Philosophy Now Forum

Hi, Bill! Just started up with the forum again today after about 2 years, and I remember you -- good to see you still writing and thinking. Interesting topic! In another area (religion) today, I speculated on what might "save" humanity -- that is, prevent the extinction of Homo sapiens and...

The concept of "God" exists in many forms, whether necessary or not, it seems to me. Socrates said that the beginning of wisdom is to define the terms of discourse. How might I define this concept, "God", in order to start a discussion that might be useful, if not necessary? The ...

Jackles, thanks for your definition of "heaven". Taking your definition, if everything has a nonlocal self, then at least those things with mortal life, when they die biologically, may still exist as a nonlocal self, assuming the nonlocal self doesn't also die. Is that the sense in which y...

Jackles: If sand is unconscious, and if we define heaven as being unconscious and unaware of one's own existence (sort of like a coma or deep sleep), then I agree you could say even sand goes to heaven (or is already there). This differs from oblivion, which may be defined as nonexistence. thedoc: I...

Blaggard suggested we define heaven. Here's a possible definition: Heaven is the escape from mortal life (biological life on earth) to a state of eternal rest and peace. With this definition, even a life form with (supposedly) no life after mortal death (e.g. a fly or an Ebola virus) will go to heav...

Thanks, thedoc! I agree coming to a consensus on such topics is a pipe dream. I refer you to the concept of ignosticism , or igtheism . As for freedom of self-characterization, it can serve to start discussion or argument (as with this interesting topic of yours), if that's what you want, or to avoi...

Agreed, Arising_uk! Have a good 2015!

The answer to your topic title would depend on how you define "God". What is the meaning of, or what are the attributes or characteristics of that which you are without (or don't believe in)? This reminds me of a scene in Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man's Chest: Crew member: Show us wha...

To MozartLink: What is the definition of "God" which makes you disbelieve God's existence and hence call yourself an atheist?

Santa exists as a legend and as an ideal. During the Christmas holiday, many people live in the spirit of Santa by sharing gifts and good cheer and kindness. Any other mode of existence is open to question. God also exists as a legend and as an ideal. During their lives, many people live in the spir...

Many thanks, Ginkgo! Your reference looks great, and I think I'll be studying it for awhile. For me, Bell's Theorem and its implications are the main challenge to a better understanding of quantum physics. I appreciate the time you've taken to refer me to this material. Here's a reference I tried to...

Hi, skip, and thanks for weighing in. That's one of my beefs with Christianity, too -- that human beings are somehow inherently "sinful", or even, as some others would say, inherently "good". We are what we are, it seems to me, as another species of animal on this planet. I guess...

Again, I appreciate your reply and comments, Ginkgo. I've studied Bell's Inequality and its implications, and I confess I don't really understand it. Any light you can shed on it would be appreciated. Your comment about its eliminating the idea of hidden variables, however, challenges me to try agai...

Thanks, Ginkgo. At one point, Einstein said "God doesn't play dice with the universe". I don't know if this was his final opinion, but it suggests that he believed in deterministic physics. It suggests that models based on probability theory are used in quantum theory, like it is in throwi...

Spinoza viewed God and Nature as equivalent. Then if Nature is all that is, and if "heaven" (needs to be defined) exists, then heaven is natural under this view. What is meant by "heaven", "natural", and "supernatural"? If I define everything that exists as be...