no you are just unable to support your opinions and want to look smart

I can support my opinions with a lot more than Wikipedia. It's just not worth my time.

Lantos, Paul M. - DukeHealth.org

thankfully those at this forum are able to think for themselves and prefer not to simply be told truths by experts...

I agree, and perhaps it's lazy of me to not take the time to pull MedLine references for every point on which I disagree with you. But it takes a lot of time, as I know since I need to do it for other things all the time. And when you respond with fantastical statements derived from Wikipedia references (of all things), it's kind of hard for me to justify taking the time.

If you are open minded, and if as I suspect you and I more or less share the same ethical priorities, I'd be happy to complement your ideas with references -- supportive when I agree with you and refutative when I don't.

But you do need to take a step back from what you think you know about science and medicine, because the degree of complexity, controversy, chaos, and lack of consensus in it is daunting no matter how much of an expert one is. I have been doing this a long time, and I know what I don't know about medicine. I don't think you do. You can't. I had no idea before I entered the clinical years of my training. And as encouraged as I am by our medical advances, I'm equally sobered by the things we just cannot do, the times we're wrong, and the times that the complexity is just beyond what we'll ever surmount.

You're a student in philosophy. I'm a dilettante with an interest, who took a couple philosophy and related classes as an undergraduate, and who has done a lot of self-study but hardly formally. So as a trained philosophy scholar you would react the same to me if I made as bold statements about philosophy as you have about the field in which I have expertise.

Check that -- I HAVE made such bold statements. We discussed one of them in the "disrespect of philosophy" thread. But I'll back down if really challenged on that -- I'm willing to concede to the perspectives of those who have greater expertise than I.

I guess I'm doing this for the practice and to establish that I can hold my own (via continuing this specific topic) but really it's time the mod stepped in and kept a clean forum so that it's more valuable and clear

when new primates enter a group they are inevitably given tests by other primates to determine their place within the hierarchy - that's what is happening here guys

I am a moderator here. Our practice is to generally let things run their course unless it gets too destructive. Of course I try not to do to much moderating of threads I participate in, and my fellow mods do the same. But if you'd like to end the thread and start new ones on particular topics, it's your own thread and I can close it for you.

Hardly. It's not a hierarchy. There is no hazing process. But I can tell you that getting through arguments here with congeniality, positivity, and friendliness makes a strong impression on everyone. And I believe that this is in your character. So thank you.

language is abstract symbolism

and in order for us to communicate and understand each other we must have common language

I wrote more about this here;

The Abolitionist Society :: View topic - Definition of happiness?

Language maybe abstract but happiness by what language can only describe does not change its meaning by language being abstract..Everything described by language is abstract?.:perplexed:

Well many think that the afterlife or heaven is full of eternal ecstasy and bliss. This is of course nonsense as you must know the negative to appreciate the positive.

Life and life beyond death is a process of everlasting learning and challenge not sitting on a cloud playing a harp forever.

After a week that bliss would become a boring hell

why do you think there is an 'afterlife'?

Why would bliss be boring unless it wasn't bliss?

I do not think there is an afterlife I know there is. I have been clinically dead due to suicide attempt and came back with my story

But I have learned my lesson and will not detail what I experienced due to receiving vitriolic ridicule.

Bliss would change into hell. eat a lovely meal and you will enjoy it especially if you were hungry.

But have that same meal forced down your throat day and night and just the sight of it will make you sick?

XRIS

Nice post , I think we are like separate intelligent water molecules that make the Great Ocean Oneness. This is a question I directed at the being of light during my NDE and was told our awareness of self never dissolves into the great ocean of Oneness

You always remain you, but have a greater awareness as you become merged and linked into the divine mind.

During my experience I seemed to have become god, for that brief moment I knew all knowledge. I begged to remember what I SAW but forgot most of it when I returned to my body

We can never be sure of any of our musing Alan or be certain our experience reveal what we vehemently believe to be true. I think we may be lucky that we have the quandary of logic and experience.We could be one day hosting the whole of mankind's experiences and the elation we have lived as individuals and are now as one.Its a bit strange how even though we both believe the possibility of an afterlife we dont agree on the concept of god.

XRIS,


XRIS what is your concept of God forgive me