Topic(s) for Sep 2011 Discussion

[Steve]

So, what are your ideas about what the topic for September should be?
Something from the packet of articles on existence?
Something completely different?

[If you did not attend the Aug discussion, I gave attendees a copy of
some articles from New Scientist all dealing with the topic of
"existence." If you would like a copy, email me and I will send it.]

[David Burrows]

I would like a copy please! I don't know what topics there are of course but I am interested in the general subject.

[Steve]

my email: sbra...@gmail.com

[carl West]

Here is something, perhaps off the subject, but of great curiosity to me.

"Why is it that otherwise seemingly intelligent, logical people believe such
irrational, superstitious nonsense?"

Carl

[Steve Bratteng]

I think emotional factors overwhelm the facts and logic, and then their intelligence is used to rationalize irrational beliefs.

[Carl West]

Good reply but does not answer the "Why"?  Logical thinking in everything except religion?  Does not make sense.  Like the Harvard trained geologist that rejected everything in his formal and extensive education in favor to the mythology of the bible (aka babble) which destroyed his career.  Does not make sense to a logical mind. Perhaps there is something missing in a selectively logical mind?  I think this is an area in which some interesting research could be done.
Carl

[Howard Teal]

Imagine it is the year 11 instead of 2011. Most people are still
pretty sure that old terrra firma is pretty flat. It makes sense.
Some weirdo just came up to you, challenged what seemed like accepted
fact to you and said it was round. If that were so, logically we would
fall off the sides, and nothing could cling to the bottom. Besides if
it were round, the water would flow off of the sides and our oceans
would be drained. You start contructing many logical reasons why it
must be flat in your head. Before long you have built up this huge
belief in the flatness of the Earth. You can go on and on with what
seems like an infallible list of reasons as to why you are right. When
you talk to the weirdo again your proudly present your logical list
hoping he will understand. He knocks a few of your points down off of
your list using logic that you have to admit sounds pretty good. Some
of your points he says are unprovable either way and some he can't
really touch because you have to agree to disagree as to whether or
not gravity would stay with the surface of the Earth all the way
around or if it only pulls in one direction meaning that it would pour
the oceans off the side of the Earth. So he can't disprove your whole
list. You have much of your list intact and on the whole feel that you
have won despite being wrong about a few things.

You are a logical and reasonable man brought up on a misconception
that can't be completely disproven and you accepted it as fact a very
long time ago. It is a hard thing to put what you accept as fact aside
and re-examine the whole notion. It is even harder to do so when
everyone you have loved and trusted your whole life has taught you
this. Your parents, your teachers, your friends, your priests... Not
to mention that included in your misconception are ideas that
re-examining the misconception is evil and sinful. You are also taught
that those who think differently may sound very convincing, but they
were led astray by the devil and it is the devil that makes them sound
convincing as he tries to lead you astray too.

As for the idea that something is wrong with their brains, or as was
nicely put, is something missing in a selectively logical mind?
Possibly. Anyone who claimed to believe all the things in the bible
were real, but renames God and Jesus as Optimus Prime and Bumblebee
would be thought to be insane. I believe it is entirely possible that
forced religious indoctrination of the belief that there is an
unseeable force watching and judging you at all times can be
emotionally and developmentally damaging.

My 2 cents plus tax,
Howard Teal

[Steve Bratteng]

How is it known that they are illogical only about religion? If so, it could be there is an innate emotional need for that sort of security, or, something in the way they were raised caused them to be that way. At this point we have a lot of questions and guesses but no solid answers. A few people seem to be investigating aspects but have no compelling evidence to explain it. My view is that it has nothing to do with the existence of supernatural beings or influences.

[carl West]

Good concept Howard - for the year 11 - but not in 2011.

-----Original Message-----
From: cfia...@googlegroups.com [mailto:cfia...@googlegroups.com] On

[Erin]

I won't be able to make the next discussion, but I thought I would
link an interesting video I watched today illustrating examples of the
topic brought up by Carl. It's pretty incredible how some of the
featured academics statements so blatantly switch from rational to
irrational.
http://www.atheistmedia.com/2011/08/20-christian-academics-speaking-about.html

[Steve]

I will miss this discussion, too. We will be having our Old Testament
for Skeptics class meeting at that time.