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#1 | |||
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Master Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sweden
Posts: 2,364
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The only thing that should need to be said about theism
Carl Sagan nails it! |
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"Faith is the surrender of the mind; it’s the surrender of reason, it’s the surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other mammals. It’s our need to believe, and to surrender our skepticism and our reason, our yearning to discard that and put all our trust or faith in someone or something, that is the sinister thing to me. Of all the supposed virtues, faith must be the most overrated." - Christopher Hitchens |
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#2 |
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Graduate Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,034
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Carl say's in this vid:
"If the general picture however, of a big bang followed by an expanding universe is correct - what happened before that." I assume then and now that this 'general picture' is the one accepted by scientists as being true. "how did that happen" (the universe containing matter) "In many cultures the customary answer is that a god or gods created the universe out of nothing" The interesting thing here is that some can believe that the universe was formed out of nothing and others can believe that a god or gods created the universe out of nothing and that both beliefs agree that it came from nothing. "but if we wish to pursue this question courageously ...we must pursue the next question "where did god come from" "If we decide that this is an unanswerable question why not save a step and conclude": "The origin of the universe is an an answerable question." This is to say: "how did that happen" need not be known. "Or if we say god always existed why not save a step and conclude that the universe always existed?" Would scientists simply say 'the universe always existed'? It appears not. Scientists want to know "how did that happen" and will not 'save a step'. One question that intrigues me is "Are scientist going to find out before the world is completely ruined?" Why not save a step and say "Why not redirect scientist into finding ways to halt and reverse the ruination of a fine planet?" Once that task is done then science can resume the quest to find out "how did that happen" if anyone would even really think it still matters? |
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"I have walked a mile in your shoes and discovered what your problem is...your feet are too small" ~σκεπτικιστής ακραίες |
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#3 |
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Illuminator
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 4,533
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Navigator there's a massive difference between creation ex materia and creatio ex nihilo. Theists argue for the latter, and I, while not convinced of either, lean towards ex materia because of thermodynamics.
I DO think the Universe formed out of nothing but that's not ex nihilo either. Ex materia to give an example is 0 = 1 + (-1) that is an example of ex materia. That's what I personally think best explains the formation of the universe. Now that you understand that, will you stop saying:
Originally Posted by Navigator
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"If I actually believed that Jesus was coming to end the world in 2050, I'd be preparing by stocking up on timber and nails" - PZ Myers |
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#4 |
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Critical Thinker
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 477
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#5 |
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Illuminator
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 4,533
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Er, I'm not sure if you meant to say "How is that not the same".
If you really mean "how is it the same"? I'd contend they aren't the same. Formed out of nothing in a physical sense can be considered an ex materia process. My analogy again is similar to 0 = 1 + (-1) you have formed something from nothing, a zero value. To say it was created out of nothing would just be pulling a 1 without there being a 0 value in the first place. I think of the Universe more like a state change than creation ex nihilo |
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"If I actually believed that Jesus was coming to end the world in 2050, I'd be preparing by stocking up on timber and nails" - PZ Myers |
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#6 |
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Critical Thinker
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 477
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#7 |
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Illuminator
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 4,533
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Oh then if we're using my definition of "out of nothing" ex materia then I would agree with you. God is a miracle, creation ex materia is not.
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"If I actually believed that Jesus was coming to end the world in 2050, I'd be preparing by stocking up on timber and nails" - PZ Myers |
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#8 |
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Graduate Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,034
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Lowpro and KlLLUMINATI
I was replying to the video - to what Carl was saying. Do you understand what Carl is saying in the video? Furthermore do you understand what the same Carl is saying in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PN5J...layer_embedded We each are a 'thread' and what Carl is saying in both videos is connected and Carl is speaking about morality as well. Carl is not taking sides or walking the path of the folly of human conceit He is being Human. There is no where else...like it or not...Earth is where we make our stand. |
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"I have walked a mile in your shoes and discovered what your problem is...your feet are too small" ~σκεπτικιστής ακραίες |
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#9 |
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Illuminator
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 4,533
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That's nice.
