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What had been lacking until relatively recently was an overarching framework or theory through which to grasp the nature of consciousness. The lack of a general theory of consciousness, of how it comes to be that there is something that it is like to be, was really the last rational bastion of opposition to the scientific assertion that consciousness emerges from the brain.

I suppose it shouldn't be surprising that people assume that there is no difference between the way they experience the world and the world as it exists. I'm surprised people are willing to assume that metaphysical claims (i.e. claims outside of the purview of human testability/experience) are absolutely true. It seems that the only honest position one can have on "God" (in quotes to emphasize the lack of consensus on its definition) is to hold that "God" or "The Kingdom of Heaven" or "enlightenment" seem to be possible states of human consciousness; as such they may have individual normative value and seem to me to be generally socially desirable.

Please feel free to check out my blog at askmissandrea.wordpress.com, where I discuss how evolution impacts human behavior and physiology.

It has been shown that a certain level of population control can be achieved with very little effort, if there just is will to tackle the problem. Religious leaders however already bear the main responsibility for the continuing population explosion in the developing world. I fear that the issue cannot be resolved before their power is diminished to an extent where sensible population control policies can be enforced in the poorest countries of the world also. The other option of course is that they change their odd religious dogmas so that these countries can be saved from hunger, poverty and desolation brought about by the uncontrolled rise of population.

I can truly recommend this well written and concise book to all those who are interested in the past, present and future of the humanity.

http://lord-jesus.do.am/ http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/none/jesus-christ-491433/ http://lord-jesus777.livejournal.com/

The greatest achievement of modern versions of these three desert-religions is to maintain that the original message of goodness and kindness is still there quite intact and it is still the most important feature of that religion. A true miracle is that this claim can be maintained, even though century after century and generation after generation the leaders of these religions have systematically pushed these principles aside in practice in their endless quest to gain more followers and power and secure the continuation of their religious organization.

is all too easy to forget that the first successful Crusade was a surprise-attack quite like Pearl Harbor and that was the real reason behind its success; the inhabitants of the Middle East just could not see it coming. It is only fitting that ultimately it ended in the wholesale and cruel massacre of the inhabitants of Jerusalem

Creating sharia courts in Western Europe is not the solution, on the contrary we have a direct need to make the followers of the medieval religious traditions to see that there cannot be two sets of laws enforced in any society simultaneously.

Are there really just two choices before us: capitalism or socialism? I have come to think that the right answer should be a brand new combination of these two.

A personal introduction to the New Atheism.

All Reasonable News Fit to Print - The Global Edition.

Comedian Ricky Gervais explains why he doesn't believe in God and fires the question right back: Why does anyone believe in God?

If things are going smoothly in your life and you are just running with the herd, one is very easily drawn into accepting the ideas appreciated by the herd without questioning them. Human beings just are extremely social animals and the acceptance of ones social group is of paramount importance for any person. So very often there must be a trigger incident that throws a person off balance or outside the herd for at least a moment before a person is drawn into questioning the ruling ideologies of the herd. But when the flood-gates are finally opened, there is very often no going back, when one realizes on how shallow base even the most established traditions so often really stand.

Just more proof that zodiac is bullshit

"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."