Protestantism

» Migisi - Brian

In response to Brian posted by BrianTubbs:
.
But he HAS rejected atheism.
.
One man's rejection of atheism is 'evidence' to you that the supernatual exists?

-- posted by Migisi

» pink101 - The Brain

In response to Brian posted by Migisi:
.
I think one of the most important discoveries science has come up with has to do with the way the brain works.
.
I have never read or heard any discussions put out by apologists regarding this subject which deals with evidence about the supernatural. The fact that our thoughts are electrochemical pathways in our physical brains begs heavy questions regarding the supernatural.
.
.

-- posted by pink101

» Migisi - The Brain

In response to The Brain posted by pink101:
.
Is the Capacity for Spirituality Determined by Brain Chemistry?
Geneticist's Book 'The God Gene' Is Disputed by Scientists, Embraced by Some Religious Leaders (2004)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/art...
.
(quote) "...... What he found was that the brain chemicals associated with anxiety and other emotions, including joy and sadness, appeared to be in play in the deep meditative states of Zen practitioners and the prayerful repose of Roman Catholic nuns -- not to mention the mystical trances brought on by users of peyote and other mind-altering drugs.
.
"At least one gene, which goes by the name VMAT2, controls the flow to the brain of chemicals that play a key role in emotions and consciousness. This is the "God gene" of the book's title, and Hamer acknowledges that it's a misnomer. There probably are dozens or hundreds more genes, yet to be identified, involved in the universal propensity for transcendence, he said.
......
"He likens spirituality to the capacity for language: Humans are genetically predisposed to have it, but the language people speak and the religion they practice are learned rather than inherited characteristics.
.
"People are designed to communicate through language, but they speak English, French or Chinese because of the part of the world they grew up in. Similarly, genetic makeup urges people to believe in a Creator or find spiritual fulfillment, but culture, history and environment determine whether one is a Christian, Hindu, Jew, Buddhist or Muslim.
....
"Such feelings can lead to an intuitive sense of God's presence, Hamer said. "We do not know God; we feel Him."
.
"Organized religion can become so codified, so caught up with learned rituals, that the focus on spirituality gets lost, Hamer said...
.
"Also left hanging is why women score much higher than men on transcendence tests.
.
"I'm not completely sure about that," Hamer said. "I just know that it's true. Women are more attuned to their emotional connections, and that's at the heart of spirituality." (end)

-- posted by Migisi

» pink101 - The Brain

In response to The Brain posted by Migisi:
.
Check this video out:
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnKVW97j3...
.
There is no excuse for growing old mentally.
.
We CAN exercise our ability to think. It isn't something that comes to us from some out side source.
.

-- posted by pink101

» Migisi - Brain Fitness program

In response to The Brain posted by pink101:
.
Thanks for that. I'm going to investigate the program for my hubby.
.
Have you seen the TV ads for those puter 'games' specifically to 'exercise' your brain? Those focus on 'visual' + brain exercise, however, not 'listening' + brain that Posit promotes. I would imagine that the 'listening' focus would be somewhat difficult for folks with impaired hearing, wouldn't ya think?
.
What's your snow total, Pink? We got 8 inches over the weekend.

-- posted by Migisi

» pink101 - Brain Fitness program

In response to Brain Fitness program posted by Migisi:
.
I'm not sure how much snow we got.
.
When I went to Meijer's yesterday, I saw that the snow on top of the letters on the sign was about 14" deep.
.
But, the wind was blowing in the final two hours of snow fall. In some spots the snow was probably no more than an inch; but, it others where there were no barriers, it drifted. I hear we got about 6". The temperature has been hovering in the high twenties and lower thirties. So, there is enough humidity to chill your bones when you go outside, which I will be doing here pretty soon.
.
Brrrrrrrrr and it makes your teeth chatter.
.
I've always been under the impression that reading is good for the brain.
.

-- posted by pink101

» Migisi - Brain Fitness program

In response to Brain Fitness program posted by pink101:
.
Yeah, it drifted pretty bad here too. I had to call for the plow. I'm out in the wide open, so even a 2-incher can cause problem drifting. And anything under 32 degrees chills me to the bone. Maybe I need more body blubber? You know... like a chubby penguin or polar bear? (wink)
.
I read to my energetic grand kids - both are good for brain (and body) exercise.
.
Speaking of them, I'm late with my shopping. Off I go, now that the roads are semi-cleared. Talk atcha later....

-- posted by Migisi

» Brian Tubbs - Brian

In response to Brian posted by Migisi:

Not evidence. Just a case study of an intelligent person (a renowned thinker, in fact) looking at the evidence at coming to the most rational, plausible conclusion.

» Migisi - Brian

In response to Brian posted by BrianTubbs:
.
Just a case study of an intelligent person (a renowned thinker, in fact) looking at the evidence at coming to the most rational, plausible conclusion.
.
Seems to me he's looking at unanswerable (for now) questions, not 'evidence'. And he's presenting no evidence, just his opinion. IMO, he's not much different - despite his sophisticated intellect - than primitive man who couldn't explain thunder and concluded that it was (or was caused by) a supernatural force.

-- posted by Migisi

» Brian Tubbs - Unanswerable?

In response to Brian posted by Migisi:

The nature of the universe points to a supernatural cause agent and an Intelligent Designer. It is the agnostic and/or the atheist that refuses to accept this clear implication and instead chalks it up to the category of "unanswered questions."

I will grant that many of the SPECIFICS of WHO or WHAT that creative agent is fall into the category of "faith" or "mystery," but the EXISTENCE of a causal agent of some sort is pretty well indicated by the nature of the universe.