Ignorance is Not Bliss

[rhonjonParticipant]

We have learned so much about the universe in the last few centuries.  There was a time when even the blowing of the wind was a mystery we could only wonder at. No longer do we say “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are. We know what the stars are. And for some reason, theists would have us believe that knowledge is a great loss.

 

We may no longer wonder at the phenomenon of the universe, but we still have a sense of awe. The universe is the one thing where familiarity does not breed contempt. In fact, the less we wonder at, the more we are in awe at.

 

Today’s atheist no longer has to apologize for depriving the world of the zirconium glass that used to pass for diamonds.

[UnseenParticipant]

We know more about the cosmos than we know about consciousness. In a sense, we all know what it is. It’s what we have when we are conscious. What is the relationship between what’s inside the consciousness and the world outside of it? How is it produced? Even knowing where consciousness resides in the brain tells us little.

We may have to face the fact our race may ultimately die out without ever knowing.

[rhonjonParticipant]

Unseen wrote:

We know more about the cosmos than we know about consciousness. In a sense, we all know what it is. It’s what we have when we are conscious. What is the relationship between what’s inside the consciousness and the world outside of it? How is it produced? Even knowing where consciousness resides in the brain tells us little. We may have to face the fact our race may ultimately die out without ever knowing.

What makes consciousness even harder to define is the way we try to define it in a way that  is exclusive to humans. Animals may be sentient, but they have instinct not intelligence.  Computers may be able to solve problems, but they aren’t conscious. Why not? Because I said so. So there.

 

Until we devise a non chauvinistic definition of what consciousness is, how can we distinguish what is inside and outside of it?

[unapologeticParticipant]

Rhonjon said “theists would have us believe that knowledge is a great loss.”
* christians paint a lot of stuff back-assward.
* Eve acquiring the gift of knowledge for us, is portrayed as disloyalty.
* Abraham’s attempt to kill his own son, is portrayed as inspiring.
* god lets his son be tortured to death as a scapegoat, is portrayed as god’s LOVE.
* Death leads to a better life.
* The believers themselves call themselves ‘sheep’.
Their whole culture promotes ‘turn your brain off, let authorities do all your thinking’.

god is the ultimate Despot.

[Author]

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