Sunday School

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

As we gather here today in the presence of our coffee cups we shall  consider the decline of Christianity a little more deeply. What could the picture look like in ten years’ time?

Finally a Christian offers Scientific Evidence for the existence of his god. I suspect none of us will have heard any of these intelligent and articulate arguments ever before but try to imagine what some of them might be before you click this link.  I also suspect many of those further deluded by reading it will not be able to handle reading a book that deals with reality.

Even as church attendance falls their flocks increase donations to them.

I call them “Liars for Jesus” when they are anti-Christian in their words and deeds.

The unholy alliance between atheists and evangelicals only works when both sides are acting in good faith. But are there any other factors, like our social networks structures, that can overlap?

When is the right time to come out as an atheist?

This weeks’ Woo: Holotropic breathwork.

Climate Crisis: Population control is just one of many issues in the global discussion.

I once resigned from a job because of a row over my refusal to take the Myers Briggs test. I called it a waste of company money and complete BS and they vigorously defended it as scientific.

When Quantum computers test the fundamental laws of physics we might be closer to ruling out “freewill” for good. Everything is made of atoms and all atoms are made of particles that exist in a field of waves. Would the smarter mini-brains we grow in the labs even be capable of contemplating freewill or would they prefer staying in on Friday nights to have some more prime editing done?

Do we possess our possessions or do they possess us?

Long Read:  David Attenborough and his life on Earth.

This week I am reading this book: A deal with the Devil.

Some photographs taken last week.

While you are waiting for the kettle to boil…..

Coffee Break Video:  Should We Believe in God?  The danger of AI is weirder than you think.

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

Have a great week everyone!!

“You don’t get to advertise all the good that your religion does without first scrupulously subtracting all the harm it does and considering seriously the question of whether some other religion, or no religion at all, does better.”

― Daniel Dennett.

[StregaModerator]

Thanks, Reg!

• This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by  Strega.

[_Robert_Participant]

While the slew of Quantum Mechanics related articles you posted involving ‘free will’ tend towards some form of determinism, I see no actual conclusion or breakthrough yet and nobody is claiming the Nobel prize either. I also tend toward determinism because despite that  my human experience tells me I have free will, there is little evidence for it. I remain uncommitted.

If the day comes when they crack the bridge between particle physics and classical physics and are able to rule out the ability of a conscience brain to overcome classical physics as we know it; how would that affect society? A drunk driver has no choice. Criminals are destined for crime. Hitler was just a victim of physics. After all he was a vegetarian. Do we open up the jail cells? Will there be a decay of personal responsibility? As Spock would say: “fascinating”.

[_Robert_Participant]

And thanks Reg, I spend a few hours a week following the links you provide. I don’t always have access to all articles, but I can get to most of them,

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

Thanks Robert. I suspect some articles are blocked in certain parts of the world. I have found this when I compile the post from the USA. Sometimes I can’t get articles I want to post (like the LA Times) from here unless I use a VPN. I hope to be in PCB again for Thanksgiving and back up to Atlanta in December so 3 Sundays will be done Stateside.

I try to get a few articles linked together that relate to the bigger topics discussed on the site during the week.

The way I see it is that “all of creation” is made from a collection of atoms and those atoms are all made up of charged and non-charged particles. Our brains are made of those same atoms.

Maybe the job of humans is to explain the Universe to itself 🙂

[UnseenParticipant]

_Robert_ wrote:

While the slew of Quantum Mechanics related articles you posted involving ‘free will’ tend towards some form of determinism, I see no actual conclusion or breakthrough yet and nobody is claiming the Nobel prize either. I also tend toward determinism because despite that my human experience tells me I have free will, there is little evidence for it. I remain uncommitted. If the day comes when they crack the bridge between particle physics and classical physics and are able to rule out the ability of a conscience brain to overcome classical physics as we know it; how would that affect society? A drunk driver has no choice. Criminals are destined for crime. Hitler was just a victim of physics. After all he was a vegetarian. Do we open up the jail cells? Will there be a decay of personal responsibility? As Spock would say: “fascinating”.

I don’t see how the intrusion of the subatomic world into the world of classical/Einsteinian physics can do anything other than change the course of things. I can’t imagine how it could redeem free will, especially since that pair of words goes largely undefined in any coherent way. We all want it but don’t know WTF it is.

And the subatomic world intrudes into the classical/Einsteinian world all the time. Sunlight is photons, subatomic particles. When you turn on a lamp at night, you’re flooding your room with subatomic particles.

More to the point, though, subatomic particles can affect DNA, causing mutations that otherwise would not have happened. We humans are probably the result of a mutation at some point which the process of evolution preserved and propagated.

[_Robert_Participant]

I can’t imagine how it could redeem free will…

Ah, yes the argument from incredulity from a person who is presumably not a leader in this field of research. That seems very familiar, almost apologetic in a way. You can find many articles that link the two if you care to. There are a few right here in Sunday School.

 

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

I think the first of those clever mini-brains floating in a jar has to be called Anne Uumellmahaye.

[WayneManParticipant]

Nice job as always. Thanks.

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

Thanks Wayneman and as always you are very welcome.

I was delighted to read that the Liar for Jesus Pastor Rick Wiles in the 3rd link above belongs to the Flowing Streams church. That is such an apt name for what they have to offer 🙂

 

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

How can things that obey the classical laws of physics—such as a pitched baseball or a bumblebee in flight—be composed of parts that are subject to quantum rules at minute levels? That is one of the deepest questions in modern physics….

[StregaModerator]

Flowing Streams church?  That’s incomprehensibly ridiculous. Are they extending their holy communion to other parts of Jesus?

• This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by  Strega.

[Jody LeeParticipant]

Thank you, Reg. Sorry I missed church Sunday morning. 😁 The past several days have been a little hectic. Thoughts and prayers, guys? 😆😆

[PopeBeanieModerator]

Jody Lee wrote:

Sorry I missed church Sunday morning.

Three Hail FSMs. And please pass around the wine bottle.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by  PopeBeanie. Reason: Removed "please pass around a few Bloody Marys". Just didn't sound right

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