In my worldview, jumping past solipsism, we perceive order in the universe. At least in the universe of our memories.
Some of that regularity can be isolated as self replicating subsets. I see myself as one of these, labeled 'human.' There are other possible groupings which vary in size and complexity from prions and viruses up to the biggest I know of which is global human culture.
Further observation of self replicating structures reveals common features like: mechanisms to propagate and spread, provision for increased variance to improve survival and reproduction in uncertain or changing environments where natural selection will cull the unfit.
In this context, religions compete for memory space in human brains using memes spread by, generally, human to human communication. Preachers are specialized structures who replicate and spread religious memes using, it seems, any scheme or scam available to them. Applying a human, biological metaphor, the preacher is an aggressively male reproductive organ of the religious super-organism. That is, in the vernacular, a dick.
Comments?
Some of that regularity can be isolated as self replicating subsets. I see myself as one of these, labeled 'human.' There are other possible groupings which vary in size and complexity from prions and viruses up to the biggest I know of which is global human culture.
Further observation of self replicating structures reveals common features like: mechanisms to propagate and spread, provision for increased variance to improve survival and reproduction in uncertain or changing environments where natural selection will cull the unfit.
In this context, religions compete for memory space in human brains using memes spread by, generally, human to human communication. Preachers are specialized structures who replicate and spread religious memes using, it seems, any scheme or scam available to them. Applying a human, biological metaphor, the preacher is an aggressively male reproductive organ of the religious super-organism. That is, in the vernacular, a dick.
Comments?
So how, exactly, does God know that She's NOT a brain in a vat? 
