Well Presented Scientific View, of religious sentiment Options

[Homer]

Breaking the Spell: Daniel Dennett on religion
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As the world wages war over geographical, religious and historical turf - a growing number of big note scientists want religious faith put under the microscope. Uber-philosopher of mind and popular provocateur, Daniel Dennett, author of Darwin's Dangerous Idea, is one of them. He joins Natasha Mitchell to discuss his latest controversial offering, Breaking the Spell. Be provoked...
First Broadcast 29 July 2006
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Transcript
Hello, Natasha Mitchell joining you for your weekly fix of matters of the mind ... here on ABC Radio National Summer
Well, as the world battles over ideological and geographical turf, today putting religious belief under scientific scrutiny.
My guest is perhaps the world's most popular philosopher of mind and a great provocateur, as you'll hear. Daniel Dennett's best sellers include Darwin's Dangerous Idea, Consciousness Explained and, just out, is Breaking the Spell - Religion as a Natural Phenomenon, which has generated some whopping feuds this year. He thinks some religions are evolving in toxic ways and that science shouldn't be shy about investigating why. So let's join him then in his cosy office at Tufts University in Boston. where this self-described godless philosopher co-heads the Centre for Cognitive Studies.
Dan Dennett thanks for joining us on ABC Radio National.
Daniel Dennett: Glad to be with you Natasha.
Natasha Mitchell: As you suggest, you want to see religion and religious belief reverse-engineered in a sense. You're trying to unravel religion as a natural phenomenon - what do you mean by that?
Daniel Dennett: It's not a supernatural phenomenon, it evolved. There was a time not so long ago biologically when there wasn't any religion. There's only one species that has religion, it's not as old as language, probably somewhat older than agriculture, but that makes it a really young phenomenon and if we understand how it's changed and why, and why it has the varieties it has, we'll be in a better position to plan for the future.
Natasha Mitchell: What do you make of the sociologist Emile Durkheim's quote and here it is: 'He who does not bring to the study of religion a sort of religious sentiment cannot speak about it. He is like a blind man trying to talk about colour'. Are you that man?
Daniel Dennett: The idea that it takes one to know one, only those who are religious can study religion, is just transparent nonsense. We don't see musicians saying 'if you don't have a great musical ear you mustn't study music because you'll never understand it'. We don't say, 'If you can't be a great artist then you can't study art'. I think that is all hogwash. Sure, you have to overcome the differences, you have to work extra hard. But actually that in itself pays off. I think that the sorts of 'emperors new clothes' questions that somebody will ask who is an outsider are often the best questions. When I hear that line, and it's very common...



You may listen to this interview here:

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/allinthemind/

[angrezi]

the atheists' zeal to debunk religion is just as weird to me as the religious zealots. Everybody has their religion they just call it different things

[angrezi]

so is that kind of like being gay and not knowing you are?

[Homer]

I finally found THE ANSWER!

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28484

[Homer]

the atheists' zeal to debunk religion is just as weird to me as the religious zealots. Everybody has their religion they just call it different things

I would surmise that Mr Dennett would say he did not know if god exists or not.

He is rather reasonable.

[0ann geee0]

the atheists' zeal to debunk religion is just as weird to me as the religious zealots. Everybody has their religion they just call it different things

I would surmise that Mr Dennett would say he did not know if god exists or not.

He is rather reasonable.

how does he know he doesn't know. how does he know anything or know if or how anyone knows anything?

i don't think the sceptics or atheists or agnostics have any kind of lock on reason and logic. and i just never like those people, you know?

did anyone see that episode of south park recently where mr garisson (now mrs. garisson) hooks up with an atheist lover and cartman goes to the future where everyone is an atheist? anyway the jokes the had against atheists were really funny and pretty spot on.

life is full of mystery and truely bigger than any of us. i respect religious people more because the basis of their thing is that there is a higher power and that the universe is much greater than us. i always saw atheism as kind of small minded.

[Homer]

the atheists' zeal to debunk religion is just as weird to me as the religious zealots. Everybody has their religion they just call it different things

I would surmise that Mr Dennett would say he did not know if god exists or not.

He is rather reasonable.

how does he know he doesn't know. how does he know anything or know if or how anyone knows anything?

i don't think the sceptics or atheists or agnostics have any kind of lock on reason and logic. and i just never like those people, you know?

did anyone see that episode of south park recently where mr garisson (now mrs. garisson) hooks up with an atheist lover and cartman goes to the future where everyone is an atheist? anyway the jokes the had against atheists were really funny and pretty spot on.

life is full of mystery and truely bigger than any of us. i respect religious people more because the basis of their thing is that there is a higher power and that the universe is much greater than us. i always saw atheism as kind of small minded.

How do you know anything?

When a swami tells you?

How does he know?

How do you know he knows?

[0dayalu0]

the atheists' zeal to debunk religion is just as weird to me as the religious zealots. Everybody has their religion they just call it different things

I would surmise that Mr Dennett would say he did not know if god exists or not.

