I should have included this text for you, Pat, and those who cannot follow the link:
"One thing science knows is that our experience is a construct. Sensory information is processed by the brain giving raise to our own experience. This construct appear to have shape color and solidity. What is the world out there actually like? Physics show that when we look at matter it is mostly empty space. We therefore observe this ...nothingness and it is our mind that gives it the appearance of solidity. Which is the conclusions reached by mystics trough the ages. Maybe it is not a nonduality of matter but a nonduality of consciousness we should explore. The new hard question is not how brain gives rise to consciousness but how do our minds take on all the different forms that we experience as reality? The nondual perspective to this question is that all is one, there is no difference between form and emptiness, mind and matter. Could this nondual prospective heal the split between science and spirituality?" On Aug 24, 10:05 am, Molly <[email protected]> wrote: > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ltZMVJPljg > > The new paradigm...or, not so new? > > On Aug 24, 7:56 am, Pat <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > On 21 Aug, 23:39, gruff <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > "... On Aug 20, 5:18 am, Pat <[email protected]> > > > wrote: ..." > > > > > And I'd bet on the opposite happening. On that Last Day, the atheists > > > > will finally understand what a huge error they've made...but it will > > > > be too late to change their minds. Tell you what, if I'm right, we'll > > > > both be returning on that day and we'll see. If you're right, it > > > > simply won't matter as there will be no 'recall'. If we are > > > > resurrected, then you'll know. And we'll both be waiting. You wait > > > > and I'll wait. > > > > Ah well, you see Pat, you assume something about me based on my > > > admission I'm atheist that is not true. You assume that #1, there is > > > an end. I don't see that at all. It's more likely that life will go > > > on forever just changing form and substance as time flows by. You > > > also seem to assume that #2, if I'm right there will be no recall (or > > > afterlife). Nothing could be further from the truth. I do believe in > > > the possibility of life after death and even retaining individual > > > identity (as opposed to just a vast pool of undifferentiated > > > afterlife.) My belief is based in science alone: The laws of > > > conservation of matter and energy. It seems to me they pretty much > > > dictate that life or its energy will continue on after the > > > disintegration of this body in another form perhaps. My belief (or > > > perhaps it is a fervent hope) that it may be possible for an > > > individual human's energy (no other species) to retain its unique > > > identity simply based on my belief that human beings are the supreme > > > creatures in the Universe. Now some may consider this belief to be > > > as far-fetched as what I think belief in gods is, but that's all > > > right. The proof is in the pudding. > > > Well, I like your approach. Conservation of energy is very important > > and something many atheists don't consider in the way you do. It > > sounds to me like you allow for the possibility of a God, > > though...just that you aren't convinced or are of the strongly-leaning- > > towards-atheism-due-to-lack-of-evidence-otherwise, which is fair > > enough. However, what makes you think human beings are the supreme > > creatures of the universe? Why not dolphins? They don't have wars. > > I don't find your views far-fetched--certainly nowhere near as far- > > fetched as some people find mine. ;-)
