A theism, a theism, my kingdom for a theism

[chalsall]

Originally Posted by chappy

Invisible and pink?

Invisible to everyone who doesn't believe in them; pink to those who do.

Originally Posted by chappy

We will now wage a war based upon our mutual imaginations! Prepare yourself!

Always.

[chappy]

Originally Posted by chalsall

Invisible to everyone who doesn't believe in them; pink to those who do.

Blasphemer! The Elephants are both invisible and pink simultaneously!

[chalsall]

Originally Posted by chappy

Blasphemer! The Elephants are both invisible and pink simultaneously!

ROFLMAO... Heisenberg and Bohr would be proud; Einstein and Newton -- not so much....

[TheMawn]

Originally Posted by gd_barnes

I have evidence of flying invisible pink elephants in my bedroom. I know that they exist because I have faith and a written document that says so. If you don't want to have an encounter with them, they won't bother to show themselves, so that is your problem. But nonetheless they are there. I pray to them every night and they give me comfort and guidance through the tough times.

Originally Posted by chappy

Invisible and pink? Blessings unto all of us it is a true mystery! However, the true pachydermatiphile knows that Elephants don't actually fly--they move the giant turtle away from their feet! Ergo, you must be a false follower of the Mauve Elephant! I denounce you and call upon the great Saint Abul-Abbas to build a beehive fence around your heart and cast you down as the Motty is!

We will now wage a war based upon our mutual imaginations! Prepare yourself!

Rofl. And there I was being politically correct.

[gd_barnes]

Oh crap. I have disturbed and insulted others beliefs about non-flying elephants and ones that move turtles away from feet.

I will have my weaponery ready when they arrive to prosecute me for my blasphemy.

[only_human]

More Than 400 Animals Offered to Aztec Gods
Archaeologists reveal details of bones from sacred precinct in Mexico City.

No pink elephants though.
Would human sacrifices (sacrifice-ees) be happier because their belief structure (or someone else's) explained why this was happening to them?

[cheesehead]

Originally Posted by only_human

Would human sacrifices (sacrifice-ees) be happier because their belief structure (or someone else's) explained why this was happening to them?

Probably, but the drugs helped, too.

[jasong]

Originally Posted by only_human

No pink elephants though.

One thing this forum has done has helped me improve my tolerance and sense of humor, so thanks for that. :)

Off-topic: I think most "pink elephants" are caused by the brain misinterpreting stimuli, plus the natural debris that exists in and on the surface of the eye. I had a friend who, when he wasn't feeling well, would see sticks coming out of people's heads. You will probably see these sticks yourselves if you look up at a pure blue sky.

It can also happen to people coming off of addictive drugs and is loosely connected to the whole bugs crawling on the skin phenomenon.

[Batalov]

Originally Posted by jasong

It can also happen to people coming off of addictive drugs and is loosely connected to the whole bugs crawling on the skin phenomenon.

Originally Posted by The least grouchy of the Marxes

Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.

It is indeed painful to come off of opiates. Most people prefer not to, for the rest of their life*.

I had no choice - they gave me opiates for the three days following splenectomy and then they took me off. I cannot quite remember what was worse. ;-)

___________
*reminds me of what I recently heard: “Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life.”

[chalsall]

Originally Posted by jasong

Off-topic: I think most "pink elephants" are caused by the brain misinterpreting stimuli...

Very much on-topic.

Brains evolved over millions of years to interpret the observed stimuli presented to each entity -- to react to threats, and to take advantage of opportunities.

However, it is well documented there are many "false positives". As in, those with brains often "see" patterns where there is really only noise.

As an example, there are many humans who play the lottery and actually expect to come out ahead by always playing the same numbers, or some other "system"....

[chappy]

Originally Posted by chalsall

Very much on-topic.

Brains evolved over millions of years to interpret the observed stimuli presented to each entity -- to react to threats, and to take advantage of opportunities.

However, it is well documented there are many "false positives". As in, those with brains often "see" patterns where there is really only noise.

As an example, there are many humans who play the lottery and actually expect to come out ahead by always playing the same numbers, or some other "system"....

False positives are evolutionarily less detrimental than false negative hence the ability to see faces in clouds.

I happen to be one of those people who play the lottery. Of course my expectation of winning is limited to the idea of what would I do if.... Oh, yes, you'd see some Gimping going on then....A cheap thrill that costs me $4 a week.