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[WelshBloke]

How sad to base the value of human existence on the amount of science we understand.

Thats easy to say with your access to modern medicine, electricity, clean water...

You're only able to say that to us because of the amount of science we understand.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Thats easy to say with your access to modern medicine, electricity, clean water...

You're only able to say that to us because of the amount of science we understand.

What's your point? I don't disdain technology, I just understand that technology doesn't make us more intelligent it just offers more opportunities including, the ability to make the wrong choices at the speed of light.

 

[WelshBloke]

What's your point? I don't disdain technology, I just understand that technology doesn't make us more intelligent it just offers more opportunities including, the ability to make the wrong choices at the speed of light.

Does religion make us more intelligent?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Does religion make us more intelligent?

It can. Is intelligence the end all and be all of human existence? I don't believe so.

 

[raildogg]

What's your point? I don't disdain technology, I just understand that technology doesn't make us more intelligent it just offers more opportunities including, the ability to make the wrong choices at the speed of light.

It seems like technology has us distracted. The latest gadgets keep us occupied and keep our minds super stimulated and busy - constantly.

Technology in itself is not the problem. The way we are using it for the most part might very well be.

Some will argue that education (alongside technology) has made us "better" and more "evolved." This might be true in some ways. Yes, we have better table manners, better command of the language in some ways, better transportation, more technical skills and so on. But has it made us better people in the true sense? Has it made us less selfish? Less greedy? Or just the same as we've always been but now just look better groomed?

I'm sure many will counter that technology and education will solve all our problems despite mankind's selfishness and greed. That remains to be seen.

 

[MongGrel]

Does religion make us more intelligent?

That is somewhat of a tough one, really.

Just disagreeing with a religion in general has had some positive results really, just religion being there at all has forced some thinking outside of the box more or less.

Religion has always been more of a social environment to benefit the ones at the top of the pyramid in a larger scale overall it seems to me, but the ones that usually make scientific breakthroughs are the people that step away from it and take a "That's not really right" stance.

 

[WelshBloke]

It can.

So something that engenders a thought process that accepts belief without question can make you more intelligent but a system that asks you to question and understand everything doesn't?

OK then.

Is intelligence the end all and be all of human existence? I don't believe so.

Pretty much everything that makes your life comfortable is down to someone being intelligent.

The fact that you have the luxury of beliving that is down to someone being intelligent.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

It seems like technology has us distracted. The latest gadgets keep us occupied and keep our minds super stimulated and busy - constantly.

Technology in itself is not the problem. The way we are using it for the most part might very well be.

Some will argue that education (alongside technology) has made us "better" and more "evolved." This might be true in some ways. Yes, we have better table manners, better command of the language in some ways, better transportation, more technical skills and so on. But has it made us better people in the true sense? Has it made us less selfish? Less greedy? Or just the same as we've always been but now just look better groomed?

I'm sure many will counter that technology and education will solve all our problems despite mankind's selfishness and greed. That remains to be see.

Science and technology will always be a double edged sword because no matter how much we learn, there will always be those who seek to use it for their own benefit at the cost of others. Rather simular to the history of religion, no?

 

[Retro Rob]

Does religion make us more intelligent?

Intelligence is the acquiring and using of knowledge. Religion, since it isn't science, makes us more intelligent by definition because we are taking in more knowledge.

The study of religion is an academic field. So yes, religion has made us more intelligent and its helped us understand humanity in ways we would not have known without it.

 

[Retro Rob]

Science and technology will always be a double edged sword because no matter how much we learn, there will always be those who seek to use it for their own benefit at the cost of others. Rather simular to the history of religion, no?

I fear that scientism is a real thing with these people...

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Intelligence is the acquiring and using of knowledge. Religion, since it isn't science, makes us more intelligent by definition because we are taking in more knowledge.

Knowledge is true and justified belief. The god-botherers spend all their time claiming the first part but never manage to establish the second part.

So no, religion has not increased our knowledge.

The study of religion is an academic field. So yes, religion has made us more intelligent and its helped us understand humanity in ways we would not have known without it.

The study of religion(s) is academic. Religious beliefs themselves are not.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

So something that engenders a thought process that accepts belief without question can make you more intelligent but a system that asks you to question and understand everything doesn't?

OK then.


Pretty much everything that makes your life comfortable is down to someone being intelligent.

The fact that you have the luxury of beliving that is down to someone being intelligent.

Again, I do not beoieve science/logic and religion are mutually exclusive. In addition, my religion has always encouraged me to ask questions and strive for greater understanding. Finally, what has comfort to do with either the value of human existence or my belief that there is a greater power beyond what we can touch or see?

 

[Thebobo]

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Knowledge is true and justified belief. The god-botherers spend all their time claiming the first part but never manage to establish the second part.

So no, religion has not increased our knowledge.


The study of religion(s) is academic. Religious beliefs themselves are not.

Faith is both true and justified to those who believe. There are many who have demonstrated this through strength of determination, character and, emotional stability in the face of logical roadblocks. Slapping a definition on something does not affect it's nature. The map (logic) is not the territory.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Faith is both true and justified to those who believe.

So not actually justified, then. Just question begging. Got it.

There are many who have demonstrated this through strength of determination, character and, emotional stability in the face of logical roadblocks.

The strength of conviction behind a belief does not justify the belief itself.

Slapping a definition on something does not affect it's nature. The map (logic) is not the territory.

I have no idea why you thought any of that was relevant.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

and close goes the thread. :thumbsup:

 

[bshole]

One positive of religion is that can give meaning, hope and optimism.... all of which impact health. I will cede that to religion. All my Bible thumping relatives are much happier people than myself.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

So not actually justified, then. Just question begging. Got it.


The strength of conviction behind a belief does not justify the belief itself.


I have no idea why you thought any of that was relevant.

Choosing to disbelieve qualitities in others because you do not possess them yourself is disengenuous at best. Conviction does not account for the very real results which may prove nothing in your estimation but justify the faith in those who believe. The last I brought up because you seem to feel the dictionary definition of intelligence has some bearing on what qualifies as human intelligence.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

You got a meme that sums up the value of your life?

 

[Monk5127]

Choosing to disbelieve qualitities in others because you do not possess them yourself is disengenuous at best. Conviction does not account for the very real results which may prove nothing in your estimation but justify the faith in those who believe. The last I brought up because you seem to feel the dictionary definition of intelligence has some bearing on what qualifies as human intelligence.

What the fuck are you babbling about?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

What the fuck are you babbling about?

Who put a nickel in you?

 

[sandorski]

You're simply denying the existence of miracles ie. the existence of God and we're right back where we started. The problem with those who worship logic is they can never admit that logic creates no new knowledge, it only restructures what we already know. Add in the tendency to ask the wrong questions and we've got a lot of miserable two dimensional pseudo scientists who love company.

How do you determine "Miracles" from just made-up-bullshit?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

How do you determine "Miracles" from just made-up-bullshit?

Faith, questioning and, striving for understanding.

 

[Grooveriding]

How do you determine "Miracles" from just made-up-bullshit?

Easy. Every religious claim without evidence and/or contradicted by the evidence is made up bullshit. So it's all made up bullshit.

 

[sandorski]

Faith, questioning and, striving for understanding.

So, the simple accepting it as Fact regardless of Facts. If we lived by Faith, we'd still be Praying whenever sickness occurred, rather than having Medicine to cure or at least mitigate the illness.

Knowledge solves problems, Faith ignores them.