Behaviour report by the London school of economics

lostinrates

ninky wrote: »

i think it is possible that a predisposition to superstition / religious belief may confer some evolutionary benefits - binding a group together, justifying self-sacrifice of some for the many, justifying violence and war against enemies etc to name a few.......

My survival through ritual is getting through the year always looking forward to the next excuse for a party I think. Keeps me as sane as I have to be, and no more.

Malcolm.

ninky wrote: »

many people who are not religious happily believe other nonsense such as crystal healing and horoscopes. this is equally bizarre and must serve some deep seated need.

I laughed reading about the group that tried to overdose on homeopathy (to prove a point). Fitted my SoH.

That said, I think rescue remedy works, I'm not sure whether that's homepathy.

lostinrates

Malcolm. wrote: »

That said, I think rescue remedy works, I'm not sure whether that's homepathy.

I never works for me, but it tastes nice. I now consider it a socially acceptable and rather sweet miniature tipple flask.

Malcolm.

ninky wrote: »

atheism suggest you don't believe in things until there is evidence of their existence or a rational theory as to why they are likely to exist.

angosticism suggests you are open to believe in anything unless it is completely and irrevocably proven not to exist.

you can't prove the loch ness monster, father christmas or the tooth fairy don't exist. do you believe in them?

I'm open to the possibility they exist.

ninky wrote: »

atheism is a more intelligent position.

Says the Atheist unable to see anyone else POV.

ninky wrote: »

reason is enough of a guide in life for me. far better than some made up nonsense in a book.

You talk about reason as it's some fixed absolute. In practice I think you'll find what is considered reason varies depending upon who you talk to.

Mr.Brown_4

Malcolm. wrote: »

I'm open to the possibility they exist.

Hold on mate. Leaving aside Father Xmas and the Tooth fairy, because any kids reading will know they definitely do exist - then all we can discuss is the Loch Ness monster. Now I would love Nessie to exist, what a brilliant thing that would. But we now know she can't for lots of scientific reasons - not enough fish, couldn't hide, no real proof, etc.

Funnily enough I don't really have such an interest in God. Just doesn't seem at all possible somehow.

Malcolm.

lostinrates wrote: »

I never works for me, but it tastes nice. I now consider it a socially acceptable and rather sweet miniature tipple flask.

It might be a placebo. I am open to that possibility.
It does taste nice. I recall it being popular amongst my friends for their driving test(s).

Malcolm.

Mr.Brown wrote: »

Hold on mate. Leaving aside Father Xmas and the Tooth fairy, because any kids reading will know they definitely do exist - then all we can discuss is the Loch Ness monster. Now I would love Nessie to exist, what a brilliant thing that would. But we now know she can't for lots of scientific reasons - not enough fish, couldn't hide, no real proof, etc.

Funnily enough I don't really have such an interest in God. Just doesn't seem at all possible somehow.

Aliens may have dinonapped the loch ness monster for his (or her) own safety.

That's my argument and I'm sticking to it.

lostinrates

Malcolm. wrote: »

It might be a placebo. I am open to that possibility.
It does taste nice. I recall it being popular amongst my friends for their driving test(s).

:eek:

How many bottles make a unit?

Malcolm.

Mr.Brown wrote: »

Funnily enough I don't really have such an interest in God. Just doesn't seem at all possible somehow.

There are many theories for the existance of anything.
All seeming pretty implausible for my small brain.
Big bang? Cyclic contract and expansionist theory? I think therefore I am?

However what I do know with certainty, is loch ness monsters exists, they must do, they made a cartoon based upon it.

lostinrates

Mr.Brown wrote: »

Hold on mate. Leaving aside Father Xmas and the Tooth fairy, because any kids reading will know they definitely do exist - then all we can discuss is the Loch Ness monster. Now I would love Nessie to exist, what a brilliant thing that would. But we now know she can't for lots of scientific reasons - not enough fish, couldn't hide, no real proof, etc.

Funnily enough I don't really have such an interest in God. Just doesn't seem at all possible somehow.

The tourist trade, the merchandise, the films the books, suggest to me that the idea of nessie is that she is more tangible, more enduring than I am. Thus....can I exist less than nessie? does her ..mark, her ...impact make her more real than me?