Posted on 07/18/2011 7:45:42 PM PDT by Steelfish
Science and Religion: God Didn't Make Man; Man Made Gods In recent years scientists specializing in the mind have begun to unravel religion's "DNA."
By J. Anderson Thomson and Clare Aukofer July 18, 2011.
Before John Lennon imagined "living life in peace," he conjured "no heaven / no hell below us / and no religion too."
No religion: What was Lennon summoning? For starters, a world without "divine" messengers, like Osama bin Laden, sparking violence. A world where mistakes, like the avoidable loss of life in Hurricane Katrina, would be rectified rather than chalked up to "God's will." Where politicians no longer compete to prove who believes more strongly in the irrational and untenable. Where critical thinking is an ideal. In short, a world that makes sense.
In recent years scientists specializing in the mind have begun to unravel religion's "DNA." They have produced robust theories, backed by empirical evidence (including "imaging" studies of the brain at work), that support the conclusion that it was humans who created God, not the other way around. And the better we understand the science, the closer we can come to "no heaven
no hell
and no religion too."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
This is exactly why I think Christianity has the answer to all kind of such mumbo-jumbo. God revealed Himself to his people in Israeli time, and He revealed Himself everyday to those who He choose. An ‘outside’ actor who act independently from human being. While our understanding of doctrines, practices, etc., are shaped by human mind and cultures, our faith come directly from Him—without whom we cannot have it in the first place. This way, we avoid the ‘trap’ of Man Man Gods story.
That is precisely what I meant by the statement that neither religion nor natural selection work like that. And better put, too, for which I thank you.
I suppose I'm a little impatient with this sort of pop science. The notion that a belief in God is somehow hard-wired into our genome is a very interesting theory but if so, why? "Because it's useful" is the author's case, but that does not eliminate "because it's true" in the least.
Personally, I think the best rock songs tell stories.
This is a Brazilian metal band’s concept album about the creation. They infuse their own cultural influences into their music, and I fully believe that if the great classical composers were to listen to this music, they would be thoroughly impressed by it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gxH05P-aRM
Track listing is:
Aeternalux
And Let The Show Begin
Here Comes The Life
Spirits of Light
Humanity
Whispers And Pain of Mother Nature
Choice Time
Judgement Day
Your Majesty Gaia
Luxaeterna
Mark David Chapman had become a born-again Christian in 1970,[14] and was incensed by Lennon’s “bigger than Jesus” remark, calling it blasphemy. He later stated he was further enraged by “God”, and “Imagine”even singing the latter with the altered lyric: “Imagine John Lennon dead.”[15]
- Wikipedia
Man made God sad.
This article in other words:
Nietzsche said, “G-d is dead.”
But in the end:
G-d said, “Nietzsche is dead.”
:-)
My interest is in studying how Gnostic teachings are manifested in modern Marxism. Allen’s quotation is amongst the most succinct on the subject that I have researched.
This type of crap has turned the once hallowed objectivity of science into a joke.
Scientific method has been substantially replaced by grant whores, who sell the outcome to the highest bidder. Peer review at the Universities is like leaving a group of bums to self-police the liquor store."
This^^^
It never ceases to amaze me that folks who believe this refuse to follow their own logic to its inescapable, nihilistic conclusion.
jw
Religious organizations were at the forefront of "rectifying" the damage of Katrina. I wonder if the author even bothered to write a check to a relief agency?
Dogs Didn’t Bite Man; Man Bit Dogs
Atheist culture is at a competitive disadvantage in many areas, such business. For example: The Los Angeles Times. While their atheism is not their biggest problem, the LA Times has recently been sold, gone bankrupt, burned through a succession of editors, had layoffs, and is having continuing circulation losses. The God advantage would likely have given them greater success. A religious advertising salesman has a competitive advantage over an atheist salesman that looks at the hopeless numbers and gives up. Similarly a religious reporter has an advantage getting the scoop over an atheist report with shaky confidence and persistence. This type of advantage is everywhere in a religion accepting organization.
Leftist atheists believe that war is caused by religion, but really war is caused by envy, the same evil that drives leftism. Religion is a competitive advantage that helps win at war, and against leftism.
Wow, I never knew that! Thanks for your post, now I’m going to look into Marx and Gnosticism.
I love when these atheists cite religion as being the cause of war and murders.
Guess none of them noticed the murders of Mao and Stalin...
Or read the history of China in the last 2000 years....
"A world where mistakes, like the avoidable loss of life in Hurricane Katrina, would be rectified rather than chalked up to "God's will." In other words, a world without the people who refused to evacuate when they were warned. A world without Nagin who refused to use all at his disposal to get the people out. The deaths in New Orleans had nothing to do with people thinking it was "God's will." It was a failure to act on the part of the people of New Orleans themselves.
The author trumpets critical thinking while failing to think critically before writing.
Wonder if these worthies would be as dismissive of the religious beliefs of “indigenous pipples?”
Bears repeating.
Where in the world did anyone ever get the idea that utter meaninglessness produces "compassion?"
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