From the NY Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/13/opinion/13brooks.html?ref=opinion

Re “The Neural Buddhists” (column, May 13):

In 1996, Tom Wolfe wrote a brilliant essay called “Sorry, but Your Soul
Just Died,” in which he captured the militant materialism of some modern
scientists.

To these self-confident researchers, the idea that the spirit might
exist apart from the body is just ridiculous. Instead, everything arises
from atoms. Genes shape temperament. Brain chemicals shape behavior.
Assemblies of neurons create consciousness. Free will is an illusion.
Human beings are “hard-wired” to do this or that. Religion is an accident.

In this materialist view, people perceive God’s existence because their
brains have evolved to confabulate belief systems. You put a magnetic
helmet around their heads and they will begin to think they are having a
spiritual epiphany. If they suffer from temporal lobe epilepsy, they
will show signs of hyperreligiosity, an overexcitement of the brain
tissue that leads sufferers to believe they are conversing with God.

On 21 May, 07:00, Joseph Littleshoes isp.com> wrote:

Executive Function wrote:

I would like to think i have established some basic parameters for just
such a consideration, the limitations of the human perceptual capacity
being only the most obvious.

But also, given the size of the known universe the futility of knowledge
of any sort is worth speculating on, imo.

From a strictly atheist perspective, the daunting task of acquiring any
significant knowledge is futile. Add the 'spiritual' realms postulated
by many religions and philosophy's and there is at least a theoretical
possibility that some sort of transcendent awareness can be achieved
that produces an effect in the individual, even if not in the mass as a
whole, based on one persons discovery.

"Joseph Littleshoes" isp.com> wrote in message
news:4839C84D.7080105@isp.com...

You'd like to think that, and so you do, whether the thought has any
validity outside your imagination or not, which it doesn't.

You like to think some of the stupidest self-flattering shit I've ever
heard.

On 25 May, 22:13, Joseph Littleshoes isp.com> wrote:

Would you say that your position falls under the Pyrrhonism banner?

On 26 May, 01:40, "Tom" comcast.net> wrote:

Compassion doesn't always sit side by side with tolerance. It likes
to get things done. How do you cut through this? ;)

On 25 May, 22:13, Joseph Littleshoes isp.com> wrote:

Executive Function wrote:

At this point i have no particular feelings either way.

Upon reviewing some of your past contributions to these groups i see
nothing that would indicate a problem, well, at least aside from the
fact that it is here you are attempting communication, that in itself
can be indicative of a dubious endeavor, but then im a guilty of that as
anyone.
--
Joseph Littleshoes

"Executive Function" hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:095a6a36-e7a5-40cb-af37-fc4ecf1c3bf9@d45g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...

It doesn't. Pyrrho's philosophy leads to aphasia and ataraxia, silence and
tranquil detachment. Joseph's philosophy leads to babbling nonsense and
angst. He's espousing Dadaism, not a Pyrrhonism.

"Executive Function" hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:779e38d5-3aa1-409c-ba7d-ed34bffa37d0@56g2000hsm.googlegroups.com...