[ExI] Atheists and agnostics know more about religionthatbelievers, study shows

[Darren Greer]

Spike wrote:

"The most profound refutation of religion I ever saw was a book that is not
even about religion at all, but is a book I would suggest is the cornerstone
of so much of the philosophy we discuss in this forum:  Douglas Hofstadter's
Godel Escher Bach, an Eternal Golden Braid."

I just added that as one of my favorite books on an online social network
for similar reasons. It introduced me to the concept of a strange loop, and
his theories that human consciousness arises from self-referential
interactions in the brain. I'm reading a book now on implications in quantum
mechanics for current theories of mind, and the work of some psychologists
with epileptics who've had their corpus collosum severed between hemispheres
and questions about lefty/right brain interaction that arise from this.

Sometimes I wish we lived in a world where the God debate did not take place
at all, where public discussion of such would be as quaint (and about as
charming) and medieval jousting. There is enough corporeal investigation to
keep us occupied for eternity. Questions will be answered as we all go
along, folks. Why waste our time by dragging a creator into it? .

Alas, I'm being ridiculously naive. It's a rationalist's Wonderland I'm
dreaming of.

Darren


On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 1:20 AM, spike <spike66 at att.net> wrote:

> > > > Spike wrote:
> > > > *What is the best refutation of religion you have ever
> > seen, heard or read?
> >
> > Here is an oldie but a goodie credited to Epicurus the Greek
> > Philosopher circa 250 BCE:
> >
> > 1. if God is unable to prevent evil, he is not omnipotent 2.
> > if God is not willing to prevent evil, he is not good 3. if
> > God is willing and able to prevent evil, then why is there evil?
> Avantguardian
>
>
> Excellent responses all, thanks.
>
> The most profound refutation of religion I ever saw was a book that is not
> even about religion at all, but is a book I would suggest is the
> cornerstone
> of so much of the philosophy we discuss in this forum:  Douglas
> Hofstadter's
> Godel Escher Bach, an Eternal Golden Braid.
>
> Reasoning: Hofstader goes into the mechanics of philosophy and how it is
> that Godel showed that every conceivable logic system has it singularity,
> where paradox is unavoidable.  I read that book cover to cover twice, the
> first time in October 1983 and the second time in August 1984.  I realized
> that all religions have the self referencing paradox feature, so that the
> system cannot be verified from outside the system.  Religions are analogous
> in that sense to the following comment:
>
> This sentence is true.
>
> spike
>
>
>
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