Wiseman explores many aspects of the paranormal and shows how and why from a psychological aspect people believe the impossible. He uses scientific evidence and studies to make his points. He also provides exercises so the reader to can see and experience some of the phenomena themselves. His chapter on out of body experiences is very interesting and enlightening.
Also, those of you that have been around a while know that I am proponent of the Jesus as myth argument. Here is a book that distills many of the mythist arguments down to a quick read. Nailed Ten Christian Myths That Show Jesus Never Existed at All David Fitzgerald
I can understand why a skeptic would read a book to verify and strengthen their worldview....just as a believer reads books and hears testimonies that strengthen their faith. I have so far come to the conclusion that nothing can be proven logically beyond a shodow of a doubt but that what usually convinces me comes from the heart rather than the mind. Do skeptics even have a heart? What would be the motive of spreading such disinformation? Just curious.
Yes we do. We use it to pump blood through our cardiovascular system.
Do you want to rephrase that inane, insulting and patronising question? Possibly in a more Christian way?
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed. Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved." - Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.
I have so far come to the conclusion that nothing can be proven logically beyond a shodow of a doubt but that what usually convinces me comes from the heart rather than the mind. Do skeptics even have a heart?
Yes. Skeptics have hearts. We use them to pump blood throughout the major vessels of our bodies. The difference is: we understand that the heart is just a muscle and has no intrinsic capabilities beyond its basic function.
What would be the motive of spreading such disinformation? Just curious.
Because specific beliefs can be harmful. Skeptics 'debunk' certain beliefs or myths in the same way the Mythbusters debunk urban legends or bad Hollywood stunts. The idea is to inform the public regarding the actual truth of certain matters.
What would be the motive of spreading such disinformation?
Tell me what part is disinformation. Why do you think there is some sort of nefarious motivation for posting information about books that I find informative?
I will try to get to that in the next week. I am going to be in Boston all next. My wife has a conference, but our 5 year old be with us so have no idea how much free time I will have
Edited by Theodoric, : No reason given.
Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts
"God did it" is not an argument. It is an excuse for intellectual laziness.
I can understand why a skeptic would read a book to verify and strengthen their worldview....just as a believer reads books and hears testimonies that strengthen their faith.
A skeptic, by his very nature, is just as likely to read a book that questions or even threatens his worldview. If he seeks only to reinforce what he already (thinks he) knows, he's no skeptic.
A skeptic, by his very nature, is just as likely to read a book that questions or even threatens his worldview. If he seeks only to reinforce what he already (thinks he) knows, he's no skeptic.
This is the thing that the "religious", followers of woo and FoxNews watchers don't understand.
Personally, I have read versions of the bible cover to cover more times than I remember. I read passages probably weekly in research I am doing. I have read the koran at least twice. I have also read the torah and a bit of talmudic writings. Alas, none in the original language. I cannot get very far with apologetics, the mental gymnastics and cognitive dissonance they demand is to painful.
It is very telling how threatened Phat is by anyone presenting a viewpoint that is counter to his worldview. I am not threatened by alternate worldviews. On the contrary they force me to look at my worldview and constantly realign it with reality and facts that I ahve been presented.
A skeptic demands evidence. If they cannot present evidence then even listening to them is a waste of time.
Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts
"God did it" is not an argument. It is an excuse for intellectual laziness.
It is very telling how threatened Phat is by anyone presenting a viewpoint that is counter to his worldview. I am not threatened by alternate worldviews. On the contrary they force me to look at my worldview and constantly realign it with reality and facts that have been presented.
I will agree that I feel threatened. Still, all in all, I learn more from engaging in conversations with those whom I disagree with than I ever would if I hung out at a "Christian" Forum. I would never learn anything there.
quote: Modern psychologists tell us that all reasoning begins in perplexity, hesitation, doubt. "The process of reasoning is one of problem solving. . . . The occasion for the reasoning is always a thwarted purpose.'' It is essential we keep this in mind. It differs from the popular conception even more than may appear at first sight. If a man were to know everything he could not think. Nothing would ever puzzle him, his purposes would never be thwarted, he would never experience perplexity or doubt, he would have no problems. If we are to conceive of God as an All-Knower, we cannot conceive of Him as a Thinking Being. Thinking is reserved for beings of finite intelligence. Were we to study the origin and evolution of thinking, we would doubtless find that thinking arose in just this way—from thwarted purposes.
Saying, "I don't know," is the same as saying, "Maybe."~ZombieRingo
One of the major purposes of debate is to help you hone your arguments. Yours are pretty bad. They can use all the honing they can get.~Ringo
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