Struggling through religion
Posted by PriMe 12 years, 7 months ago to The Gulch: General
First time Commenter, long time Christian. I've always struggled with faith. After 40+ years, I have come full circle.
Professor DeFacto: "You must believe without proof". This statement was always the tether.
PriMe: "What if IT isn't real?" I would question.
Professor DeFacto: "IT is real, read for yourself" (from the Bible)
More words from more men...
Wouldn't the existence of a Supreme Being be impossible to miss?
Professor DeFacto: "You must believe without proof". This statement was always the tether.
PriMe: "What if IT isn't real?" I would question.
Professor DeFacto: "IT is real, read for yourself" (from the Bible)
More words from more men...
Wouldn't the existence of a Supreme Being be impossible to miss?
Previous comments... You are currently on page 2.
Why not?
Whether it was a "single mind" or a "singularity" that created this universe, if humanity is to know the universe objectively then either way less and less discoveries will be the case. If the universe can be known wholly objectively that if and when humanity achieves this there will be no more discoveries.
However, I am now leaning towards learning as I go along, not relying on someone elses wisdom that states: "I also, haven't seen it, but I know it's there!"
I have also studied Descartes, and on the issue of the Mind/Body Problem I fall squarely in the Dualist camp and it appears that Ayn Rand falls squarely in the monist camp at one moment and then a moment later it appears as if Rand is a dualist. She argues the Objectivist should reject the Mind/Body dichotomy but then later will make arguments such as this:
"I want to stress this; it is a very important distinction. A great number of philosophical errors and confusions are created by failing to distinguish between consciousness and existence -- between the process of consciousness and the reality of the world outside, between the perceiver and the perceived."
~Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology~
This distinction between consciousness and existence is dualism. She is arguing that the mind is something separate from existence and as such something different from the brain, or body. Rand understands on a fundamental level that our mind is separate from our body and that fundamental understanding becomes a basis for spirituality. Why Rand had such a problem with this is her problem, but it has never been mine. I can fully appreciate her distaste for those she calls mystics and I can still be in awe of the mystical.
The mystics she refers to are those who embrace a hooga booga language to mystify their laity. Lawyers are as guilty as shamans when it comes to priest class mystical incantations. Legalese is nothing more than that. It does not speak to the law, but rather seeks to subvert it and the law they want you to believe is an invention of mankind is as natural as your own existence.
As to your question of the impossibility of a "Supreme Being" being missed, my answer to you is yes, and would ask you to take a look in the mirror tonight to catch a glimpse of that Supreme Being. Not the physical body you inhabit, but the Supreme Being that is you. Take a look, it is impossible to miss and that is the relationship between observer and observed.