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[G-Flex]

Abandoning the possibility of other options simply because you happen to be given one that seems to work for you is exactly what people do when they worship a god. Natural selection may have worked, and may continue to work, but that doesn't mean that it is the best option and that our environment hasn't changed too quickly for it to keep up.

Funny thing is, natural selection as an actual scientific theory applies to us no matter what we do, as it's simply a description of the process of some genes being replicated and some genes not. I guess you could completely curtail that, in theory, but it would take a hell of a lot of conscious effort to effectively make sure that every single member of a population breeds the same amount no matter what. In practice, it's impossible.


Also, our environment really hasn't been changing too quickly; I don't think so, at least. Right now we're probably a bit evolutionarily stagnant, because we're relatively comfortable. Of course, if we really manage to screw something up and cause some kind of awful near-instantaneous disaster, that would be bad, but especially for an organism as adaptable as humans are, I don't see us going extinct anytime soon.

[Broose]

Don't start fights.

I have no idea where you're getting the idea that atheists are atheists because they've failed at life. Many of my atheistic friends simply couldn't reconcile the idea of a higher power with what was right in front of them, and I respect that they followed their hearts and minds.

There are plenty of religious people who are chubby, the same way there are plenty who are skinny. You don't classify people like that because it doesn't matter. We're all people.

I really wish he didn't edit that post out. It sounds hilarious.

[Andir]

Don't start fights.

I have no idea where you're getting the idea that atheists are atheists because they've failed at life. Many of my atheistic friends simply couldn't reconcile the idea of a higher power with what was right in front of them, and I respect that they followed their hearts and minds.

There are plenty of religious people who are chubby, the same way there are plenty who are skinny. You don't classify people like that because it doesn't matter. We're all people.

I really wish he didn't edit that post out. It sounds hilarious.

In some ways I like unedited comments because sometimes it reflects the true intentions of people, as if they gave a speech on something.  Once you say it, it can't be taken back (unless you're a politician.)

[RAM]

I don't have a problem with the existence of natural selection or the role it plays, I just think it is a little shortsighted to accept it as a purpose for living. It is a very inefficient way of improving something and resources are not limitless. We have the ability to do so much more than blindly try to be better than everyone around us...

I think I saved a copy of the post in question if yo are desperate, but it would seem like a bit of a betrayal to post it...

[Emperor_Jonathan]

Buddhism makes the most sense. The Budha didn't believe in miracles, he believed in life lesson.

There's a distinction between Buddha and THE Buddha.

Also, Buddhism is quite complicated once you get into the Buddhism cosmology. At it's core it is simply following a path, but reincarnation can get very tricky. Hell, I don't get it half the time.

[RAM]

Reincarnation and enlightenment seem pretty miraculous to me...

[Emperor_Jonathan]

Reincarnation and enlightenment seem pretty miraculous to me...

Nope, a miracle is a interruption of the laws of nature (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle).

In Buddhism Reincarnation and Enlightenment are nature.

Albeit, The Buddha apparently walked on water.

EDIT: He did quite alot of miracles.

[Zironic]

Buddhism makes the most sense. The Budha didn't believe in miracles, he believed in life lesson.

There's a distinction between Buddha and THE Buddha.

Also, Buddhism is quite complicated once you get into the Buddhism cosmology. At it's core it is simply following a path, but reincarnation can get very tricky. Hell, I don't get it half the time.

I think that is the point.

[RAM]

But if you assume that the entirety of existence is an extension of a god's will then that will choosing to spontaneously heal someone is natural too...

Having 1 life be a continuation of an apparently completely separate life and having material completely leave the system without explanation are pretty miraculous if viewed from a sceptical position.

[Emperor_Jonathan]

But if you assume that the entirety of existence is an extension of a god's will then that will choosing to spontaneously heal someone is natural too...

Yeah, so :|

Having 1 life be a continuation of an apparently completely separate life and having material completely leave the system without explanation are pretty miraculous if viewed from a skeptical position.

Assuming that the whole of Buddhism is wrong and it's violating the laws of nature. Assuming Buddhism is wrong, then it doesn't matter since it doesn't happen. :|

Plus nothing leaves the system, the soul moves on between the lives, eventually going to Nirvana.

[Jackrabbit]

Don't start fights.

I have no idea where you're getting the idea that atheists are atheists because they've failed at life. Many of my atheistic friends simply couldn't reconcile the idea of a higher power with what was right in front of them, and I respect that they followed their hearts and minds.

There are plenty of religious people who are chubby, the same way there are plenty who are skinny. You don't classify people like that because it doesn't matter. We're all people.

Agreed. It's like my earlier example of saying Christians are stupid because they're Christians. We're all human, we're all different. I hate generalization, when it's over the top.

[Ampersand]

Alright, stop this thread, it's getting silly.

[Jackrabbit]

Gah, you're right. I just... keep... getting... dragged... back...

[G-Flex]

Reincarnation and enlightenment seem pretty miraculous to me...

Nope, a miracle is a interruption of the laws of nature (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle).

In Buddhism Reincarnation and Enlightenment are nature.

Albeit, The Buddha apparently walked on water.

EDIT: He did quite alot of miracles.

I figure a lot of that was just myth-building after the man had already died. One important thing to remember about him was that he didn't actually consider himself better than (or even much different from) anyone else, really.


And yeah, there's a lot of really intriguing stuff in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology, a lot of it not particularly incompatible with modern science (discounting any mythology, reincarnation, etc).

[Vester]

Reincarnation and enlightenment seem pretty miraculous to me...

Nope, a miracle is a interruption of the laws of nature (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle).

In Buddhism Reincarnation and Enlightenment are nature.

Albeit, The Buddha apparently walked on water.

EDIT: He did quite alot of miracles.

One important thing to remember about him was that he didn't actually consider himself better than (or even much different from) anyone else, really.

I'm pretty sure the same goes for Jesus, which accounts for all the weird stuff in the Gospels.