(January 22, 2010 at 7:02 pm)TruthWorthy Wrote:
1) Anything we percieve, thioughts, God, axioms, delusions and tables and chairs; yes all "exist" in the strictest sense of the word. When exist is used in common communication, especially from strong atheists (ie. God doesn't exist), though it's more of what is tangible and percievable by the 5 senses. I've never had a non-believer, in RL, tell me God only exists as a figment of your imagination, just that he doesn't exist.
2) I don't think I brought science into this, but ok. Controlling variables and isolating causation, hmmm. Well from a fundamentalist Christian perspective, God is the root causation for everything, the other subsequent causes from effects are erroneous. I think it's really pointless though to continue comparing religion and science, they're completely unrelated.
3) Seeing signs of God without my own opinion. Well first of all of it would be based off the assumtion God exists so it's observer biased. So is science though, so as long as it's not an anchoring or confirmation bias then I don't think it's too detrimental to the outcome. I'd start by just living my life doing mundane things that have no relation to my spiritual path like driving to work. I'd be listening to some James Taylor and thinking about my tasks for the day. Let's say that I had a sudden revelation of the spirit now. Well it's a little disconcerting and nerve wracking and definately not anything I'd want while driving, that's unsafe. After I examine my state of mind, I was in no subconscious or conscious need for it. The windows up and there's no chill and I'm by myself. So I'm alone in my car listening to James taylor with work on the brain. On the ride home I'm doing the exact same thing (even the exact song) and no spirit intervention. The next day I change my intent and try and cause the spirit to come... but it doesn't. Then 3 weeks later it happens again just as random.
I think I do a good job of "getting to the bottom of things" within my life and limiting variables that seem erroneous. I'm not saying my interpretation isn't involved in decoding what went on, merely that it seems to me to have no rhyme or reason that's explainable, so why not God?