John Dub

So we agree then. Except that last bit.

So you did not miss my explanation as one was not proffered. — Holmes

Yeah. I noticed.

I’ve stated my thoughts clearly enough so that refutations could be done just as clearly and concisely – quote and counter – simple as that.

Can someone offer better simple definitions for “science” and the human practice of doing science?

The problem with defining science is that it’s not well defined. Definitions that I know include words lik…[Read more]

My hope for anything productive is pretty much gone, and as others here will tell you, I have a lot of that. I believe the future of humanity depends not on political movements or “moon-shot” type investments, but on a significant number of people learning to get along in this modern world where there is a church of every domination in most maj…[Read more]

I’ve seen a few people that I know show their ignorance by making the simple connection that since Europeans and Western ways came to dominate the world, it must be something genetic. I say “ignorance” because they are ignoring that they wouldn’t last a minute in a jungle, but people live there and build with hardly any clothes and no metal tools.…[Read more]

I’m more interested in your thoughts than what the link says.

Think about this. This fake self they talk about is constructed by our higher functioning brains that have a sense of past and future, which are also described as an illusions. And you’re (or the article, whatever) saying that sexual desire is a function of this sense of self. So what…[Read more]

But this is true of all preserved documents from antiquity so I do not see how once can claim that scriptures are “forgeries”

Because you don’t try, and you don’t seem to know much about how historiography works. If all documents from antiquity were equally unverifiable, then there would be no reason for getting to know ancient languages, car…[Read more]

You don’t apply it to other people. It’s about the self. I was once a husband, then I wasn’t, now I’m a husband again, but to a different person. That earlier husband doesn’t exist anymore, except as part of the memories of me and if I keep leaving the lid up, I might find out what it is to not be a husband again.

Right away I’m seeing the same kind of misleading language

This is what I was saying earlier about how you seem to think all the current science on the origin of the universe is a waste. When I try to talk to you about what is going on, you dismiss it as “misleading”. We can’t talk about science if you are going to do that. You have to say why it’…[Read more]

For convenience. Here’s the theory about quantum bubbles

https://arxiv.org/abs/1404.1207

Atheism does not require belief. It is a statement about belief. Not believing can include being undecided, open to new data. Something you’ve said you value.

is all theories in physics refer to physical quantities – is that true or false Lausten?

It’s false. I linked that. The theory includes a mathematical description of something that exist…[Read more]

Tell me does it matter more if 9 million children die in fear or just 1?

Yes

I think zero was discovered in 3 different places around the East and Mideast. And yes, lots of math comes from the Arab region. In a nutshell, IMO, what’s needed is enough technology to support some people doing nothing but research. That requires a commitment from the leadership, whatever form that takes. The Islamic nation under the Abbasid…[Read more]

No one has ever believed their way out of desiring sex.

Your idea is no more valid than any other theory about the beginning of the universe. — Lois

I figured when he started out on this line, that he would wait for us to say this, then come back with “ahah! therefore science is no better than religion”. But he has continued to stick with ‘science can’t prove that, therefore there must a supernatural…[Read more]

My job won’t let me access that. Usually not a good sign. Is it about early science in Islam? Or further east?

Welcome to the forum Bree. We don’t stand much on ceremony. We do however really like evidence, so I appreciate that “pseudoscience” was one of your choices.

 many militant atheists (e.g. Dawkins) make the error of trying to prove that atheism is itself not a belief yet it is for many.

The fact that many people think it is a belief system, doesn’t make it one.

As we’ve discussed before there is no scientific theory that can explain the origin of the universe, this is crystal clear. If you continue to t…

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This is going to sound like a really old person and it won’t help if I tell you how many years I spent taking one or more controlled substances per day: Don’t go wondering around on the internet for advice on drugs. You might as well just buy Uncle Willie’s Magic Elixir.

If you can evaluate scientific papers, fine, but an anonymous forum, mmm, no.

The quote you quoted is from Stanford, a great website on philosophy, although it can also be dense at times and you can get lost following the links. Spinoza helps you out by numbering his points and referring back to them. But really, I skip around, and can’t say I really have it right. But that’s the fun of philosophy, no one ever gets it…[Read more]