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From: qndj@oce-rd2.oce.nl (Nick de Jong)
Subject: Re: religion
Message-ID: <D79zCK.7DK@oce.nl>
Followup-To:  alt.atheism,alt.religion.christian,alt.christnet,talk.origins,talk.religion.misc,alt.consciousness,comp.ai.philosophy
Summary: machine vs soul
Keywords: religion soul
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References: <3k7jnq$dqc@usenetw1.news.prodigy.com> <3m4grd$kcs@also.hooked.net> <D6tAnG.Ivs@oce.nl> <cdouglas.265.2F8D77D0@origin.ea.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1995 09:21:55 GMT
Lines: 45


Chris Douglas <cdouglas@origin.ea.com> wrote:

[]
>is a machine, and the mind is at best an illusion.  "You" are a bunch of
>deterministic chemicals.  In one case you are the mind, in the other you are
>the machine.  Of course, in both cases you embrace the dichotomy.
>
>Why do you embrace the dichotomy?  Is it truly an either/or proposition?

Yes. Either chemicals plus a higher self or just a bunch of chemicals. A lot
of processes for 'thinking' are done in the brain, but I like to think that
the 'me', the thing that has emotions is dualistic. I cannot prove it. How
can I? Can you prove all the thinkin and emotions and everything I am is in
the brain?

>Maybe the most important question would be to ask what the need is to
>characterize what "you" are in the first place.  We go through life, and we

Tough question. I don't know. We (as in the human kind) have some theories
about that, but nothing is certain.

>anything.  And all our struggling never buys us the permanency we seek: it
>only buys us strife.
[]
>But we waste so much energy on it that with the conflict born between our
>memories and our present experience eating our every waking moment, life
>itself--reality--passes us by.

How can you be so sure about that? Struggling is a mechanism to try to see
all standpoints, all facts, all things you think are important. A lot of
people are struggling with the 'who am I, what am I' question. You might
have found an answer that fits for you, that does not mean the 'seeking'
makes reality pass us by. Also when other people have other conclusions
than you have that does not make them less realistic.

> We never take the time to truly understand anything.

Just tell me how to do that when not all facts are there.

Bye,

Nick de Jong
(email at nick@grafix.xs4all.nl)
disclaimer: the views in this text are mine
