OT: religion

[zk]

dup

[flyer]

I agree everything in the cosmos, may, in fact, be a joke. Just when we think we have it all figured out, life is over.

Other than doing everything I can for my family, and helping others, I really don’t take anything or anyone in this world too seriously. Like most of you, (possibly for different reasons) I find most of life on this planet quite hilarious.

That’s one reason we started investing in films. Once you tap into what makes people tick, you find it’s a very lucrative way to toy with the concepts of life and death through vampires, superheroes, dystopia, etc. We’re currently trying to analyze what the “next big thing” will be.

To my amazement, people all over the world–regardless of religious beliefs, or lack therof–seem to buy into those scenarios hook, line and sinker. The film industry has definitely perfected the skill of “playing the masses.”

[zk]

[quote=flyer]
To my amazement, the masses–all over the world–regardless of religious beliefs, or lack therof–seem to buy into those scenarios hook, line and sinker.[/quote]

Coming from someone who, hook, line, and sinker, buys into god (a vastly more ridiculous scenario than any movie scenarios you’ve mentioned), that sounds kind of silly.

[flyer]

The “vastly ridiculous scenario” concerning God is your opinion, not mine. I think lots of things people do and believe are beyond “silly,” but those are just my opinions. Fortunately, we’re all free to believe as we wish, and we can agree to disagree.

Concerning the film business. Looking at the numbers, “ridiculous scenarios” seem to sell very well to the masses. Can’t imagine why.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

[quote=zk] The universe is a cold, dark place that cares not for anybody or anything.
[/quote]

zk: Or, maybe it isn’t.

Michio Kaku on the mysticism inherent to Quantum Mechanics: http://www.starstuffs.com/physcon/science.html

Lest you accuse him of latching on to any single God/god, don’t: He’s pantheistic.

To listen to theoretical physicists working on String Theory, Superstring and M-theory discuss not only the wonders of the universe, but expanded consciousness and mysticism is amazing. To simply write off the universe as a cold dark hole is to diminish your own intellect and sense of wonder.

[njtosd]

[quote=flyer]I agree everything in the cosmos, may, in fact, be a joke. Just when we think we have it all figured out, life is over.

Other than doing everything I can for my family, and helping others, I really don’t take anything or anyone in this world too seriously. Like most of you, (possibly for different reasons) I find most of life on this planet quite hilarious.

That’s one reason we started investing in films. Once you tap into what makes people tick, you find it’s a very lucrative way to toy with the concepts of life and death through vampires, superheroes, dystopia, etc. We’re currently trying to analyze what the “next big thing” will be.

To my amazement, people all over the world–regardless of religious beliefs, or lack therof–seem to buy into those scenarios hook, line and sinker. The film industry has definitely perfected the skill of “playing the masses.”[/quote]

Really? I though the line from William Goldman was “Nobody knows anything.”

[zk]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook][quote=zk] The universe is a cold, dark place that cares not for anybody or anything.
[/quote]

zk: Or, maybe it isn’t.

Michio Kaku on the mysticism inherent to Quantum Mechanics: http://www.starstuffs.com/physcon/science.html

Lest you accuse him of latching on to any single God/god, don’t: He’s pantheistic.

To listen to theoretical physicists working on String Theory, Superstring and M-theory discuss not only the wonders of the universe, but expanded consciousness and mysticism is amazing. To simply write off the universe as a cold dark hole is to diminish your own intellect and sense of wonder.[/quote]

It might be amazing. But it doesn’t have anything to do with the supernatural or with god (unless you define god as the natural forces within the universe). Mysticism doesn’t necessarily (and doesn’t in this case) mean supernatural.

I think that to grab at any explanation that might explain your existence in a way that satisfies you, rather than looking at the evidence, diminishes your intellect. And my sense of wonder is all filled up by this life, and doesn’t really need god nor a universe that cares.

[CA renter]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook][quote=zk] The universe is a cold, dark place that cares not for anybody or anything.
[/quote]

zk: Or, maybe it isn’t.

Michio Kaku on the mysticism inherent to Quantum Mechanics: http://www.starstuffs.com/physcon/science.html

Lest you accuse him of latching on to any single God/god, don’t: He’s pantheistic.

To listen to theoretical physicists working on String Theory, Superstring and M-theory discuss not only the wonders of the universe, but expanded consciousness and mysticism is amazing. To simply write off the universe as a cold dark hole is to diminish your own intellect and sense of wonder.[/quote]

Good posts on this thread, Allan.