Originally Posted by Nagivator
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"If I actually believed that Jesus was coming to end the world in 2050, I'd be preparing by stocking up on timber and nails" - PZ Myers |
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#10 |
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Illuminator
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Rural England
Posts: 4,165
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#11 |
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Master Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sweden
Posts: 2,364
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The question of how we (humanity) came to be has always fascinated humans. Religions and mythologies used to provide the answers, they are just made up. Science is slowly uncovering it. Evolution provides a very important part of the answer, but there are still unresolved questions.
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__________________
"Faith is the surrender of the mind; it’s the surrender of reason, it’s the surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other mammals. It’s our need to believe, and to surrender our skepticism and our reason, our yearning to discard that and put all our trust or faith in someone or something, that is the sinister thing to me. Of all the supposed virtues, faith must be the most overrated." - Christopher Hitchens |
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#12 |
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Guest
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Kansas (Australia)
Posts: 14,750
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I think this discussion forgets an important step. Science cant make any realistic prediction about conditions 1 second before the Big Bang. Until we find a way to step outside the phycical boundary of the universe there is absolutely no data that can be compiled
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#13 |
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Master Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 2,240
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__________________
If autism is a "living death", does that make me a zombie? If so, that'd be great. Just don't get your brain in my general vicinity. |
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#14 |
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Graduate Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,034
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Another thing has to do with math.
With math, there is such a thing as -1, -2 etc... In regards to the Big Bang +1 is that moment and the moment before is 0. -1 apparently does not enter the equation. There is no -1,-2 etc... I think the only thing which can step out of this universe is the imagination. Even then in a very limited way. I am continuing to see that the 'fight' against there being anything outside this universe which actually caused this universe to be is a mixture of detestably feeling toward all known human god-concepts - especially those ones which are used to 'explain' how this universe came to be - they are from an ancient source which was obviously intent on controlling humans. The other motivation seems to be that if there is some kind of outside thing which caused this Universe to be, then there might be intelligence associated with 'whatever' that thing was and it will somehow lend support to those who argue for the human god-concepts. There is also be the other motivation - that without reason, there is no reason. There are no need for morals that prevent others from lawfully taking advantage of those who are easy prey to whatever systems practice such behavior. There are no preventatives avaiable anyway except the laws which humans create. The law is not reflecting such preventatives to the point of eradicating this human hypocrisy. Such behavior simply isn't restricted to those who practice beliefs systems involving old human god concepts. Even the ardent non believers can use their non belief as something to propel any moral reasoning into being mere background noise - if even that - conscience plays no part in the decisions to take advantage of others. The law which allows such practice is all the conscience necessary. This is the one argument that is most often never replied to. The silence says a lot. The thought that there could actually be more to life after death brings with it the possibility that one might have to give account for such behavior. However, that is really not relevant - for who knows. Might - might not. What is relevant is that Carl Sagan in the vid attached to the OP is not saying there is no cause to the Big Bang - but that bringing any god-concept into the understanding is not relevant. In the vid I linked, Carl is saying that we have the option of nurturing our "small speck of dust" and again it is not relevant whether there is an outside cause to the Big Bang and the place we find ourselves or not. The argument is irrelevant....merely a distraction. Legally ripping one another off or otherwise taking advantage of others for personal gain and lifestyle is provably not nurturing our place in this reality. Not as a species. That is the real thing to focus upon. What we are all doing to support the nurturing of Life On Earth. This thing we all have in common with one another. All that other stuff is just distraction. So it has first even got to matter to the individual. God-concepts don't make it matter and nor do the processes of non-belief. Nail that. We have enough 'data' to do so. We just have to think it matters. Not as a romantic speculation. As a real and honorable possibility worthy of personal support. |
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"I have walked a mile in your shoes and discovered what your problem is...your feet are too small" ~σκεπτικιστής ακραίες |
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#15 |
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Briefly immortal
Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: The Group W bench
Posts: 42,371
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#16 |
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Illuminator
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 4,533
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__________________
"If I actually believed that Jesus was coming to end the world in 2050, I'd be preparing by stocking up on timber and nails" - PZ Myers |
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#17 |
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Philosopher
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,965
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If the universe never had a beginning than it's no different than your deity not having a beginning.
If you believe it's possible your deity never had a beginning, why do you insist that the universe does? What makes you think a deity doesn't need a beginning but everything else does? |
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#18 |
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Graduate Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,034
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__________________
"I have walked a mile in your shoes and discovered what your problem is...your feet are too small" ~σκεπτικιστής ακραίες |
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