Hypography Science Forums: IATESOTK - Viewing Profile - Hypography Science Forums

[quote][quote name='Reaper']We will see about that. My personal experience with this kind of debate is that in the end, it always turns into a debate about sanity. I should also warn you that I often hear the phrase "open mindedness" in many debates on religion and God..... [/quote]

For the record, I have also heard the term "open-mindedness " in many debates about atheism and science explaining everything---from both circles. Atheists say believers are closed minded, as do be believers to atheists.


[quote]Well, you would first have to show that God and "hope" are somehow related. Hope itself can come from a variety of sources, so you have to be a bit more specific with your question. As for what I think, well I'm no psychologist, but my observation is that people usually have hope when they are either beginning to get out of a hardship (e.g. They went through a bunch of crap, and then all of the sudden an event occurs that makes them happy), or when they are uncertain or afraid about certain things or events (e.g. I hope x, y, or z doesn't happen....).[/quote]

And I agree. . . so what is it in our minds that gives us hope? Is it the absense of happiness, or the onset of happiness? Or is it simply wanting more of this happiness all the time?



[quote]Well, now you are assuming quite a few things here. You are assuming that there is "spiritual knowledge" to be had, that God exists, and that we have a purpose. [/quote]

I'm not really assuming--- I'm simply saying if not, then what is the motivating factor behind movement. . .besides eating, drinking, protecting ourselves from attack, and having children so our dna survives? I could do that in a cardboard box next to a garden the grows fresh food and a small stream running through an area with the most consistent environment.

[quote]As for how we are even here, well, that's kind of a vague question. Are you looking for how we came into existence? Or how we ended up at our particular stage and situation in our lives? Or what exactly?

As for the motivation to wake up in the morning and do anything, well, that depends on my mood and circumstances at hand. And well, there are a whole bunch of reasons behind my motivations to do anything, and none of which have anything to do with God.


So, I'm not really quite certain what you are trying to get at here, as there is no evidence whatsoever for His existence, nor is there any real reason to include God in any of our explanations, hypothesis, or even in our daily lives.[/quote]

I'm looking for why we don't just all hold hands and jump into the ocean. ASSUMING there can be no God, then why do we work so hard to figure things out? What is the purpose of science? Is it to prove to the whole world that there is no God, therefore no point to anything other than feeling happy as much as possible and unhappy the least amount as possible?

I'm pretty sure if everyone instantly believed that, then we would ultimately destroy ourselves systematically.

Then again, if we all believed without a doubt that God existed--everyone would surely kill themselves to be closer to God and the afterlife. (Isn't that what every "successful" cult has done in the past)

I want to be one of the people in the middle. . .cause I like what I have going on. I'm happy believing in God, and I'm also happy entertaining the fact that maybe He doesn't even exist at all. That's what keeps me alive. That's what makes me want to get up every morning.

I've been out of town and haven't had a chance to check the forum. . . it's great to read the thread! Many great minds here, no doubt.

My personal interpretation of "hope" is that people usually pick one of two sides. Maybe it is a genetic thing, maybe it is a conscious decision in early childhood--or maybe it is something we are conditioned to pick depending on our parents/gaurdians.

These two sides are
1.) ANYTHING can happen people
2.) NOTHING really happens people

The "anythings can happen people" are made up from many different mindsets. They are the believers in God, religion, the supernatural. They are the political activists, the rebels, the believers in change, the believers in conspiracy, the believers in controlling forces within the world. etc. etc. . .

The "nothing really happens people" are also made up of a diverse people. They are the believers in random coincidence, statistics, and mathematics explaining the source of everything. They are the technical writers, the anti-conspirisists, and the proof finders.

Some people dream, some people verify the legitimacy of the dreams. And of course, I don't think it is black and white by any means. People adopt beliefs and ideas from both sides of the spectrum.

However, each side finds hope in their constant quest to either A.)see their dreams come true. . .or B.) Prove that everything can be explained logically.

This poses another interesting question, though. Don't we need both sides to progress? If the whole world was dreamers--we would all be cult leaders and artists who would ultimately never get anything done. However, if we were all analytical thinkers, we would shut out all questioning of the absurd, and fail to see the absurdity as it happens.

What I find fascinating is that many of you on this forum take one of these sides, yet you all seem to find some middle ground. . .and that is beautiful. When art and science learn to some together--great things usually happen. Look at all the Great Wonders of the world. . .many of them were dreamed by artists, and brought into being by science.

Am I a hippie? haha. . .I dunno. "Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together try to love one another--Right now!"

Peace.

LaurieAG said:

Not dissapointing at all! This is very interesting. . . I'm glad you shared.

If I might ask, why was the US franchise closed? Do you know the back story on that?

How about world peace amongst vast diversity? That's what I want.

World peace can mean many things-- one of which is everyone being so sheltered by society that they all look and act the same. That is not the kind of world peace I'm after. . .

OutsideTheBox said:

Yeah, you are thinking what I'm thinking. . . the "fast forward" prob isn't a good way to look at it. I was just trying to show how in a game, many "decisions" are made by the artificial intelligence--and when you fast forward, those same decisions are made faster, which takes you (as the games controller) less time to see things unfold.

Sort of a "what would Earth look like to God"

I almost think God has different points in life where he makes the ultimate decision, and we as intelligent beings pretty much decide where we want to go on everything else. For instance, I just chose to go to Taco Bell--knowing that it is not in my body's best interest! lol. But if I decide I want to skip town and leave my family to start another life, I think God may try to counteract that somehow.