Experts or quasi experts, what are some ways the mind can fool us

[Desert Snake]

.................

the thread title is worded awkwardly, anyone can answer, just people who have what they consider to be valid opinions.

 

[Desert Snake]

-Do you...discredit every religious experience?
-If not, which ones do you not discredit? Why?
-If one discredits religious experiences, aren't they really by default discrediting the religion? The deity or deities, as well?
-A 'far out' non-religious experience with the same attributes of a religious experience, is this 'more credible', why?
These are just some general questions that can be unrelated to the OP

 

[paragon]

-Do you...discredit every religious experience?

I don't discredit the experience, what I discredit is what the religion may attribute the experience to.

-If one discredits religious experiences, aren't they really by default discrediting the religion? The deity or deities, as well?

No, not at all. If I hate the way McDonalds makes their fried chicken, do I hate all fried chicken of any kind? No. Experiences are not necessarily exclusive/representative of the belief itself, just as I can have one bad experience with a phone company it doesn't make me hate all phones or phone companies.

-A 'far out' non-religious experience with the same attributes of a religious experience, is this 'more credible', why?

No.

I see religions as tools to be used and improved. They are creations of man, steps to reach a certain hight. The religion is not God but merely a path towards God.

 

[SkylarHunter]

The mind can trick us in many ways. Sometimes we make memories of things that either didn't happen or happened differently.

We want so much for something to be the way we see it that we upgrade it to universal truth and try to convince others of how right we are.

Some people even believe their own lies to the point no one can convince them that they'relying.

I'm inclined to believe there is plenty of mind fooling out there and no one is 100% immune to it's effects.

 

[Quagmire]

I'm not an expert when it comes to the mind, but I am an expert in fooling myself so I'll play.

-Do you...discredit every religious experience?

No.

--If not, which ones do you not discredit?

My own.

-Why?

Because at this point, I think I would be a bigger fool for dismissing them than I could ever be for acknowledging them.

--If one discredits religious experiences, aren't they really by default discrediting the religion?

If there's religion involved, I'd say yes.

-The deity or deities, as well?

Not necessarily: I believe in God, but I also believe that most religions had their thumb over the lense when they tried to take His picture.

--A 'far out' non-religious experience with the same attributes of a religious experience, is this 'more credible',

I'm sure it would be to many people.

- why?

Because it sounds better and demands less.

 

[Desert Snake]

Wow good stuff.

 

[Quagmire]

Wow good stuff.

Good questions. :yes:

 

[Kilgore Trout]

-Do you...discredit every religious experience?

I don't make a habit of discrediting things. But, rather, trying to understand and contextualize the factors for why people find certain notions attractive.

-If one discredits religious experiences, aren't they really by default discrediting the religion? The deity or deities, as well?

If the religion and deity are part of the experience, then yes.

-A 'far out' non-religious experience with the same attributes of a religious experience, is this 'more credible', why?

It's best to approach all claims and experiences using the same criteria for credibility.

 

[Quintessence]

Do you...discredit every religious experience?

No. I don't see the point of discrediting religious experiences, as I don't see "credibility" as a concern for them in the first place. These experiences are personal and have personal meaning. They're analogous to relationships. It makes no more sense to discuss whether or not a religious experience is "credible" than to discuss whether or not someone's marriage is "credible." It is what it is, and it is meaningful to the parties involved. Whether or not outsiders believe or accept the marriage or the experience is... well... who cares?

I get that there are some who go from their personal experiences and then try to dictate life and living to everyone else based on their personal experiences. I do have a problem with that, but I wouldn't regard this as an act of discrediting. Their experiences are still perfectly valid for them; what I don't agree with is the suggestion that their experiences and the meaning they derive for them will resonate or work for everyone.

I'm not sure I have much to add beyond this with respect to the other questions. I don't feel that the question of "credibility" should be applied to religious experiences.

 

[Alceste]

I credit spiritual experiences and discredit religious explanations. We're all equally clueless as to the meaning of it all, if any. I tend to think those who accept easy answers with no evidence, like "God did it" (or, on the other side of the coin, "science has figured everything out already") are simply afraid of the unknown.

 

[jonathan180iq]

Perceptions create individual reality but do not alter reality itself.

That pretty much covers it.