zedvictor4

To reiterate the point that I was making.

Being a financially successful individual is just fine....... But without everyone else, your success and wealth are worthless.

Needing to be part of a system, whilst wanting to be separate from the system, is a tad --------.  You choose the word I do not wish to appear too cynical.

Canada isn't the U.S and logically an assault rifle isn't the best tool for the requirements of the day to day criminal. Way more comfortable to stick a hand gun down your pants.

Nonetheless assault rifles are an unnecessary extension of the libido.

And guns are never responsible for crime....People are!

Yep I generally agree.

Though there comes a point socially where one questions how much money one person actually requires to live a lavish lifestyle.

After all, society is a collective and money is a collective tool......Without an ordered society a billionaires money is worthless.

Nope.....Never smoked.

Every statement I made was  logical and plausible.

A. The bible tale, typically focuses on "special"  individuals, which is a fiction or myth format that we are very familiar with. So very few specifically mentioned witnesses.

B. The use of stimulants to achieve an altered state of mind and communicate with  the spirit world is nothing new. I'm sure that back in the day such  practises would have been commonplace and highly regarded, especially in a region known for the production and use of such substances. Kat  and hashish for example are still very popular today.

Explains a lot really doesn't it?

We all dislike paying tax.

Though I think that it is fair to say that we would all dislike no tax even more.

Nonetheless , flat tax would be OK,  if there weren't loopholes built into the system.

Think about it logically.

Who made all these biblical claims?...Was it ordinary everyday folk, or was it shamanic individuals.

A bloke goes up a mountain and smokes a few joints, or chews a few leaves, or has a few bevvies and has a chat with a god....Now that's plausible.

And all these witnesses....There weren't actually that many, were there?....Most witness is just repetition.

Studying the past and the future is what humans are inclined to do.....Either for a reason, or just because we are inclined to.....

The evolutionary development of organic intelligence and ongoing Alternative Intelligence, is a lot to put down to pure chance.

So I currently run with the notion of creation/GOD principle, development, decline, re-initiaton etc etc....What this would ultimately achieve, I have no idea....Ultimately it  would all seem to be pretty pointless.

Or maybe it is all the work of an ethereal, Caucasian looking, beardy guy who has floated around an infinite space, for ever, eventually got bored, and so decided to brighten things up a bit.  

All seemingly a tad illogical, as is nothing at all. 

I think that the use of hallucinogenic and mind altering substances was probably rife back in the day.....Seriously.

It's only latterly that we have come to understand the negative implications of substance abuse.

Let's just see what happens?

Sliding into apostasy....Sounds fun....Is that a bit like mixed naked mud wrestling?

Trump want's to be a dictator.

Thank goodness for the second amendment hey?

If you want something , then people can be persuaded to give it to you.

Maybe we are here to have one eye on the future and one eye on the past....Ultimately, events that might converge.....GOD principle.

Do you think that there are others, elsewhere, doing the same?

Concepts are as concepts do.

And catechumen is a lovely word.

And orthodox educating is as orthodox educating does...... ( Does it come with tea and cake?)

And GOD principle maybe.

We can but speculate.

@RationalMadman

Exactly.....Selective morality.

It's not a criticism, just undeniable and obvious, and I'm no different.

Selective morality = survival of the species....Not just in dietary terms.

Cute and fluffy  v  green and seemingly expressionless, silent and inert....Easy decision for some, especially as there are suitably nutritional alternatives readily available.

Overthink..... Which is the defining nature of the beast.

@RationalMadman

Vegans rely on consuming previously living organic material, just like everyone else. 

Just not cute fluffy stuff.

Selective morality.

It's like the abortion argument.

It's not the killing that's the problem, it's the cuteness or potential cuteness of the victim.

Typically selective human morality.

Mrs Lion will have which ever is easiest to catch......She tends not to over think the situation.

There is no difference.

Or it would be perfect if there were no difference....But we are all different and separate from each other and act individually.

Lumping individuals together under one of two labels, doesn't imply "behavioural" certainty..... Far from it.

Acceptance of deistic hypotheses, is no guarantee of an individuals state of mind.

How do you separate them out?

Do they emanate in separate bubbles, from separate mechanisms with separate data input sources?

When is objectivity not subjective?

Or at what point does subjectivity become objective?

Crazy is as crazy does. 

I think therefore I am is the best validation.

And you may or may not, only have a lifetime to think about it.

And hypotheses abound, but all start somewhere between 0 and 1.

Hatred.... That's a very intense emotional response to a fruit....Did it sleep with your partner or kill your children or do something similarly disrespectful?

I attempt to define things as they are known, rather than as I imagine them to be.

I'm also aware that any notions of creation that I might hold, are purely hypothetical.

Just like the valid but nonetheless illogical and "narrow" Christian hypothesis that you subscribe to.

And the Christian hypothesis "begs so many questions".

Like:  Where did god come from?

