You definition of god(at Chairboy's request)

[Capt. Pork]

Since we got into this with the USA thread, I took the advice of Chairperson and started this one.

I believe in some sort of unifying force. This is mainly because I've heard opinions from very credible, knowledgable sources saying that random interactions with the Universe alone could not have produced the plethora of complex reactions(amino acids, even, much less complex multi-cellular life)since the big bang.

Einstien once said that he believed there to be a great engineer. Whether or not this engineer was good, evil or even conscious is definitely a matter to be contested, but the fact that there is some sort of inherent organization seems plausible to me.

Thoughts, opinions?

[Chairboy]

Ok.  Here's a repaste of what I put in the other thread with a little extra:

I don't believe that there is any god or supreme being that has created the universe by design. I've read the christian bible, studied other religious texts, and given it some serious thought and come to the conclusion that religion fills the psychological need many people have to have someone else be in control, like when they were children and their parents were ultimately responsible for their actions.

I don't think that's bad, and I'm not trying to 'diss' people who have strong religious convictions, I just think it's an explanation for why people feel so strongly about it.  People having 'religious experiences' have been cat-scanned while it was happening and there's an area of the brain that's common in all those people that has a fit.  

Pretty much all these religions are based on books written hundreds or thousands of years ago, and I find it astonishing that people accept them without critical reasoning.  Perhaps I'm just more analytical about things, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

I think that the world we live in is absolutely amazing and incredible, and I'm constantly in awe of the beautiful majesty of the universe.  As an engineer, I can appreciate how cause & effect (in a constant cycle) makes everything happen, and I find wonderment in every new discovery I make because I know that there are billions of other things that I can never comprehend, and I appreciate my place in this incredible machine called existance.

[Capt. Pork]

Right on.

Does my view fit yours at all, given that you accept that there are many things that niether you nor science at large can comprehend?

[Chairboy]

Sure, but right up to the point where people try to attach motivation to the force.  If a unifying force exists behind the structure of the universe, I'm more likely to believe that it's in the form of a set of rigidly defined rules created as side effects at the big bang rather then an entity with a purpose.

[xrtoronto]

Originally posted by Capt. Pork
Right on.

Does my view fit yours at all, given that you accept that there are many things that niether you nor science at large can comprehend?

would that make you an agnostic Capt?

[Capt. Pork]

Originally posted by Chairboy
Sure, but right up to the point where people try to attach motivation to the force.  If a unifying force exists behind the structure of the universe, I'm more likely to believe that it's in the form of a set of rigidly defined rules created as side effects at the big bang rather then an entity with a purpose.

I agree wholeheartedly. Purpose is irrelevant. One needs to look no further than our physical significance in respect to the rest of the Universe to see how we stack up as far as gravity and volume.

The fact that we have the ability to contemplate reason does not preclude the possibility of a total annihilation at the hands of a mindless object with nothing but density and great kinetic energy.

[myelo]

Originally posted by Chairboy
Sure, but right up to the point where people try to attach motivation to the force.  If a unifying force exists behind the structure of the universe, I'm more likely to believe that it's in the form of a set of rigidly defined rules created as side effects at the big bang rather then an entity with a purpose.

That's what Einstein believed: the universe is an orderly system obeying rules that can be discovered. Einstein considered himself an agnostic (despite misunderstood, out of context quotes to the contrary).

[Capt. Pork]

Originally posted by xrtoronto
would that make you an agnostic Capt?

Sure, I guess.

The one thing I don't like about the term agnostic is that some people view it as a position of laziness. People that don't care to give it too much though, or too much devotion, just say, 'yeah, there's something'. I've given it a good amount of thought. I can say that I lack faith--faith, as in trust and belief without proof. My mind just doesn't work that way. I can, however, accept my limitations as a mortal being and at the same time, take into account that which I've seen and learned.

[midnight Target]

who the hell knows?

[Capt. Pork]

Originally posted by midnight Target
who the hell knows?

Who the hell knows what?

[RTR]

Religion and politics.

2 subjects that are guaranteed to degenerate until teh thread is Skuzzified.

LOL...no comment here.

So, how do you suppose David Blaine creates the illusion where he levitates?

I'm Stumpified.

RTR

[xrtoronto]

Originally posted by RTR
So, how do you suppose David Blaine creates the illusion where he levitates?

I dunno, but I betcha it gets him laid:cool:

[VOR]

Originally posted by RTR
So, how do you suppose David Blaine creates the illusion where he levitates?RTR

Google it. It's out there.

[Tuomio]

If god is out there to create Big Bangs, why in the heck i should care whether he exists or not? Believing in supernatural omnipotent beings requires ignorance more than faith. If i start believing in "flat world" theory, am i ignorant or faithfull?

[storch]

Originally posted by Capt. Pork
Since we got into this with the USA thread, I took the advice of Chairperson and started this one.

I believe in some sort of unifying force. This is mainly because I've heard opinions from very credible, knowledgable sources saying that random interactions with the Universe alone could not have produced the plethora of complex reactions(amino acids, even, much less complex multi-cellular life)since the big bang.

Einstien once said that he believed there to be a great engineer. Whether or not this engineer was good, evil or even conscious is definitely a matter to be contested, but the fact that there is some sort of inherent organization seems plausible to me.

Thoughts, opinions?

That would be Spinoza's god.  I used to agree with that sentiment years ago when I was in my 20's.  Prior to even reading Spinoza.

http://www.philosophypages.com/ph/spin.htm