, flows a lack of understanding of what unbelief is and isn't, the motivations for it, and the implications of it. And that's being charitable; it's usually not just a lack of understanding but a lack of interest / curiosity / desire to understand. It's far easier to mischaracterize if not outright dehumanize people who aren't impressed with your beliefs, than to even entertain the possibility that they might have an honest point of some kind.

What you are saying is valid, but I do ascribe, and assign, a purpose to my life. I mean I make the assumption that my life has a purpose, and I decide what the purpose is. To me, that purpose is to have fun, to enjoy my life, to feel good, etc; in short, to be happy. Then I notice that most other people also have as a goal to enjoy their lives and to be happy. Then I notice that I and most other people cannot be perfectly happy, for a myriad of reasons. This pattern of wanting happiness but not being able to keep it for very long must be caused by something.

Energy must be intelligent, else we could not have any degree of intelligence. Energy must be intelligent because everything is made of it and we see clear evidence of intelligence at work in the world and within ourselves. I cannot prove it to you, but I know this intelligence is good and evil at the same time (like having multiple personalities, a split mind). This is my way of making sense of the reality in which I exist. It does not have to be yours or anyone else's. I said this before, I am just sharing my interpretation of everything I have learned and experienced in my life because I think some people may find it useful.

[Cyberman]

I think people who find that useful would have bigger problems going on.