Exactly.

The reality of day to day existence......No pinning of hopes on supernatural deities necessary.

And as I stated elsewhere, you misinterpret atheism.

Atheism is nothing whatsoever to do with evolution....Two separate concepts.

And material evolution is self evident, as all theists know but are often reluctant to admit.

You're flogging a dead horse with this one.

Is  Rangar an anagram? 

I do not vote.

I am probably not consistent with atheism.

The rest is your opinion.

Nope, atheism isn't a belief in anything. 

Material evolution is ongoing and perceivable, otherwise we would still be living in trees or caves, and not remotely discussing, using electronic devices. So no belief required. Though denial required for some.

Atheism just doesn't accept the deity idea.

As I stated, you misinterpret atheism.

Atheism is nothing whatsoever to do with material evolution....They are completely separate issues....They can be associated, just as theism and evolution can be associated....Just as theism and music can be associated....Just as we can associate atheism and theism with anything, including each other....Nonetheless atheism is not a belief in evolution, whereas theism is a belief in imaginary deities.

In basic terms, atheists simply do not accept the existence of imaginary deities.

You didn't like my post because you understood it.

LOL.

And you don't waffle?

Well, belief is a dodgy word.

I currently prefer the idea of purpose rather than chance, simply based upon the illogic of the something from nothing principle. I therefore refer to purpose as the GOD principle........Not to be confused with any specific deity........And material evolution occurs in plain sight so does not require belief.

I would suggest that you actually misinterpret atheism.....Atheists simply do not accept your version of things, so no belief is required.

Nonetheless, at the end of the day it does all boil down to something from nothing, whether that be a big bang or a big god, or a big whatever. 

So in terms of creation I do not believe anything nor do I have any suggestions other than a principle of material creation.

Says you without any evidence.

And you are harmless and you have a position too.

And I assume that Stephens' source is the Christian Bible and his interpretation thereof...Just as yours is.

For me atheism  means GOD principle and then evolution....But not an ethereal Caucasian bloke that screws virgins.

If your debating just pull out the strawman thing for good measure....It's generally meaningless, but looks good and might just clinch a vote.

Gods are a standard  imaginary creation that fulfil a particular human need.

Gods can be all things to all men.

Nonetheless if you are prepared to accept the bible warts and all as an accurate account of something, then you must also accept the illogic and contradiction contained therein.

Stephen just enjoys pointing out these flaws.....Pigs and demons are one of his latest issues.

So what is your angle on pigs and demons?

Imaginary demons.

You and I should be content in the knowledge that demons as possessive entities do not and did not exist.

Though as a mythological/fictional narrative, demons can be made to jump about willy nilly, if that is what the author/story teller wishes.

There is nothing at all wrong with a good entertaining fantasy tale....Story telling was a major source of entertainment back in the day, just as it still is now.

Just rebrand the whistles.....Covid whistles for example.....If someone coughs, blow like fuck, could be the slogan.... BOGOF.

Because it's all a load of archaic nonsense Stephen....You know that and I know that.

And archaic nonsense can be anything it wants to be and anything anybody wants it to be.

A lunatic, a herd of pigs and a clever guy in a boat....go for it.

Nope, never have been and will not be for the foreseeable future.

And neither the bible nor the U.S. actually promotes such morals. 

Altruistic lip service in the pursuit of wealth and power is typically human, hypocrisy. 

If the Christian bible is an accurate account of the will of your god, then Stephens's claims are undeniably correct and your interpretation would therefore be logically flawed.

It's all in the text in black and white, after all.

So are you agreeing that the Christian bible is basically just a human based, supernaturally embellished mythology, and that your god is in fact a god that you personally design, to conform with a set of moral standards that you personally hold?

The doormen probably.

Though I suspect that the real genii are even rarer than a bunch of physicists....One person has an idea, the rest help develop it.

That's one way of looking at things.

I would suggest that humanity created gods, as a way of answering questions that couldn't be answered.

Two valid hypotheses, though I think that mine is somewhat more logical as it doesn't rely upon super-nature to answer unanswerable questions.

Also interesting that you attribute a god with a specific gender (him)....Men creating gods in their own image, for sure.

It's good to ramble....You're a thinker

You don't just have a fixed idea about things.

I would sum up your ramblings by suggesting that success is about finding a level of contentment and wellbeing....Living within the limits of ones capabilities....Which for most people does not necessitate achieving social greatness or amassing monetary wealth.

 

The role of minions such as us, is probably to produce and ensure the success of the genii.

A good philosophical answer.

The greater the genius the narrower the mind set, quite often.

Though the evolutionary importance of genii shouldn't be undervalued.

Nonetheless, a game about fictional characters and guessing the bad guys, sounds like religious arguing to me.

What do you think, is the measure of success?

Politically and socially, the U.S. is already ugly.....And no matter who wins, I don't see things getting any prettier.