I’m not at all religious in the “church” sense, but would never in a million years proclaim that I know what does, or doesn’t, exist in the “afterlife.” There is so much more that we don’t understand about the universe, than what we do understand. I think the “religion vs science” argument is a false dichotomy. Today’s “superstitions,” theories, and beliefs may tomorrow be explained by science. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time this has happened in history.

Best to keep an open and inquiring mind.

[flyer]

[quote=njtosd][quote=flyer]I agree everything in the cosmos, may, in fact, be a joke. Just when we think we have it all figured out, life is over.

Other than doing everything I can for my family, and helping others, I really don’t take anything or anyone in this world too seriously. Like most of you, (possibly for different reasons) I find most of life on this planet quite hilarious.

That’s one reason we started investing in films. Once you tap into what makes people tick, you find it’s a very lucrative way to toy with the concepts of life and death through vampires, superheroes, dystopia, etc. We’re currently trying to analyze what the “next big thing” will be.

To my amazement, people all over the world–regardless of religious beliefs, or lack therof–seem to buy into those scenarios hook, line and sinker. The film industry has definitely perfected the skill of “playing the masses.”[/quote]

Really? I though the line from William Goldman was “Nobody knows anything.”[/quote]

Here’s the quote:
“Nobody knows anything…… Not one person in the entire motion picture field knows for a certainty what’s going to work. Every time out it’s a guess and, if you’re lucky, an educated one.”

Love Goldman. Great writer. (Butch Cassidy, All the President’s Men, The Princess Bride, etc.) Have met him at several Hollywood functions over the years. Amazing talent.

Maybe we’ve just been lucky, but, so far, our “educated guesses” have really paid off. My wife is a film exec, so that’s given us some additional insight.

[scaredyclassic]

It’s best not to keep an open mind on all issues. Sometimes some things need rresolution. We are certain about some things. This certainty helps us function. I am certain there is no afterlife. I knowcthis, like I know I’m not dreaming as I type this. When I hear a relative talk about going to haven I never hear the voice of someone who KNOWS it to be true there is an afterlife. It’s more speculstive. Wishful.

Obama is not a space alien sent from a distant galaxy to undermine AMerica. I’m certain. I’d stake your life on it. It’s not even good or useful to keep an open mind on all aspects of reality.

Maybe if the universe and G-d are truly insane there’s an afterlife. Or Obama is a space cowboy named Maurice who has come to destroy the pompatous of love. And in general it’s good to be openiminded. .

But come on.

There’s no heaven. Its a narrative created by us for crowd control and anxiety naintenance. The odds are more likely that each of us is a character in a cosmic video game. Which I put at 50-50 currently.

[scaredyclassic]

The next ge. Of video games shall not involve killing but instead allow you to psychologically tormeny, instill fear and generally freak the he’ll out your characters.

Call it G-d the Creator. V.1.01

[scaredyclassic]

Notice all those heaven is for real books?

They are proof of the uncertainty heaven aspirants have.

No one needs a book called cheese is for real. We know cheese exists.

If enough people become certain heaven does not exist the narrative loses its force and exists no longer. Just as whatever ancient cultures formerly believed seemed plausible in the moment, you now know it isn’t true. You know it in your heart. And you know it’s not worthwhile to keep an open mind over whether the majority culture in ancient Egypt ultimately had it right about the ultimate nature of existence and the afterlife…

[scaredyclassic]

I am as certain that our current conception of heaven is not real as you are that ancient Egyptian burial practices did not affect the afterlife.

or pick up the Book of Mormon. Not to disrespect Mormons. I know and love a lot of Mormons actually. But when I pick up the book and read it, read about the history of the Church, I know 100% in my heart this is not an explanation of reality that is true. pick one up sometime; is it worth keeping an open mind about it in the sense as to whetehr it is true? My answer is no.

is it worth keeping an open mind about why people come to beleive odd things, social issues, etc? yes.

but not about the nature of reality in the sense of whetehr the book of mormon is true, whether heaven is real, or whetehr G-d nailed another G-d type being toa cross to die for our sins.

[scaredyclassic]

Just because you believe real hard
Or get a lot of others to believe real hard
And wish and wish
And pray and pray
Don’t make it true.

And there’s no point to keeping an open mind on a wishful fantasy.

[scaredyclassic]

A true pascal wagerer would have to adhere to every belief systems beliefs to truly hedge bets.

[Author]

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