JollyStNick

So, if it is irrational to believe in God, and it is irrational to not believe in God. What IS it rational to believe in?

Colm

It is rational to admit that we don't yet really know what we don't yet know, while we don't yet really know. The quest to know -- that process -- is also rational; as well as being fascinating, and periodically rewarding.

collegehopefull

^ I agree.

I would say that it is rational to have verifiable beliefs.

Teaching couldn't take place if you didn't believe something before it was demonstrated to be true - but there's the important part: In a frame of thinking, an assertion must be demonstrated to be true before you completely accept it

Colm

This can also be described as making inferences, that is, making statements/predictions about what you can not detect, on the basis of what you can -- Neptune was predicted before later astronomers were able to directly observe it. More broadly this can also be called theory, and it is a key aspect of the scientific method; but observation/recording comes first, and is the basis of subsequent hypotheses made in the scientific community.

Tboonepickens

but to claim that god does or does not exist with definity is ridiculous. There is no evidence to assert either claim.

Colm

Too many people forget, when the question of the existence or nonexistence of God is put forth, that if you take ten people off the street and ask them to define "God," that you will likely get ten different ideas. Some folks view God as the Cosmic underpinnings of the Universe. Many atheists and agnostics could to some extent accept this minority latter view -- as Einstein did. However, the more antiquated views are not so easy for scientists to accept. The church imprisoned Galileo for the last years of his life in the 17th century for simply describing the Solar System properly. This is the kind of thing that causes many in the scientific community pause, when it comes to certain old fashioned beliefs of dogmatic "old school" religious advocates.

applejack

Well, there ya go, OP.

It's all woefully off topic, but at least now you know what you're in for from a place like Cornell.

Choose wisely.

CayugaRed2005

But as I indicated, there is definitely a very supportive community of Christians at Cornell!

In fact, it's hard to find an interest at Cornell that isn't supported.

Tboonepickens

^baby strangling? heroin use?

collegehopefull

No to the first one.



Unfortunately, I know a few that dabble in the second.
I don't think hard drug use is unique to Cornell though.

ResurgamBell

if you guys are questioning god...try going on a salvia trip

treesuss

the thing is, this guy is right and everybody's deflections of that fact are quite humorous.

it's sad that his point of view (and in fact the point of view of many of the smartest people of the last 150 years) cannot be espoused in modern culture without an immediate insurmountable backlash, even from many who have in their own consciousness rejected some or all of the claims of the outdated, antequated control scheme we so lightly/fluffily call "religion". its very sad. its going to take MASSIVE casualties and a rebuilding of civilization (and with the technology at that point, the system will just turn into a bigger control mechanism than it already is with the duo of religion and government) before people stop this ****. so sad.


out of respect for others, you've been blinded. wake up. start advocating reality.

JollyStNick

@treesuss - Finally someone with a bit of intelligence.

treesuss

oh and guess what happens when you die? nothing. that is something that we can verifiably and observationally deal with. anything less than accepting that is ignorance.

people's DMT trips where they see a white tunnel or end up in god's court, talking to joseph smith or muhammad are just a product of the pyschological damage that their life, culture and religion has done on them. when their brain suddenly gets flooded with a time-dilating pyschedelic, what the hell else do you think they are gonna say/see/think? especially because they are completely unaware of the actual process that's going on, due to their willfull ignorance (now, obviously, not in the past necessarily).

its really quite elementary, folks, though i suspect everyone here thinks im just as flagrantly offensive and 'intolerant' as StNick. i guess i'll see all you masterbating, pig-eating, shellfish enjoying pre-marital sex-having ****ers in a fiery pit below the ground, or maybe we'll just be lucky and you'll kill yourselves because you think the rapture has come. that'd be a planet i'd be interested in rebuilding. at this rate...i'll just admire the sad sad fail.

Tboonepickens

^so what is your point?