Thanks for explaining for me, guys. I'm trying to do about six things at once, only one of which is this forum, at the moment.
But that's basically what I would have said.
Since magic has never been shown to be anything other than human imagination, and there's an issue (by sheer definition) with trying to verify the supernatural through testing, I'd have a high degree of skepticism. The degree of proof I require to see that mass attracts mass (aka gravity) is fairly low, because the claim is not a complicated or lavish one.
But to demonstrate that magic is real, and not just human imagination, well I'd want to be very sure of the methodology used to demonstrate it, since it's an entirely new phenomenon outside of the realm of storytelling.
On occasion, religion does make claims where they say their magic interacts with the material world, in such a way that science can test it... and EVERY TIME it's tested, it turns out that the magical claims fail. The prayer-healing studies are a classic example.
And yet, I keeeep seeing the "power of prayer to heal the sick" claims, simply because it's in your myth-book.
But that's basically what I would have said.
Since magic has never been shown to be anything other than human imagination, and there's an issue (by sheer definition) with trying to verify the supernatural through testing, I'd have a high degree of skepticism. The degree of proof I require to see that mass attracts mass (aka gravity) is fairly low, because the claim is not a complicated or lavish one.
But to demonstrate that magic is real, and not just human imagination, well I'd want to be very sure of the methodology used to demonstrate it, since it's an entirely new phenomenon outside of the realm of storytelling.
On occasion, religion does make claims where they say their magic interacts with the material world, in such a way that science can test it... and EVERY TIME it's tested, it turns out that the magical claims fail. The prayer-healing studies are a classic example.
And yet, I keeeep seeing the "power of prayer to heal the sick" claims, simply because it's in your myth-book.
A Christian told me: if you were saved you cant lose your salvation. you're sealed with the Holy Ghost
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
