French mag Charlie Hebdo attacked by gunmen, 12 dead

  On 1/24/2015 at 1:17 AM, Jev said:

Religion is just a one long dead end.

 

There is nothing on this earth that would religion give you and nothing else would be able to substitute it or even overcome it. Be it good morals, healthy society, good mental health, meaning of life, spirituality... whatever.

 

A personal belief is more than enough. If not, "you" have a problem somewhere and religion is a crutch waiting for you. But crutch is a crutch. Not a solution for your fundamental problems.

but i just think there's more to religion than something to fill a gap, depending on the person of course. what if person A had a perfectly happy life without faith, and decided to study buddhism, kabbalah or even pagan rituals just out of curiosity or desire to try the journey on for size? and what if that person liked one of the above and decided to draw inspiration from it in their life? what if they went a step futher and identified as a member of that religion because it resonated with their already felt-beliefs? it's just like travel companions or tour guides- some people prefer to use them to travel and experience, others would rather it be more free form. you're still traveling whether using Foder's or not lol..

i think people mistake "religion-is-a-crutch" narrative with "religion-can-be-used-as-a-crutch".. it's all about context.

not everything has to be original... would you never read a classic book or watch a movie that's popular just because it's mainstream or exists within pop culture? other way to see it- some people prefer reading books, others prefer watching the film version of the story. Just because movies are more visual and books are more abstract doesn't mean one way is inferior.

  On 1/24/2015 at 1:32 AM, Lane Visitor said:

 

  On 1/24/2015 at 1:17 AM, Jev said:

Religion is just a one long dead end.

 

There is nothing on this earth that would religion give you and nothing else would be able to substitute it or even overcome it. Be it good morals, healthy society, good mental health, meaning of life, spirituality... whatever.

 

A personal belief is more than enough. If not, "you" have a problem somewhere and religion is a crutch waiting for you. But crutch is a crutch. Not a solution for your fundamental problems.

 

but i just think there's more to religion than something to fill a gap, depending on the person of course. what if person A had a perfectly happy life without faith, and decided to study buddhism, kabbalah or even pagan rituals just out of curiosity or desire to try the journey on for size? and what if that person liked one of the above and decided to draw inspiration from in in their life? what if they went a step futher and identified as a member of that religion because it resonated with their already felt-beliefs? it's just like travel companions or tour guides- some people prefer to use them to travel and experience, others would rather it be more free form. you're still traveling whether using Foder's or not lol..

 

i think people mistake "religion-is-a-crutch" narrative with "religion-can-be-used-as-a-crutch".. it's all about context.

 

I don't think that religion invented anything that one would need for inspiration. All the things were here from the beginning because the whole principle of people's/creatures behaviour is motivation. And motivation is here since the beginning of life. You don't have to study religion in order to find qualities of life you like. You can just meet "a good person" with morals and listen to him. Or you can read an inspiring book written by a pensioner in his free time.

And if one wants to study a religion? Why not. One can study whatever he/she finds interesting or inspiring. But if I find some good inspiration in Mein Kampf (hypothetically) does it necessarily mean that I have to follow the whole ideology? No, I will just take this single piece of information and insert it in my database of other pieces of information that I gathered in my life.

You can be also inspired by an insane person because he says something really interesting on a rare occasion. That is not a reason to worship him though.

There is no reason of being a member of anything really.

  On 1/24/2015 at 1:45 AM, Jev said:

 

,,,,, piece of information and insert it in my database of other pieces of information that I gathered in my life.

 

 

finding what you like & what inspires you and then adapting/incorporating into your own world-view is the healthiest way forward

humans have a herd mentality though, survival instincts enhanced by 1000's of years of socialization/integration often into small-scale socialities

  On 1/24/2015 at 4:20 AM, cwmbrancity said:

 

  On 1/24/2015 at 1:45 AM, Jev said:

 

,,,,, piece of information and insert it in my database of other pieces of information that I gathered in my life.

 

 

 

finding what you like & what inspires you and then adapting/incorporating into your own world-view is the healthiest way forward

 

humans have a herd mentality though, survival instincts enhanced by 1000's of years of socialization/integration often into small-scale socialities

 

Except of course, this could lead to serious confirmation bias. ;)

So are the lizard people an illusion?

this might be a reptilian apologist ruse,

on the other hand Kenneth Grant advocated fucking the likes of Cthulhu......

far out maaaaaaaaaaaaan

  On 1/24/2015 at 12:43 AM, Jev said:

 

 

I also believe that a deeper philosophy (probably more than Francis Bacon thought) is a religion's biggest enemy. There is so many things in religions that fail against some bigger philosophy and logic.

is kant deep enough for you?

  On 1/24/2015 at 1:50 PM, xox said:

 

  On 1/24/2015 at 12:43 AM, Jev said:

 

 

I also believe that a deeper philosophy (probably more than Francis Bacon thought) is a religion's biggest enemy. There is so many things in religions that fail against some bigger philosophy and logic.

 

is kant deep enough for you?

 

I have not read Kant. I developed my personal philosophy that I consider deep enough. I now expect you laughing to be honest but I truly believe my philosophy can stand its ground. It is mostly based on fatalism, determinism, nihilism and a theory of free will. A significant part of it is based on relatively recent neurological discoveries (the free will part). This combination of movements can, in my opinion, discredit all religion I know or at least reduce it to pure personal beliefs (please note that I don't say a god does not exist). I also believe that neurology and theory of free will open us a door that will make many huge philosophers of history "obsolete". Sometimes it is enough to disprove a single fundamental argument that all other arguments are based on.

Religions are just plain wrong. A belief in a god (or something else) is not.

Sorry if I sound presumptuous.

