GdB, when I said “If I understand what Einstein wrote about the theistic hypotheses, I find myself in complete concurrence with him, including what he said about atheism.” You, GdB - 07 August 2012 11:16 PM said
Well, that’s fine for you. But two things: in the first place have a good look at what kind of atheism Einstein meant (from your citation):
... Einstein explicitly calls his god the god of Spinoza: i.e. it is a pantheistic view of the world. In my opinion the danger of the word ‘God’ is that it triggers associations with it that just do not belong to the pantheistic view. My description would rather be: a monist view of the universe, that inspires to awe and wonder. Get rid of the word ‘God’ because it suggests it has attributes that traditionally are linked to God, like ‘creator of the universe’, base of morality, and wide spread fairy tails, bundled together in a book called ‘Bible’.
Monism? The doctrine that the universe is one substance or principle? Sounds okay, to me—as it does to Richard Dawkins. See page 180 of his book, The GOD Delusion.
Better take Dawkins’ stance: pantheism is “sexed-up atheism.”
you say. “sexed-up atheism”? I have no idea what this means.
Obviously, RD, either never heard of Alfred North Whitehead and his interpreter, the Rev. Charles Hartshorne, or perhaps he chooses to ignore what both wrote about panENtheism (all is within what I call G~O~D, not to be confused with a supernatural ‘God’). similarly, panENtheism is NOT to be confused with pantheism (matter is God).—including process philosophy and theology. As part of the dialogue, I asked, “And will kill us too eventually…”?
And where do I look to find the science-based evidence for this doctrine you preach and BAD news you give us? IMO, your response is not a reasoned one; you simply stated what-you-for-sure believe. You said
Of course I am sure. I will die, you will, we all will. What is the bad news about having got a movie ticket? That the movie will end?
If life is simply a movie—a good or bad creation of the “gods” of art made of fictitious illusions trapped on film—then none of us will ever know or see another movie. You will never be able to tell me, I was wrong. But what if life is an ongoing drama? Think of the fun I will have reminding you that life is what you make it.
IMO, life for me is more like an ongoing and dramatic work of art in the process—like process philosophy says—of being like all great works of art, “a thing of beauty and a joy forever” (John Keats).
As Shakespeare puts it in his play, As You Like It—a play in which, interestingly, I once had the opportunity to play the role of Olando—
ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE—and all the men and women merely players. They have their entrances and their exits; and one man in his time plays many parts.
About your request:
PS I would be glad if you get rid of your, in my opinion, ridiculous signature. It is Garbage Or Delusional.
If you WILL and choose to have a life filled with garbage—one which is Gruesome, Odious & Diabolic—it is your choice. But as for me and my house, we WILL and choose to build an Eden (Hebrew for pleasant place)-like garden of life—one filled with all that which is Good, Opportune and Delightful.
