God, defined.

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by regular.joe

To understand the Casimir Effect, one first has to understand something about a vacuum in space as it is viewed in quantum field theory. Far from being empty, modern physics assumes that a vacuum is full of fluctuating electromagnetic waves that can never be completely eliminated, like an ocean with waves that are always present and can never be stopped. These waves come in all possible wavelengths, and their presence implies that empty space contains a certain amount of energy--an energy that we can't tap, but that is always there. (http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...-casimir-effec)

What interests me is that the smartest, most intelligent and brightest of our society today will readily accept the idea that empty space may indeed be filled with an infinite amount of energy, of all wavelengths..like an ocean of waves that can never be stopped, an energy that we can't tap but is always there...and instantly rebel at the idea that God exists.

Originally Posted by regular.joe

I am not a Christian, Muslim, Nor a Jew, I claim to know nothing of the desert dwellers and their religious practices and how they tell people not to masturbate. I prefer to leave discussion of religion out of discussion about God. I'm not a religious man, so it seems only fair. I can't talk about something I know nothing about, nor participate in.

Masturbate all you wish, I'm not hanging about to tell anyone what God would have them do.

Originally Posted by Griff

The problem for scientists is that religion has so often opposed progress in science this forces people into camps based on their training and individual wiring/ brain functioning. Joe's God could be amenable to science but once groups start defining "him" we're putting structures in place that will lead to conflict. In religion there is value placed in faith, believing what their is no evidence for. I've heard very intelligent people defend that. They get something from that cognitive dissonance and believe society gains something from it as well. I'm open to the idea of God but I'm not able to construct one sufficiently durable.

If you want to say that there's some "force" "out there" just hanging around, go right ahead. But if you claim that it's all-powerful, has a personality, and wants to be worshipped, I call bullshit.

[regular.joe]

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

If you want to say that there's some "force" "out there" just hanging around, go right ahead. But if you claim that it's all-powerful, has a personality, and wants to be worshipped, I call bullshit.

I'd say it's only as powerful, has personality and wants to be worshiped just about as much as the collection of about $100.00 worth chemicals typing on these keyboards. Actually this force may have more personality.