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RE: I have converted to Christianity
May 14, 2012 at 5:28 am
Well, given your mental history, its one coping mechanism I guess.
Bit confused as to why you would reject atheism on the basis that science hasn't answered every question imaginable yet, "Logic" would dictate the answer is "I don't know" not "Praise Jesus!"
Something may appear preferable to you, which does not equate to a statement of truth, but I suspect comfort is more important to you at the moment than truth.
As long as you don't use your belief to discriminate or hurt others, not sure why anyone cares.
Self-authenticating private evidence is useless, because it is indistinguishable from the illusion of it. ― Kel, Kelosophy Blog
If you’re going to watch tele, you should watch Scooby Doo. That show was so cool because every time there’s a church with a ghoul, or a ghost in a school. They looked beneath the mask and what was inside?
The f**king janitor or the dude who runs the waterslide. Throughout history every mystery. Ever solved has turned out to be. Not Magic. ― Tim Minchin, Storm
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RE: I have converted to Christianity
May 14, 2012 at 6:12 am
(This post was last modified: May 14, 2012 at 6:25 am by Logic.)
(May 14, 2012 at 3:48 am)Tiberius Wrote: That isn't what Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle states. At least, it wasn't what it stated when I read it last.
Not the original interpretation of the Uncertainty Principle, no; however, I was referring to it from the perspective of Everett's many-worlds interpretation of wave-particle duality: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncertainty...e_in_a_box.
(May 14, 2012 at 5:28 am)NoMoreFaith Wrote: Well, given your mental history, its one coping mechanism I guess.
Bit confused as to why you would reject atheism on the basis that science hasn't answered every question imaginable yet, "Logic" would dictate the answer is "I don't know" not "Praise Jesus!"
Something may appear preferable to you, which does not equate to a statement of truth, but I suspect comfort is more important to you at the moment than truth.
As long as you don't use your belief to discriminate or hurt others, not sure why anyone cares.
Nothing to do with coping mechanisms. I have family, friends, medication and NHS psychiatric and psychological support for this. It's much more to do with making sense of the world and what I see around me.
I do not reject atheism; I see it as one way of looking at things. It is blatantly obvious to me that there is not one single universal truth that applies to everybody. For me, at present, Christianity makes more sense of the world than any other perceptual framework. Maybe I will change my position in the future, but at present, this is what makes the most sense to me. Furthermore, Christianity clearly has the power to transform the lives of people for the better. Therefore, one must make a decision and decide if real subjective experience from an existential perspective is more important than relying on conceptual/empirical observations of reality (which I find with pure science/atheism), and I believe it is.
I have come to the conclusion that unconditional love is the key to everything. Explaining emotions by immensely complex neural biochemical reactions in the brain does not even come close to the profound subjective experience of such. For certain things in life, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
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RE: I have converted to Christianity
May 14, 2012 at 6:59 am
(May 14, 2012 at 6:12 am)Logic Wrote: I do not reject atheism; I see it as one way of looking at things. It is blatantly obvious to me that there is not one single universal truth that applies to everybody.
Gravity disagrees.
Quote:For me, at present, Christianity makes more sense of the world than any other perceptual framework. Maybe I will change my position in the future, but at present, this is what makes the most sense to me.
At least you are maintaining an open mind.
Quote: Furthermore, Christianity clearly has the power to transform the lives of people for the better. Therefore, one must make a decision and decide if real subjective experience from an existential perspective is more important than relying on conceptual/empirical observations of reality (which I find with pure science/atheism), and I believe it is.
I mentioned that, it may be preferable, but this has no meaning in terms of truth content.
Quote:I have come to the conclusion that unconditional love is the key to everything. Explaining emotions by immensely complex neural biochemical reactions in the brain does not even come close to the profound subjective experience of such. For certain things in life, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
I think we could argue the point Christianity reflects unconditional love quite strongly.
Effectively, your paragraph states that Illusions are greater than Reality.
Self-authenticating private evidence is useless, because it is indistinguishable from the illusion of it. ― Kel, Kelosophy Blog
If you’re going to watch tele, you should watch Scooby Doo. That show was so cool because every time there’s a church with a ghoul, or a ghost in a school. They looked beneath the mask and what was inside?
The f**king janitor or the dude who runs the waterslide. Throughout history every mystery. Ever solved has turned out to be. Not Magic. ― Tim Minchin, Storm
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RE: I have converted to Christianity
May 14, 2012 at 7:23 am
(May 14, 2012 at 4:07 am)FallentoReason Wrote: That's a really interesting way of seeing things, and something I tried to do initially when I deconverted. That is, to see any given religion as nothing more than a philosophy of life. Is this where you stand? Or do you believe the literal promises of either heaven or hell?
Hi,
It's quite difficult to explain my perception of reality using language. I believe that reality is far (FAR) more complex than any of us realise. I see Christianity and other world religions and philosophies as frameworks for perceiving the world.
