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Search: Posts Made By: yog_sothoth
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 9th February 2018, 04:05 PM
Replies: 1,660
Views: 111,191
Posted By yog_sothoth
Science can't explain consciousness....... yet.

Science can't explain consciousness....... yet.
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 9th February 2018, 04:02 PM
Replies: 390
Views: 38,535
Posted By yog_sothoth
A failure of theism. I read the bible and took...

A failure of theism. I read the bible and took notes, which annihilated any lingering doubts I may have ever had on the subject. It amazes me that bible study groups don't end in everyone asking how...
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 9th February 2018, 12:34 PM
Replies: 34
Views: 4,600
Posted By yog_sothoth
A surprising number of people "see" the deceased...

A surprising number of people "see" the deceased or hear their voice if they are grieving a recent loss. It is actually considered a normal aspect of uncomplicated grief. For long happy marriages it...
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 10th August 2016, 05:00 PM
Replies: 632
Views: 79,168
Posted By yog_sothoth
Tarot cards are useful as a meditation tool, but...

Tarot cards are useful as a meditation tool, but are in the end just a deck of cards.

When I read Tarot cards in college I also determined that I could learn a ton about the people in my dorm and...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 6th July 2016, 11:01 PM
Replies: 22
Views: 2,235
Posted By yog_sothoth
Have they done the study to test empathy of the...

Have they done the study to test empathy of the pain killer vs being in pain? Pain tends to make me less empathic.

I wonder how tylenol stacks up to Prozac and other antidepressants for empathy...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 1st July 2016, 05:29 PM
Replies: 86
Views: 12,423
Posted By yog_sothoth
For a healthy individual, the flu vaccine is not...

For a healthy individual, the flu vaccine is not amazingly helpful. Healthy people get the flu around 5% of the time, and the flu vaccine is generally in the 40-60% effectiveness range, and often...
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 5th June 2016, 03:44 PM
Replies: 24
Views: 4,714
Posted By yog_sothoth
One thing I hate is that when you point out the...

One thing I hate is that when you point out the obviousness of a scam, the response is often something like "What? Are you calling me stupid?"
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 1st June 2016, 05:29 PM
Replies: 24
Views: 4,714
Posted By yog_sothoth
Evidence based ways to show someone that they are being scammed?

One infuriating thing about the human mind is the way people refuse to see that a con is a con. Often showing a victim of a con evidence that the con artist is lying makes them redouble their belief...
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 26th May 2016, 08:00 AM
Replies: 50
Views: 7,375
Posted By yog_sothoth
I find it embarrassing and silly that Skeptics...

I find it embarrassing and silly that Skeptics are actively engaged with Bigfoot and the Turin shroud. I agree that homeopathy is worthy of attention, as it is widely used, but I was disappointed to...
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 25th May 2016, 06:37 PM
Replies: 50
Views: 7,375
Posted By yog_sothoth
Actually, reading the transcript, Neil deGrasse...

Actually, reading the transcript, Neil deGrasse Tyson stated that the chances were "Very High" that we live in a simulation.

A cut from the transcript:
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 18th May 2016, 06:19 PM
Replies: 50
Views: 7,375
Posted By yog_sothoth
John Horgan Scientific American piece

I am surprised there is no real discussion on this article in Scientific American.

It is "Dear "Skeptics," Bash Homeopathy and Bigfoot Less, Mammograms and War More"...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 29th April 2016, 10:08 PM
Replies: 296
Views: 28,656
Posted By yog_sothoth
Doctors do kill people out of sheer stupidity...

Doctors do kill people out of sheer stupidity every day. It happens, a lot. They also permanently wreck people's lives. Proper organization could cut the numbers down, but little pressure is...
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 29th April 2016, 10:01 PM
Replies: 3,897
Views: 773,680
Posted By yog_sothoth
So, who actually believes in bigfoot these days? ...

So, who actually believes in bigfoot these days? What is the average age? I thought people had moved on to Slender man and whatnot. Isn't this kind of a 1970's thing?
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 27th April 2016, 08:28 AM
Replies: 296
Views: 28,656
Posted By yog_sothoth
The real issue IMHO is that there are likely some...

The real issue IMHO is that there are likely some simple organizational reforms that could reduce those numbers significantly. These reforms are being applied unevenly across the country in different...
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 24th April 2016, 06:28 PM
Replies: 23
Views: 5,457
Posted By yog_sothoth
I came to a similar conclusion. I got the...

I came to a similar conclusion. I got the impression the "safe file folder" in my brain for my friend had gone rogue and decided to start giving advice at random times. The 1971 paper that everyone...
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 22nd April 2016, 07:58 PM
Replies: 23
Views: 5,457
Posted By yog_sothoth
Spiritualist used to prey on the people who don't...

Spiritualist used to prey on the people who don't have these experiences, interestingly enough.

As for why paranormal investigators leave this topic alone, things being obviously false has never...
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 22nd April 2016, 06:22 PM
Replies: 23
Views: 5,457
Posted By yog_sothoth
My search for good peer reviewed work has been...

