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Author Topic:   Born believers: How your brain creates God
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 18 of 74 (497802)
02-06-2009 6:54 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by NosyNed
02-04-2009 3:09 PM


Imaginary Friends
I particularly like this part:
Born believers: How your brain creates God writes:
People readily form relationships with non-existent others: roughly half of all 4-year-olds have had an imaginary friend, and adults often form and maintain relationships with dead relatives, fictional characters and fantasy partners. As Barrett points out, this is an evolutionarily useful skill. Without it we would be unable to maintain large social hierarchies and alliances or anticipate what an unseen enemy might be planning.
My critics tell me that the God I believe in is but an imaginary friend within my own mind, since the real GOD, if He exists, would be so vast and all-encompassing as to be unknowable. My counter argument is that through Jesus Christ God is knowable, but my critics are unimpressed with my argument. I would tell them to "get saved" but they are already Christians!
Edited by Phat, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 49 of 74 (907824)
02-28-2023 5:12 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by NosyNed
02-04-2009 3:09 PM


Ex Believers: Why Did You Quit?
This was an excellent topic by NosyNed where he began by sharing this link:
Born believers: How your brain creates God
I wanted to tack on my question and reopen this topic.
Review: Debunking the bunkum
[]

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 Message 1 by NosyNed, posted 02-04-2009 3:09 PM NosyNed has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 50 by Taq, posted 02-28-2023 5:19 PM Phat has replied
 Message 51 by Theodoric, posted 02-28-2023 8:06 PM Phat has replied
 Message 52 by nwr, posted 02-28-2023 10:51 PM Phat has not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 54 of 74 (907835)
03-01-2023 1:46 AM
Reply to: Message 50 by Taq
02-28-2023 5:19 PM


Re: Ex Believers: Why Did You Quit?
I think I was an IIFJ. I know that I was FJ, at least.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 50 by Taq, posted 02-28-2023 5:19 PM Taq has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 55 by Taq, posted 03-01-2023 11:17 AM Phat has replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 58 of 74 (907924)
03-02-2023 9:42 AM
Reply to: Message 57 by Taq
03-01-2023 1:29 PM


Exploring Thinking Taqtics
Taq writes:
I tend to trust the social sciences as far as I can throw them.
Thats an interesting statement in and of itself. Which leads to a couple of questions. Are you ready?
  • Are the social sciences scientific?
  • What criteria is/are required by you personally before you trust someone or something?
    Does one simply trust what they prefer? (I think I tend to do that)

  • This message is a reply to:
     Message 57 by Taq, posted 03-01-2023 1:29 PM Taq has replied

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    Phat
    Member
    Posts: 18262
    From: Denver,Colorado USA
    Joined: 12-30-2003
    Member Rating: 1.1


    Message 59 of 74 (907925)
    03-02-2023 9:47 AM
    Reply to: Message 56 by PaulK
    03-01-2023 1:25 PM


    To Be Blunt About It
    PaulK writes:
    Myers-Briggs is at best a blunt instrument. The last time I tried a test I came out a IxTx and the time before was INTx. The I and T parts are strong but the other two factors are pretty well balanced.
    Do you personally think, as Taq does, that Social Sciences (in this case) are social yet unscientific?

    This message is a reply to:
     Message 56 by PaulK, posted 03-01-2023 1:25 PM PaulK has replied

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    Phat
    Member
    Posts: 18262
    From: Denver,Colorado USA
    Joined: 12-30-2003
    Member Rating: 1.1


    Message 61 of 74 (907928)
    03-02-2023 10:36 AM
    Reply to: Message 55 by Taq
    03-01-2023 11:17 AM


    Re: Ex Believers: Why Did You Quit?
    Taq writes:
    As the youtuber mentions, these aren't black and white correlations, but I do think there is some interesting stuff in the analysis.
    Reminds me of Johnny Carson.
    Wild Weird Stuff!

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     Message 55 by Taq, posted 03-01-2023 11:17 AM Taq has not replied

      
    Phat
    Member
    Posts: 18262
    From: Denver,Colorado USA
    Joined: 12-30-2003
    Member Rating: 1.1


    Message 65 of 74 (907934)
    03-02-2023 2:17 PM
    Reply to: Message 51 by Theodoric
    02-28-2023 8:06 PM


    Mr.Deity
    I love raising old posts from the dead!
    Meet Mr. Deity’s Intelligent Designer: Brian Keith Dalton

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     Message 51 by Theodoric, posted 02-28-2023 8:06 PM Theodoric has not replied

      
    Phat
    Member
    Posts: 18262
    From: Denver,Colorado USA
    Joined: 12-30-2003
    Member Rating: 1.1


    Message 66 of 74 (907935)
    03-02-2023 2:22 PM
    Reply to: Message 63 by Stile
    03-02-2023 12:04 PM


    Re: Social Sciences
    Stile writes:
    Measuring things like happiness, or other social-related things, is really difficult. If someone's sad one day, and happy the next - what will their answer be to you if you ask them the first day vs. the next? What is the "real" answer?
    And how would one go about measuring a claim of being "Born Again"?
    1) Compare the overall "happiness" of believers vs non believers. But this too runs into problems.
    2) (ringos method) Check and see if the believer has given it all away. If not, be sure and judge them as being fake Christians. EVERYBODY can be happy one day and sad the next. EVERYBODY can do good deeds. EVERYBODY worships something.

    This message is a reply to:
     Message 63 by Stile, posted 03-02-2023 12:04 PM Stile has replied

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     Message 67 by Taq, posted 03-02-2023 4:04 PM Phat has not replied
     Message 68 by Omnivorous, posted 03-02-2023 5:45 PM Phat has not replied
     Message 69 by AZPaul3, posted 03-02-2023 6:06 PM Phat has not replied
     Message 72 by Stile, posted 03-03-2023 8:22 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

      
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