Questions
My mind was racing around with so many ideas the other night. I got to talk with IT people, a chemist, a civil engineer, several artists, a fellow military escapee, among others. They'd never heard of the Fortean Times. Several were Terry Pratchett readers, "Stiff" was discussed.
Most were happier with the term agnostic than atheist, since we were even skeptical of the assurance of atheists. I find that the phenomenon of belief is more interesting than whether or not there actually are supernatural beings, or being. Or if religious belief is an evolutionary advantage, or the artifact of a different one.
Three things in medical research. Sickle cell anemia is a nasty disease, sickle cell trait is protective against malaria. Ulcerative colitis is unknown in populations with endemic intestinal parasites, so is probably protective, and only appears when the parasites are absent. The appendix appears to sequester gut bacteria to repopulate the intestines after cholera, useful after all, since most human populations often dealt with cholera, and a few individuals dead of appendicitis didn't change that advantage in evolution. The diseases are a kind of artifact, not the actual function. So, perhaps religious belief is also an artifact. Not the actual advantage, possibly even the drawback, of another aspect that does promote overall survival of a population.
This is not surety, but a question.
All in all, I either know, or am content to live with doubt and uncertainty. Belief seems such a fragile crust to build one's life upon. For me, anyway.
Most were happier with the term agnostic than atheist, since we were even skeptical of the assurance of atheists. I find that the phenomenon of belief is more interesting than whether or not there actually are supernatural beings, or being. Or if religious belief is an evolutionary advantage, or the artifact of a different one.
Three things in medical research. Sickle cell anemia is a nasty disease, sickle cell trait is protective against malaria. Ulcerative colitis is unknown in populations with endemic intestinal parasites, so is probably protective, and only appears when the parasites are absent. The appendix appears to sequester gut bacteria to repopulate the intestines after cholera, useful after all, since most human populations often dealt with cholera, and a few individuals dead of appendicitis didn't change that advantage in evolution. The diseases are a kind of artifact, not the actual function. So, perhaps religious belief is also an artifact. Not the actual advantage, possibly even the drawback, of another aspect that does promote overall survival of a population.
This is not surety, but a question.
All in all, I either know, or am content to live with doubt and uncertainty. Belief seems such a fragile crust to build one's life upon. For me, anyway.
Labels: conversations
Posted by Zhoen on Thursday, January 14, 2010
6 comments:
I'm often uncomfortable with both the terms agnostic and atheist, since everyone seems to have a different definition.
Some agnostics believe that it's actually impossible to know whether God exists or not, which seems as unfounded as any belief that is ever ascribed to those who identify as atheist (even though almost all atheists choose that identity because of what they won't believe without evidence).
More importantly, I'd say that all thinking religious people are agnostic according to various definitions - which is the main reason I don't see it as an especially useful identity for those who want to set themselves apart from religion.
I have trouble with the word believe... If there is evidence for a fact then I acknowledge it. If there isnt, well then I dont know... I will await developments! Is there a word for people who, when they dont know something, say so. If so that's me. But, no, I've just remembered, I dont like labels either.
Pacian,
Agreed. No one wants to be put in a box, but so many people want everyone else filed and stamped and locked into boxes.
Rosie,
We're all seekers, here. I think the study of such belief could tell us a lot about how our brains work, though.
"Belief seems such a fragile crust to build one's life upon."
I second that thought. I end up saying something like, "For the moment, this is what I believe...subject to further evidence collection."
Except for this one thing: I believe there is more to us than what we have learned so far. I don't know what it is, and likely never will know, but I feel it, strongly. Now, the question is are feelings belief?
WV is oxtrap. Perhaps beliefs are the oxtraps of herd-like thinkers?
'I find that the phenomenon of belief is more interesting than whether or not there actually are supernatural beings'
Me too, I think. Well put.
disease is an artifact.
religious belief is an artifact.
Therefore, religious belief is a disease?
Belief may be fragile, but some of those who believe will tell you that belief can be powerful.
Post a Comment
<< Home