  On 1/24/2015 at 2:58 PM, Jev said:

 

  On 1/24/2015 at 1:50 PM, xox said:

 

  On 1/24/2015 at 12:43 AM, Jev said:

 

 

I also believe that a deeper philosophy (probably more than Francis Bacon thought) is a religion's biggest enemy. There is so many things in religions that fail against some bigger philosophy and logic.

is kant deep enough for you?

I have not read Kant. I developed my personal philosophy that I consider deep enough. I now expect you laughing to be honest but I truly believe my philosophy can stand its ground. It is mostly based on fatalism, determinism, nihilism and a theory of free will. A significant part of it is based on relatively recent neurological discoveries (the free will part). This combination of movements can, in my opinion, discredit all religion I know or at least reduce it to pure personal beliefs (please note that I don't say a god does not exist). I also believe that neurology and theory of free will open us a door that will make many huge philosophers of history "obsolete". Sometimes it is enough to disprove a single fundamental argument that all other arguments are based on.

 

Religions are just plain wrong. A belief in a god (or something else) is not.

 

Sorry if I sound presumptuous.

no, my dear watmm friend, i'm not seeing you presumptuous.

but i'd like to say few things and also to ask you something:

frist: imo, kant is definitely NOT obsolete, and probably will never be. he was really hard for me at first but once i got it it changed my life more then any other philosopher/writer. try adding him to your personal philosophy. you won't regret it.

second: in your opinion, what is the best thing (for us humans) about our existence?

third: imo, some recent neurological 'discoveries' about free will and their conclusions are questionable at least cause those scientists are only trying to 'prove' that soul doesn't exist (by reading their conclusions, [materialism, anti-dualism and shit]), which is totally irrelevant for the 'free will' hypothesis, as we know it. introducing determinism in neurological and psychological studies is a hugely optimistic move for categorical expectations and those scientist are most probably bored with their daily jobs so they need some new excitements. i don't know what else to think about them really lol i mean, i could call them ignorant and ambitious but i'm trying to suppers my cynicism.

imo, multidisciplinary approach is the way and neuroscience and medicine in general needs philosophy. we need it more then ever.

To answer your question:

I don't see any particular meaning in human existence. No meaning at all. I think we won't be missed by anybody. Evolution does not care for people. But I don't see it as a negative thing. I believe we just happened to be here for some reason (random or not) and that some people can cope with it and some don't. This isn't even a question that would bother me. "How is it possible for space to be created and exist and WHERE it exists?" is a question that makes me much more confused; a question that makes me an agnostic rather than being an atheist.

To answer the rest:

Of course, neurology without philosophy is not going to cut it. I am totally for combining the best of all disciplines. However, I believe that some philosophy is becoming obsolete when we realize how our brain works. But that does not mean that spirituality is becoming obsolete. But I will tell you this: If we could get a proof that the free will does not exist (and there is a lot of neurological evidences that supports it) it would completely destroy all religions. It would make them completely worthless and completely irrelevant. Because it would make everything else completely worthless and irrelevant, of course.

However, I don't want to discuss free-will theories here (because of my English language barrier and laziness to write essays and because of its potential to make everything worthless, haha).

I believe it is sufficient to say that just a fundamental bit of determinism, fatalism, nihilism and neurology completely discredits any man-made god and any religion that exists on this planet. Because those religions clearly prove that a god isn't able to think on a such level; something that is opposite to his utter "all-knowing-perfection".

  On 1/24/2015 at 8:41 AM, chenGOD said:

So are the lizard people an illusion?

I'm afraid not. :(

  On 1/22/2015 at 12:57 AM, usagi said:

 

 

... if God exists, he doesn't seem to be listening.

 

this sounds very sad, my friend if there's anything you'd like to talk about just pm me. but remember, i'm not god, believe it or not

i'm just curious, have you ask any imam what to do regarding the matter? if yes, what did he tell you? i hope it wasn't simply - pray more

  On 1/24/2015 at 5:50 PM, goDel said:

 

  On 1/24/2015 at 8:41 AM, chenGOD said:

So are the lizard people an illusion?

 

I'm afraid not. :(

 

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/24/american-sniper-anti-muslim-threats-skyrocket

  On 1/24/2015 at 9:42 PM, cwmbrancity said:

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/24/american-sniper-anti-muslim-threats-skyrocket

Man my little respect for James Woods just got completely flushed down the toilet. Not that he cares or anything but damn, that's some ignorant shit.

And people say soft power doesn't matter.

God is in everything and everything is in God.

This does not make you God.

You are a mere tadpole.

we're not even that, a tadpole "transcends" to frog,,,,,,

;)

#bluedotcarlsaganquotesetc

  On 1/24/2015 at 8:14 PM, xox said:

 

  On 1/22/2015 at 12:57 AM, usagi said:

 

 

... if God exists, he doesn't seem to be listening.

 

 

this sounds very sad, my friend if there's anything you'd like to talk about just pm me. but remember, i'm not god, believe it or not

 

i'm just curious, have you ask any imam what to do regarding the matter? if yes, what did he tell you? i hope it wasn't simply - pray more

 

no, I didn't directly approach any imams about what I was dealing with. but understand, I didn't know what I was dealing with, I didn't understand the nature of my problems. consequently I couldn't really talk to anybody about them because I was struggling to comprehend them myself.

however I was involved with the Sydney Muslim community at the time, both in person and online, and it helped for nothing. in fact it just made me realise we had little in common.

New shooting today, against Lars Vilks in Copenhagen.

Oh, FFS

No deaths reported, yet.

Edit: sorry not true, apparently one civilian caught in the crossfire died.

one dead

guys

GUYS

first France

then Denmark

F

D

first Paris

than Copenhagen

PC

FDPC

PCFD

FPDC!!!!

Wow, so peaceful.