My search for good peer reviewed work has been not amazingly successful.

On an interesting note my wife pointed out that some theorize that the apostles could have seen an apparition of Jesus...
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 22nd April 2016, 06:13 PM
Replies: 8
Views: 2,318
Posted By yog_sothoth
People in solitary confinement have...

People in solitary confinement have hallucinations. They are more common than people let on or understand.
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 22nd April 2016, 04:06 AM
Replies: 23
Views: 5,457
Posted By yog_sothoth
I have seen an apparition and later a string of...

I have seen an apparition and later a string of other odd experiences related to a loss. While it was all very comforting, it didn't sit well with my skeptical worldview.

Finding out that "I...
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 20th April 2016, 07:10 PM
Replies: 145
Views: 20,628
Posted By yog_sothoth
Praying to Cthulhu and voodoo spells have...

Praying to Cthulhu and voodoo spells have equivalent effect at a distance. I suppose we could make it a conspiracy if I pay someone to pray to evil gods or if they pay me, but it won't work in any...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 20th April 2016, 06:12 PM
Replies: 1,530
Views: 133,099
Posted By yog_sothoth
So, why are we debating this if it has been...

So, why are we debating this if it has been settled?

I do believe those studies didn't include Cthulhu cultists, limiting their scope. So many gods were left off the list.

Ironically if you...
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 20th April 2016, 06:08 PM
Replies: 145
Views: 20,628
Posted By yog_sothoth
So, if I pray to Cthulhu to annihilate the world,...

So, if I pray to Cthulhu to annihilate the world, is that attempted genocide? I know survivalists who dream of a zombie apocalypse or solar flare ending civilization. Should they be locked up for...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 20th April 2016, 05:48 PM
Replies: 1,530
Views: 133,099
Posted By yog_sothoth
In reality prayer could be used in a double blind...

In reality prayer could be used in a double blind experiment to figure out which religion is correct, if any. Set up prayer groups, rings of ceremonial magicians, Cthulhu cultists, and Jedi, and see...
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 20th April 2016, 04:12 AM
Replies: 23
Views: 5,457
Posted By yog_sothoth
Visitation dreams were excluded from the 1971...

Visitation dreams were excluded from the 1971 article, unfortunately. There has been some work (https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dream-catcher/201110/visitation-dreams) but not much as far as I...
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 19th April 2016, 06:55 PM
Replies: 23
Views: 5,457
Posted By yog_sothoth
The skeptical community is an interesting one for...

The skeptical community is an interesting one for this sort of thing. As long as things are described as personal experiences and not as actual events it works well. A person with a skeptical...
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 19th April 2016, 12:53 PM
Replies: 23
Views: 5,457
Posted By yog_sothoth
Paranormal experiences related to grief

I have found it very interesting that a large number of people who lose a loved one experience supernatural phenomena. These experiences include seeing, hearing, talking to, and in some cases...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 16th April 2016, 10:15 PM
Replies: 360
Views: 65,111
Posted By yog_sothoth
The real rule is that if you disagree with him...

The real rule is that if you disagree with him that you have demonstrated that you are wrong. Just because the things he says are demonstrably wrong doesn't phase him in the least.
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 13th March 2016, 12:58 PM
Replies: 498
Views: 55,715
Posted By yog_sothoth
Where did the idea that god is omnipotent come...

Where did the idea that god is omnipotent come from? The bible shows clear limits to his power and knowledge.
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 12th March 2016, 12:25 PM
Replies: 360
Views: 65,111
Posted By yog_sothoth
One of the most important messages of...

One of the most important messages of Christianity is that if your people are being occupied by the Romans that you should pay your taxes and not fight back against them. "Turn the other cheek" and...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 11th March 2016, 09:57 PM
Replies: 498
Views: 55,715
Posted By yog_sothoth
As I stated, infinity is a concept, not a number,...

As I stated, infinity is a concept, not a number, much as omnipotent is a concept, not a practical reality. Absolute concepts can produce paradoxes. For example, there are an infinite number of...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 11th March 2016, 07:55 PM
Replies: 498
Views: 55,715
Posted By yog_sothoth
They just happen to be true, which is the point.

They just happen to be true, which is the point.
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 10th March 2016, 07:06 PM
Replies: 498
Views: 55,715
Posted By yog_sothoth
Omnipotent is a concept, not a practical...

Omnipotent is a concept, not a practical reality. I blew my kids minds with the idea that a million times infinity and infinity divided by a million are the same value, infinity. Infinity is a...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 10th March 2016, 06:38 PM
Replies: 498
Views: 55,715
Posted By yog_sothoth
This debate reminds me of the line in "Revenge of...

This debate reminds me of the line in "Revenge of the Sith" where Obi Wan says "Only the sith deal in absolutes !" I thought "Wow, perhaps people should think things through a bit when they make up...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 20th February 2016, 12:53 PM
Replies: 498
Views: 55,715
Posted By yog_sothoth
Azathoth keeps making rocks too big for Yahweh to...

