To: tejek who wrote (235526 ) 6/3/2005 4:54:33 AM From: zonder Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 1574119 >>>That is why science is not a belief system, by the way.<<< It isn't? That's not my understanding of science. Then you misunderstand science & scientific methods.Again, I am not asking your to believe anything.....I am only suggesting that keeping an open mind might be wise. As I said in the previous post, I am an agnostic, and that is what the word "agnostic" means. I do have an open mind and will have no problem believing in God when I see proof to his existence. When I say I love something, that means I enjoy it tremendously. And since I enjoy it tremendously, that means I desire to experience it tremendously. If I don't get to experience what I desire tremendously, then I am greatly disappointed and very likely to feel pain. Apparently, you do not react the same way. Excuse me if this sounds rude, but what on earth are you talking about??? What does LOVING SOMETHING and therefore DESIRING it, and feeling PAIN if you don't get it have ANYTHING to do with whether or not to believe what others tell you about their so-called paranormal experiences??? By the way, your experience of "love" sounds dangerously similar to heroin addiction, did you know that?When you used the term love in reference to seeing what others see. I guess you are referring to empathy here. Putting yourself in others' shoes, sharing their joy and sadness ia all great, all part of being human. It does not though, even for one second, make me want to share in fellow humans' DELUSIONS. Or do you really suffer this "pain" of not being able "see what others see" when you visit an asylum where inmates are convinced there is a red devil sitting on your left shoulder? Do you suffer this "pain" of not "seeing what others see" when you hear of Al-Qaeda calling your country immoral and its citizens fit to be hunted down one by one? Or do you think they are all dangerous nuts? In your post, you used a dragon as the object but why not use God. I thought it was clear that the dragon analogy was taken from Carl Sagan's book. When you say "God", people get emotional. Analogies are good for this reason.You posted: "you would love to see what makes them think "[there is a God/dragon in their garages]. Strangely enough, that suggests you want to believe what others believe in.... Did you not understand what I said in the last post? "You would love to see what makes them think" because of CURIOUSITY, not because anyone here is dying to believe what others believe in. Least of all myself. You say your love is based on your curiosity and nothing else Who said anything about "my love"????I suspect you may be kidding yourself; that it runs deeper than simple curiousi This is where I am supposed to ease in to the couch and tell you about my childhood? Come on :-) I simply told you of my supernatural experiences, I have not once made mention of a personal deity. You started with this "supernatural experiences" in response to my saying "there is no proof to the existence of God", right after you said "I'm not sure there is no proof...". Ergo, you pointed to your "supernatural experiences" as a possible proof to the existence of God. Anyway, we are talking past each other. I know it and you know it and so does everybody else, that there is no proof to the existence of God at this point in time. Whatever you experienced or thought you experienced can have a zillion explanations that don't necessitate the presence of a benevolent/omniscient/omnipotent Creator of all matter and life. And none of the "if you don't want to believe like everyone else, that means you don't love people" is working on me. So I will take my leave from this conversation, if you don't mind.