He is rather reasonable.

how does he know he doesn't know. how does he know anything or know if or how anyone knows anything?

i don't think the sceptics or atheists or agnostics have any kind of lock on reason and logic. and i just never like those people, you know?

did anyone see that episode of south park recently where mr garisson (now mrs. garisson) hooks up with an atheist lover and cartman goes to the future where everyone is an atheist? anyway the jokes the had against atheists were really funny and pretty spot on.

life is full of mystery and truely bigger than any of us. i respect religious people more because the basis of their thing is that there is a higher power and that the universe is much greater than us. i always saw atheism as kind of small minded.

How do you know anything?

When a swami tells you?

How does he know?

How do you know he knows?

You must first believe someone can know the spirit soul and that you may also know yourself, otherwise you can’t go on. If you don’t get to know and find out how he knows then you won’t know the self by you own imagination. But you get to apply Krishna’s knowledge on how you perceive your own self.
It is only all about the ‘self’ you know, the science of self realization.
The body, and the consciousness that illuminates it, these are different.
You have to try to apply the ancient science, simple and sublime:
Make Krishna’s eye, your eye, He offers that:
“The senses are superior to dull matter;
mind is higher than the senses;
intelligence is still higher than the mind;
and he (the soul) is even higher than the intelligence.”
“Utility is the principle”
Things called ‘hidden’ means that for one who makes no application of theistic science,
who does not dive deep into God’s infinite reality, there is no proof of even one’s self. The self cannot be known without God’s grace. You are His in every conceivable and inconceivable way. He says this in many ways over and over.
Krishna first of all makes Arjuna know his ‘self’ as soul, and every other proof hinges upon this ground. You cannot know Krishna at all without knowing your self. You fortunately can still hear these things and you may apply them as all before you have done.
Milk.
It looks white
It smells nice
It feels wet and smooth
It pours with the splash of liquid
Do I know milk?
(the answer is milk is really known only by it’s taste)
(the question is did you taste that honey? Or just read the label on the jar?)

[Homer]

First show me a Timingila fish. Then we can discuss the authority of scripture.

I love honey. I just don't think your bees are better because they are Indian.

[Adrija]

First show me a Timingila fish.  Then we can discuss the authority of scripture.

I love honey.  I just don't think your bees are better because they are Indian.

Scripture is poetics. To undermine the literal truth of it is to miss the point. Atheism doesn't bother me if it's an honest expression of that person's heart but I can't understand those who apply their atheism with a messianic zeal.

[Homer]

First show me a Timingila fish.  Then we can discuss the authority of scripture.

I love honey.  I just don't think your bees are better because they are Indian.

Scripture is poetics. To undermine the literal truth of it is to miss the point. Atheism doesn't bother me if it's an honest expression of that person's heart but I can't understand those who apply their atheism with a messianic zeal.

Atheism, to me, implies that it is theism that is the non belief.

Not necessarily the negation of god, per se.

So called atheists preach because they often are the ones' who are sufficiently intelligent to see what these theisms bring forth in our little world.

Atheists are the compassionate ones'. They wish to free the mind.

When I see a yellow moon rise over the inlet, and the water shimmers like a giant lake of light – then I know the bliss of creation and the Divine.

[angrezi]

the atheists' zeal to debunk religion is just as weird to me as the religious zealots. Everybody has their religion they just call it different things

I would surmise that Mr Dennett would say he did not know if god exists or not.

He is rather reasonable.

you should ask him, many self proclaimed atheists like Richard Dawson are likely agnostic in reality yet they are so angry at religion they think they are atheists. anyway most people are f*cking nuts in one way or another at any any rate, I know I am. at least Mr Dennett is getting some air time. He may be reasonable or a raving lunatic but it doesnt change my life and problems either way. kind of like religion.

[angrezi]

Atheism, to me, implies that it is theism that is the non belief.

Not necessarily the negation of god, per se.

So called atheists preach because they often are the ones' who are sufficiently intelligent to see what these theisms bring forth in our little world.

Atheists are the compassionate ones'.  They wish to free the mind.

yes, just another religion like i said. Take out "atheists" and insert another ism

[Homer]

anyway most people are f*cking nuts in one way or another at any any rate, I know I am. at least Mr Dennett is getting some air time. He may be reasonable or a raving lunatic but it doesnt change my life and problems either way. kind of like religion.

Even George W sometimes says something reasonable - by mistake or statistical probability.

Or, it could be just the teleprompter.

[Homer]

Atheism, to me, implies that it is theism that is the non belief.

Not necessarily the negation of god, per se.

So called atheists preach because they often are the ones' who are sufficiently intelligent to see what these theisms bring forth in our little world.

Atheists are the compassionate ones'.  They wish to free the mind.

yes, just another religion like i said. Take out "atheists" and insert another ism

[angrezi]

I say be free, thats all

[Homer]

I say be free, thats all

Behold, a commandment!

[angrezi]

yes indeed. why don'y you promote my teachings Homer instead of posting this guy's ideas ?!! Am I less worthy? Am I not reasonable?!

[Homer]

yes indeed. why don'y you promote my teachings Homer instead of posting this guy's ideas ?!!

Haf ta wait till yer deed and rise agin.

[angrezi]

oh I have risn Homer , thou nodst the eyes to see!