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I found it difficult when my best friend came to the same conclusion as yourself as we have journeyed together for nearly 40 years. I am still a magical thinker

by p0d 4y ago

I found it difficult when my best friend came to the same conclusion as yourself as we have journeyed together for nearly 40 years. I am still a magical thinker as you put it. It helped me the day the penny dropped and I realised he had become a Humanist. He has not discovered anything new. He has chosen to believe something different. My views on religion are as robust as your not-views on religion. We all make a choice. He is a little more subdued about his change of direction these days which means that we argue less. He is less "know it all" about how the world works and I talk less about things that are important to me which are not relevant to him. We will be friends until we die, I am sure.

paulryanrogers 4y ago
Not sure what you're trying to communicate here. > He has not discovered anything new. Perhaps something new to himself, if not new to all humanity. Those of us raised in relative isolation or with rigid interpretations of the world may find outside views difficult to truly consider objectively. > We all make a choice. Indeed. And what choice is more profound than the foundations of ones belief systems and world view? For me that was "does it conform to 'divine' truth?", defined mostly by illiterate shepherds and priests whose livelihood depended on convincing people. Now I chose only to believe evidence proving what can be falsified.
- p0d 4y ago
  I was communicating, reacting, to the disparaging terms you frame religion. I have faith in God, you do not. My faith is reasonable and intelligent. Your views are reasonable and intelligent. Faith is what separates us. Not magical thinking, grifters or illiterate shepherds.
  - paulryanrogers 4y ago
    Having wasted decades on faith (both being manipulated and self deceived) I think some disparaging remarks are warranted. If there is a god it certainly doesn't need humans rushing to its defense. Unless it's the worthless imaginary kind. Faith by definition cannot be based on physical evidence, and isn't falsifiable. Or else why does one need faith to believe? So whether that is reasonable is debatable. I'd argue you appear to be proposing a false equivalence.
    - p0d 4y ago
      Here's a funny thing. My bookshelf was disturbed this morning with a new book. My wife was clearing out her car and left it for me. I randomly open the book and read a discussion on how intelligent design is more falsifiable than Darwinism. I am not a Scientist, like my Professor friend. I think you may enjoy this book, The Case For A Creator. I imagine it will confirm or challenge your views.
      - paulryanrogers 4y ago
        So god of the gaps; trust these fringe 'scientists'; overlook mountains of other evidence for macro evolution; and an eternal, preexisting, immensely powerful, intelligent being as more plausible than eternal matter in a potentially infinite universe eventually coalescing to create simple life that gradually evolves into more complex forms (sometimes repeatedly, like crabs). Occam's razor would say go with the simpler explanation. My bet is on unintelligent yet eternal matter. Try reading "The God Delusion" or "The Selfish Gene" by Dawkins.
        p0d 4y ago
        It was good to chat. I teach a class today on cyber security then fly off on holiday with my family for a week. Good luck on your life journey.

by p0d 4y ago

paulryanrogers 4y ago

Not sure what you're trying to communicate here. > He has not discovered anything new. Perhaps something new to himself, if not new to all humanity. Those of us raised in relative isolation or with rigid interpretations of the world may find outside views difficult to truly consider objectively. > We all make a choice. Indeed. And what choice is more profound than the foundations of ones belief systems and world view? For me that was "does it conform to 'divine' truth?", defined mostly by illiterate shepherds and priests whose livelihood depended on convincing people. Now I chose only to believe evidence proving what can be falsified.

p0d 4y ago
I was communicating, reacting, to the disparaging terms you frame religion. I have faith in God, you do not. My faith is reasonable and intelligent. Your views are reasonable and intelligent. Faith is what separates us. Not magical thinking, grifters or illiterate shepherds.
- paulryanrogers 4y ago
  Having wasted decades on faith (both being manipulated and self deceived) I think some disparaging remarks are warranted. If there is a god it certainly doesn't need humans rushing to its defense. Unless it's the worthless imaginary kind. Faith by definition cannot be based on physical evidence, and isn't falsifiable. Or else why does one need faith to believe? So whether that is reasonable is debatable. I'd argue you appear to be proposing a false equivalence.
  - p0d 4y ago
    Here's a funny thing. My bookshelf was disturbed this morning with a new book. My wife was clearing out her car and left it for me. I randomly open the book and read a discussion on how intelligent design is more falsifiable than Darwinism. I am not a Scientist, like my Professor friend. I think you may enjoy this book, The Case For A Creator. I imagine it will confirm or challenge your views.
    - paulryanrogers 4y ago
      So god of the gaps; trust these fringe 'scientists'; overlook mountains of other evidence for macro evolution; and an eternal, preexisting, immensely powerful, intelligent being as more plausible than eternal matter in a potentially infinite universe eventually coalescing to create simple life that gradually evolves into more complex forms (sometimes repeatedly, like crabs). Occam's razor would say go with the simpler explanation. My bet is on unintelligent yet eternal matter. Try reading "The God Delusion" or "The Selfish Gene" by Dawkins.
      - p0d 4y ago
        It was good to chat. I teach a class today on cyber security then fly off on holiday with my family for a week. Good luck on your life journey.