The Nehor wrote: Why not just believe that your brain has the ability to create these sensations, "feelings", and experiences. It's not a lie per se, it's just part of the human experience. Why not embrace it as such? Not suggesting you lose your faith here -- just a different way to think about it, perhaps?
Never mind. I'm asking you to consider that it's in your brain and to "just believe". That is probably similar to when some tell me I can choose to reject it is my brain and to believe in God. Difficult doing so, for me. :)
Last edited by Guest on Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
The Nehor wrote:Here I will apply Occam's Razor. If the voices tell me that they're a ghost talking to me I think it's more likely that then mind-control satellites.
And I'll apply it again...
If it could possibly just be my own brain trying to convince myself that a deeply held belief is true by generating intense feelings vs a ghost is talking to me, I'll take the former...
I'll take the latter. If my brain is routinely lying to me on that scale then I can believe nothing.
Why not just believe that your brain has the ability to create these sensations, "feelings", and experiences. It's not a lie per se, it's just part of the human experience. Why not embrace it as such? Not suggesting you lose your faith here -- just a different way to think about it, perhaps?
Because I don't think my brain is that well-developed. The triggers for these things are also too specific. I would also have to be able to somehow see the future and the results of certain choices in advance on some level. The world doesn't need a new male Ms. Cleo. CALL ME NOW!!!!!!!!
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
The Nehor wrote:Here I will apply Occam's Razor. If the voices tell me that they're a ghost talking to me I think it's more likely that then mind-control satellites.
And I'll apply it again...
If it could possibly just be my own brain trying to convince myself that a deeply held belief is true by generating intense feelings vs a ghost is talking to me, I'll take the former...
I'll take the latter. If my brain is routinely lying to me on that scale then I can believe nothing.
Why not just believe that your brain has the ability to create these sensations, "feelings", and experiences. It's not a lie per se, it's just part of the human experience. Why not embrace it as such? Not suggesting you lose your faith here -- just a different way to think about it, perhaps?
Because I don't think my brain is that well-developed. The triggers for these things are also too specific. I would also have to be able to somehow see the future and the results of certain choices in advance on some level. The world doesn't need a new male Ms. Cleo. CALL ME NOW!!!!!!!!
Oops! Ya caught me! I just edited it to say this:
Never mind. I'm asking you to consider that it's in your brain and to "just believe". That is probably similar to when some tell me I can choose to reject it is my brain and to believe in God. Difficult doing so, for me. :)
Do you see into the future, Nehor? Or do you intuit things that may occur? Or do you ask questions and have revelations that help steer your course?
The Nehor wrote:Because I don't think my brain is that well-developed. The triggers for these things are also too specific. I would also have to be able to somehow see the future and the results of certain choices in advance on some level. The world doesn't need a new male Ms. Cleo. CALL ME NOW!!!!!!!!
Is this one of those "5% of the things I prayed about came true, and the other 95% of things that that didn't come true were somehow because it wasn't God's will or I wasn't obediant/faithful enough" things?
If there's one thing I've learned from this board, it's that consensual sex with multiple partners is okay unless God commands it. - Abman
I find this place to be hostile toward all brands of stupidity. That's why I like it. - Some Schmo
The Nehor wrote:Here I will apply Occam's Razor. If the voices tell me that they're a ghost talking to me I think it's more likely that then mind-control satellites.
And I'll apply it again...
If it could possibly just be my own brain trying to convince myself that a deeply held belief is true by generating intense feelings vs a ghost is talking to me, I'll take the former...
I'll take the latter. If my brain is routinely lying to me on that scale then I can believe nothing.
Why not just believe that your brain has the ability to create these sensations, "feelings", and experiences. It's not a lie per se, it's just part of the human experience. Why not embrace it as such? Not suggesting you lose your faith here -- just a different way to think about it, perhaps?
Because I don't think my brain is that well-developed. The triggers for these things are also too specific. I would also have to be able to somehow see the future and the results of certain choices in advance on some level. The world doesn't need a new male Ms. Cleo. CALL ME NOW!!!!!!!!
Oops! Ya caught me! I just edited it to say this:
Never mind. I'm asking you to consider that it's in your brain and to "just believe". That is probably similar to when some tell me I can choose to reject it is my brain and to believe in God. Difficult doing so, for me. :)
Do you see into the future, Nehor? Or do you intuit things that may occur? Or do you ask questions and have revelations that help steer your course?
In order:
Yes, but not too often. I don't think I'm that smart. Yes, this is mostly how it works.
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
The Nehor wrote:Because I don't think my brain is that well-developed. The triggers for these things are also too specific. I would also have to be able to somehow see the future and the results of certain choices in advance on some level. The world doesn't need a new male Ms. Cleo. CALL ME NOW!!!!!!!!
Is this one of those "5% of the things I prayed about came true, and the other 95% of things that that didn't come true were somehow because it wasn't God's will or I wasn't obediant/faithful enough" things?
No. When I get a yes, usually he confirms it and I expect it to come. It does. God is usually very blunt about his no's and I know in advance I'm not getting it. Sometimes he gives me something better though sometimes I suspect that's him showing off. I don't complain about that ;)
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
1. Moses
2. Paul
3. Muhammed
4. Joseph Smith
5. L. Ron Hubbard
Each of these people were writers. So start by writing. Focus on creative futuristic scenarios and/or historical fiction. From the time of Moses to the time of Joseph Smith, futuristic scenarios were called prophesy. L Ron new it as science fiction and fantasy.
It would help you, in starting your religion, if you had a personal spiritual epiphany. All of the above figures (except possibly for L. Ron) had some kind of major spiritual experience, which when combined with their particular talents for written persuasion, sparked the formation of their religion. And I have no reason to doubt that their spiritual experiences were real and therefore natural for beings with an advanced neocortex. If they can do it, you can too. Peak experiences will lend great credibility to your creative ideas since you can weave those visions into your narrative. The side benefit of this is that it may cause you to believe that your creation is a representation of some truth, if not THE Truth. Believing your own story will give you immense conversion power.
Mainly you have to write a book or books (or have someone else write it for you) and then get people to believe that that product is a result of divine communication. Today, that divine communication does not have to mean God.
New Age prophets like the Hicks have convinced many that they are the earthly mouthpieces of an entity collective known as "Abraham." The Hicks have a great following which could be considered a kind of religion. Their book "Ask and It is Given," is credited by many to be a main catalyst for the "The Secret" phenomenon. The Hicks woman was featured in the film and extra special thanks was given to her by Rhonda Byrne, the author of "The Secret."
I think each of the above "prophets" focused their books on current and pressing issues, so you should also. Scientology and The Law of Attraction are modern examples of things which focus on the nature of the mind which are hot button issues today.
So write a book about consciousness. To me, that seems to be what people are thinking about today. All you need is some credible pseudo-science, a well written mythology (or not so great, e.g., The Book of Mormon and Battlefield Earth) and an audience who will read your stuff and you may just create a following for yourself.
When you get your ideology up and running make sure you secure it down with some real estate projects. Nothing solidifies belief more than brick and mortar. Build a few temples and charge admission.
People will also need to sacrifice for your ideology over a period of at least 3 generations in order to stay convinced that your creation is worthwhile. The places that people feel like they are sacrificing the most generally have to do with money, sex and time. Be sure to require sacrifice in each of these three areas.