Do You Believe?

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by JWBear

If gravity wasn't there, and we all flew off into space, you'd be singing a different tune, mister.

I'd be singing a song about Benson Arizona.



(And if you get that reference your geek card is punched for another year...)

[scaeagles]

I've been to Benson Arizona.....does that count for anything?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Alex

Then, out of curiosity, if it is undetectable, unknowable, and there is no evidence of it, what is the point in believing in it?

In other words, what separates it from the myriad other things equally uknowable and unevidenced that you don't believe in?

No point. No one came to me and told me this concept, saying they believed it, though there are varying hints at it. The only things that come to mind are oversimplifications, like "the Universe on Orion's belt" in Men in Black, or the Who's of Horton Hears a Who.

The difference is that this is just something I am seeing evidence of in varying scales, and I feel that a-ha moment, over and over, when pondering it. The way that groups of people act like one person, the way that groups of cells act as one being, the way whirling particles work in constant chaos and predictability at the same time, the way all the turning on and off of neurons means that I am a person...it all seems like evidence to me that there is no end to the scale of it. I don't expect anyone else to agree, or even understand what I'm on about.

Also, if you haven't read it, Leonard Susskind's recent The Black Hole War is a very interesting look into bringing together quantum and relativistic gravity.

Interest officially peaked.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Speaking for myself, I neither believe nor disbelieve in other forms of consciousness. It just strikes me as a perfectly reasonable possibility based on what I do believe of our own consciousness.

[Not Afraid]

I believe in Peanut Butter and Peter Pan.

[Ghoulish Delight]

But do you believe in Peter Pan Peanut Butter?

[tracilicious]

I too believe in collective consciousness, and I think it is what will change civilization as we know it.

But a belief is pretty much just a repeated thought. I don't believe in beliefs. But I like thoughts. The ones I especially like get repeated.

[Gemini Cricket]

I keep hearing Cher's voice reading this thread's title.



I believe in doing good when you can.
I believe in making people smile.
I believe in true love.

[CoasterMatt]

I believe in fairies and machine guns; fairies wielding machine guns are even cooler.

[€uroMeinke]

I believe I will never know truth, but I also believe I will still have a good time.