Azathoth keeps making rocks too big for Yahweh to pick up, and Yahweh is really annoyed about that. This story was cut from the bible in the Council of Nicaea for obvious reasons.

Loki had his...
Forum: USA Politics 13th February 2016, 12:43 PM
Replies: 3,617
Views: 424,955
Posted By yog_sothoth
I was under the apparently incorrect impression...

I was under the apparently incorrect impression that Henry Kissinger was a pariah who was too evil for even Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld to hang out with. I had no clue that Dr. Death was hanging out...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 18th December 2015, 09:33 PM
Replies: 119
Views: 25,253
Posted By yog_sothoth
I have found that the answers to my questions...

I have found that the answers to my questions depends on the type and level of the religious belief of the person I ask. Jews and most protestants tend to agree that Catholicism is an idolatrous...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 17th December 2015, 10:29 PM
Replies: 119
Views: 25,253
Posted By yog_sothoth
Clearly I know the answer, I just don't feel like...

Clearly I know the answer, I just don't feel like using your primitive internet to try to put truth into your fleshy mammalian "brains."

Keep in mind Cthulhu, who is worshiped by the foolish...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 17th December 2015, 08:43 PM
Replies: 119
Views: 25,253
Posted By yog_sothoth
My response has typically been, "So, I should...

My response has typically been, "So, I should ignore the quoted words of Yahweh in the bible and pay attention to your interpretation?" The quoted words of their deity seems to be unimportant if...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 16th December 2015, 08:24 PM
Replies: 119
Views: 25,253
Posted By yog_sothoth
Yahweh acknowledges that other gods exist in...

Yahweh acknowledges that other gods exist in Exodus. The first commandment is to follow Yahweh and not other gods.

Yahweh admits that the Egyptian gods are real in Exodus 12:12

“On that same...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 16th December 2015, 03:58 AM
Replies: 119
Views: 25,253
Posted By yog_sothoth
What is a god, exactly?

One question that seems to be omitted from discussions about the existence of gods is the question of the definition of "God." When people ask me to defend my atheism, I ask them if they can even...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 4th December 2015, 06:18 PM
Replies: 19
Views: 2,684
Posted By yog_sothoth
Link between belief in "Profound" quotes and low intelligence

An amusing study.

Scientists find link between people impressed by wise-sounding, 'profound' quotes and low intelligence
...
Forum: General Skepticism and The Paranormal 9th October 2015, 08:24 AM
Replies: 593
Views: 71,180
Posted By yog_sothoth
As a skeptic who had an intense visitation dream...

As a skeptic who had an intense visitation dream (Google it), I have some sympathy for those who have realistic ghost encounters. If not for a skeptical background I would absolutely have zero doubt...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 27th April 2015, 02:52 AM
Replies: 40
Views: 5,041
Posted By yog_sothoth
It was released in a little over 1000 theaters...

It was released in a little over 1000 theaters and made 2.8 million, in 13th place for the weekend. Certainly not in blockbuster territory. The negative reviews and strongly negative "Rotten...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 26th April 2015, 02:06 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 5,041
Posted By yog_sothoth
They named the movie after one of the two nuclear...

They named the movie after one of the two nuclear bombs dropped on Japan. They likely used "Little Boy" as a movie called "Fat Man" would have been harder to write. My impression, based on the...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 26th April 2015, 09:08 AM
Replies: 40
Views: 5,041
Posted By yog_sothoth
"Little Boy" is a deeply disturbing "Christian" film

So, "Little Boy" is one of the new "faith" movies out there. I normally don't care much about the "faith" movie industry. While I may find them amusing as a glimpse into the thought processes used...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 25th April 2015, 01:14 PM
Replies: 274
Views: 17,450
Posted By yog_sothoth
While people claim they have somehow refuted...

While people claim they have somehow refuted anything I have said, which they have not, in reality we pretty much agree on the facts.

Which of the following things do you disagree with:

GMO...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 24th April 2015, 08:28 PM
Replies: 274
Views: 17,450
Posted By yog_sothoth
BTW, how many people here knew before this thread...

BTW, how many people here knew before this thread that GMOs are routinely labeled throughout the industrialized world, with the notable exceptions of the US and Canada?

GMO labeling is not some...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 24th April 2015, 02:51 PM
Replies: 274
Views: 17,450
Posted By yog_sothoth
In most of the industrialized world, GMO labeling...

In most of the industrialized world, GMO labeling is the norm. In practice, when consumers have a choice between GMO or non GMO labeled food, they choose the non-GMO labeled food to the point where...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 23rd April 2015, 02:34 PM
Replies: 274
Views: 17,450
Posted By yog_sothoth
I do realize I am debating people who openly...

I do realize I am debating people who openly advocate deception, which makes the debate somewhat tricky as I really can't take what people say as honest.

Which facts have been challenged? ...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 23rd April 2015, 02:12 PM
Replies: 274
Views: 17,450
Posted By yog_sothoth
So, who here is against hiding GMOs among non GMO...

So, who here is against hiding GMOs among non GMO food without labels to trick people into eating it?
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