Icarus

Synaesthesia,

Tell me, what odor is a triangle, what color a five? I find your condition interesting.

I have only a cursory knowledge of memetic theory, and have never encountered it applied to religion. Forgive my ignorance, I’m a little slow, but might you explain exactly how memes are incompatible with the admittedly unsubstantiated pseudo-mythology I’ve been cooking up?

If I can remember correctly, memetic theory claims that cultural behavior can act as a mechanism for evolutionary mutations over time. As applied to religion, are you claiming that the religious beliefs of a civilization can be a biologically determinative factor in its demographics? If so, I would tend to agree--since it is a crucial factor in my own account.

I never intended the outline I presented to offer a complete theory of causation for religion. It oversimplifies the issue, but not without a reason. More than anything, I was simply investigating the possible reasons for why mysticism became manifested in its particular form through the ages and, primarily, why human beings would entertain it at all. I do not know how my premise is at odds with memetics, though I am open to the possibility that I do not fully understand the theory or that I have grossly misrepresented your point.

Thanks for the feedback.

Looking forward to elucidation,

Icarus

[ June 22, 2002: Message edited by: Icarus ]</p>

Gemma Therese

Wrong. God is God. Period. God cannot be subjective.

Samhain

Sorry, Gemma, I think you missed the point. It does depend on how one wishes to define such a being. If you found out that the 'God' of the bible was just some kind of blundering idiot amoung a plethora of other beings with similar qualities would you still worship this being as a 'God'? What if this 'God' is just a tyrannical being amoung other beings of the same ilk who created the human race in order to have slaves to do 'His' bidding? Are these not highly probable possibilities for the JC 'God' if such a being exists? Of course, the bible says that this being is some kind of omnibenevolent being who sent his only son, yada yada yada. Why is it not possible that it is just propaghanda in order to insure the success of 'His' tyranny?

Sorry, it does depends on how one conceptualizes 'God'. Once one brings a definition of such a being to the table, it is then possible to deconstruct it and prod it for weaknesses. So, Gemma, tell us, what is your "objective" definition of 'God' if you have one?

[ June 24, 2002: Message edited by: Samhain ]</p>