I have come to the conclusion that I dislike atheists who believe that they're omniscient and have superior knowledge about reality. For instance, arrogantly asserting that spiritual individuals are delusional/hallucinating; it is such a simplistic explanation for an enormously complex situation.
I am very fond of Alister McGrath and John Shelby Spong; they are part of the reason why I decided to follow Christianity more deeply. I was once a staunch atheist, and I despised Christianity, but I have changed my mind.
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I have converted to Christianity
May 14, 2012 at 7:27 am
Some people need religion because when they don't have an explanation for something they will go crazy, whereas god fills that void. As long as you are only using to help yourself and not to preach to anyone or try to convert anyone, more power to you.
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RE: I have converted to Christianity
May 14, 2012 at 7:36 am
There is also the sense of "belonging" to a group that has a clear structure. This is of great comfort to many people and this site is testament to that 'need' ...to seek out those of like mindedness-community.
"The Universe is run by the complex interweaving of three elements: energy, matter, and enlightened self-interest." G'Kar-B5
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RE: I have converted to Christianity
May 14, 2012 at 7:47 am
(This post was last modified: May 14, 2012 at 7:48 am by Ace Otana.)
Quote:I do not reject atheism
Atheism simply means 'without' theism.
Quote:Christianity makes more sense of the world than any other perceptual framework.
And has absolutely no explanatory power. Did you know that? Also it doesn't explain how anything works. How things came to be. It explains nothing.
Quote:I have come to the conclusion that unconditional love is the key to everything. Explaining emotions by immensely complex neural biochemical reactions in the brain does not even come close to the profound subjective experience of such.
You don't like the fact that emotions are caused entirely by chemical reactions so you reject it and go for a more pleasant (more desirable) yet unrealistic explanation. That is irrational.
Quote:For instance, arrogantly asserting that spiritual individuals are delusional/hallucinating; it is such a simplistic explanation for an enormously complex situation
You're supposed to stick to simple explanations until there is evidence for the complex. It's not just Occam's razer, it's logical procedure.
Simple explanations are far more likely to be correct than more complex ones.
Perhaps you are meant for religion after all....
(May 14, 2012 at 7:27 am)ohh EPiC FAiL Wrote: Some people need religion because when they don't have an explanation for something they will go crazy, whereas god fills that void. As long as you are only using to help yourself and not to preach to anyone or try to convert anyone, more power to you.
It fills the void but not with knowledge. Just a baseless assumption. Better off putting a question mark there instead, at least that way you're being honest about it.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence - Carl Sagan
Mankind's intelligence walks hand in hand with it's stupidity.
Being an atheist says nothing about your overall intelligence, it just means you don't believe in god. Atheists can be as bright as any scientist and as stupid as any creationist.
You never really know just how stupid someone is, until you've argued with them.
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RE: I have converted to Christianity
May 14, 2012 at 7:50 am
(May 14, 2012 at 7:23 am)Logic Wrote: I have come to the conclusion that I dislike atheists who believe that they're omniscient and have superior knowledge about reality. For instance, arrogantly asserting that spiritual individuals are delusional/hallucinating; it is such a simplistic explanation for an enormously complex situation.
You mean the explanation most probable and consistent with Occams Razor.
How arrogant of us.
I wouldn't assert you are definitely delusional, any more than I would assert Mental Patient A is definitely not the reincarnation of Abraham Lincoln. Merely, it lacks probability.
Self-authenticating private evidence is useless, because it is indistinguishable from the illusion of it. ― Kel, Kelosophy Blog
If you’re going to watch tele, you should watch Scooby Doo. That show was so cool because every time there’s a church with a ghoul, or a ghost in a school. They looked beneath the mask and what was inside?
The f**king janitor or the dude who runs the waterslide. Throughout history every mystery. Ever solved has turned out to be. Not Magic. ― Tim Minchin, Storm
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RE: I have converted to Christianity
May 14, 2012 at 7:53 am
(May 14, 2012 at 7:23 am)Logic Wrote: I have come to the conclusion that I dislike atheists who believe that they're omniscient and have superior knowledge about reality.
lol..
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RE: I have converted to Christianity
May 14, 2012 at 7:56 am
(May 14, 2012 at 7:53 am)Insanity x Wrote: (May 14, 2012 at 7:23 am)Logic Wrote: I have come to the conclusion that I dislike atheists who believe that they're omniscient and have superior knowledge about reality.
lol..
Absolutely...Atheists have omniscience and superior knowledge??
How arrogant do you want to be logic?? Sounds like you are just jealous of others who have worked hard for the knowledge they posses and you are too lazy to attain for yourself!
"The Universe is run by the complex interweaving of three elements: energy, matter, and enlightened self-interest." G'Kar-B5
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