Religion

marylandblue

(12,344 posts)

29. It was not intended to be funny.

Fri Feb 8, 2019, 07:49 PM

Feb 2019

Last edited Fri Feb 8, 2019, 08:26 PM - Edit history (1)

Does the color red exist? Physically, it is just a wavelength of light, but knowing this does not change the perception or any emotion it may evoke. It doesn't change the fact that redness appears to be a property of an object, even though it is really a property of your eye and brain.

Likewise, spiritual feelings have certain qualities to them. It's essentially irrelevant where the come from. Many people call these feelings "God." Sometimes it feels like the feelings come from outside oneself. Sometimes they don't. Cultures build elaborate narratives around these feelings. That's the religion you are always criticizing.

But these criticisms do not penetrate because it doesn't change the feeling. You might as well point out all of my wife's flaws and explain how love is really just chemicals in the brain. Your criticisms of my wife may be 100% correct. It still changes nothing.

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43 replies

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Highlight:

Is God all in our heads--a product of brain chemistry? [View all] mia Feb 2019 OP

CD Player. Snackshack Feb 2019 #1

Pink Floyd already explained it.... 3Hotdogs Feb 2019 #2

All the Light We Cannot See. Jim__ Feb 2019 #3

A beautiful passage. mia Feb 2019 #5

Anthems in the hedges Cartoonist Feb 2019 #9

Basically, 'Yes', nothing but a mere human construct... NeoGreen Feb 2019 #4

The only real evidence we have points it being a mental construct. trotsky Feb 2019 #6

Fantasy Pretending to be Science MineralMan Feb 2019 #7

this is edhopper Feb 2019 #8

So monks don't know where they are for awhile? Bretton Garcia Feb 2019 #10

You know, the more I read this the more insulting it gets. trotsky Feb 2019 #11

I have defective eyes that can't see without glasses marylandblue Feb 2019 #12

Then it would appear that whatever entity is responsible for the defective antennas in some of us... trotsky Feb 2019 #13

Loki isn't all bad. Pandoris Feb 2019 #14

"Lovely as a mare" Act_of_Reparation Feb 2019 #15

Funny :) Pandoris Feb 2019 #16

Sure, it's an asshole sometimes, it's a Zoroastrian conceit that it's perfect marylandblue Feb 2019 #18

If it is originating from outside your brain Voltaire2 Feb 2019 #22

Yes, when it gets into your brain. marylandblue Feb 2019 #30

Why is experiencing being nowhere, the ultimate experience! Bretton Garcia Feb 2019 #17

Because it feels great, you escape your little body marylandblue Feb 2019 #19

You escape your life Bretton Garcia Feb 2019 #20

That is the nature of thoughts. Pandoris Feb 2019 #24

It's not what you think. Don't knock it until you try it. marylandblue Feb 2019 #26

Ok but that is not some mystery broadcast Voltaire2 Feb 2019 #21

Might not even be divine Bretton Garcia Feb 2019 #23

You are not giving anything up, you are simply having an experience. marylandblue Feb 2019 #27

It often becomes partly permanent Bretton Garcia Feb 2019 #32

I suspect a lot of those people were already not quite there marylandblue Feb 2019 #35

You are probably right, but that is not how it feels. marylandblue Feb 2019 #25

If that was intended to be funny it was lol. Voltaire2 Feb 2019 #28

It was not intended to be funny. marylandblue Feb 2019 #29

Sure. The qualia of experience is unique Voltaire2 Feb 2019 #31

Some TM or Transcendental Meditation teachers Bretton Garcia Feb 2019 #33

sure one can also substitute "transcendent" or "sublime" Voltaire2 Feb 2019 #34

He didn't mention anything about extra dimensional divine forces. marylandblue Feb 2019 #36

Um yes the article did. Voltaire2 Feb 2019 #37

Ok, missed that sentence, but he still says "I don't know" marylandblue Feb 2019 #38

But we're allowed a secular reading. Bretton Garcia Feb 2019 #39

Yes, of course you can read it like that. marylandblue Feb 2019 #42

Sure, and doing so elevated utter nonsense Voltaire2 Feb 2019 #40

Founding our lives on Nothing ... Bretton Garcia Feb 2019 #41

I think that's best foundation, because it gives you total freedom. marylandblue Feb 2019 #43