How about believing in medications instead?

LOL!

A placebo is a placebo is a placebo.

This will make the liberals heads explode.

There is little that doesn't make their heads explode.

So somebody validated the placebo effect once again... big fucking deal.

Zombie - do you have an ailment? Or are you perfectly a-ok?

How about believing in medications instead?

#1 | Posted by member2586 at 2010-02-25 11:29 AM

they don't call it the OPIATE of the masses for nothing.

Everyone needs a higher power.

And your reasoning for this is...?

Zombie - do you have an ailment?

I just got over a nasty case of Mongolian Sphincter Paralysis Virus. Bad wonton soup. Believe me, you do not want that.

Depends on whether it was paralyzed open or closed, eh?

Depends on whether it was paralyzed open or closed, eh?

Either way it could end unpleasantly.

I got something similar at the fast food Chinese in the food court at the mall three years ago - not pretty for sure.

You know what I meant by my question - stop playing coy.

This will make the liberals heads explode.

#3 | Posted by KBM
No, none of us are surprised. It's no secret that the ability to believe in things that you have no proof of and to be able to explain everything no matter how irrational the explanation makes life easier.

I got something similar at the fast food Chinese in the food court at the mall three years ago - not pretty for sure.

Everyone needs a higher power.

And your reasoning for this is...?

#9 | Posted by ZombieHunter at 2010-02-25 02:51 PM

A placebo is a placebo is a placebo.
#2 | Posted by LetUsPrey at 2010-02-25 11:33 AM

But why does the placebo work?

Is there some greater connection between "belief" and "actualization" that can be exploited? Could we be made to heal ourselves in general or only if we "believe"? Why are they mutually exclusive options if conscientious decisions aren't necessary and we can just trigger the placebo mechanism artificially? Doesn't this deserve proper study?

There is a reason why a lot of the people who "find God" late in life do so only when they are at the very end of their rope.

Religion in that context is like humour.

It's the little crazy that prevents the big crazy from setting in.

Be Well.

When people can't deal with real reality, they create an artificial reality that soothes their fears and insecurities. Religion is a socially respectable form of cookbook escape neurosis. The alternative is depression and anxiety. Religion's popularity epitomizes a national deficit in logical thinking skills.

But why does the placebo work?

I has to do with focus. A belief in the placebo distracts one from their discomfort. Every have a wound inflicted on you that you weren't aware of? You felt no pain until you noticed the wound. This is a common occurrence to soldiers in combat.

Religion's popularity epitomizes a national deficit in logical thinking skills.

I disagree, Ray.

Belief in God and logical thinking skills are not mutually exclusive.

You're being defensive, Jeff. A standard reflex.

I spent ten years exposing the myths and legends in the Bible. If you don't see them for what they are, feel free to disagree all you want.

I spent ten years exposing the myths and legends in the Bible.

You are conflating the flaws contained within the bible with the existence of God.

They are seperate issues.

You're being defensive

Not at all. I am simply disagreeing with you. My point is that one can believe in God AND simultaneously possess critical thinking skills.

"I spent ten years exposing the myths and legends in the Bible...."

You merely adduced legends and myths of your own. Whatever your website is, it's not scholarship. You revel in it's lack of seriousness because that's the only way you can score points with it.

"When people can't deal with reality...."

I really don't understand why you want to emphasize this feeling (and merely a feeling) of yours when you consistently state outre things unsupported by the very "realism" you assert you are master concerning.

You are conflating the flaws contained within the bible with the existence of God.
They are seperate issues.

By any name, from Ra to Yahweh, a god is a god.

Not at all. I am simply disagreeing with you. My point is that one can believe in God AND simultaneously possess critical thinking skills.

That needs to be qualified. I see people, such as scientists and economists, who possess critical thinking skills in their specialty.

I really don't understand why you want to emphasize this feeling (and merely a feeling) of yours when you consistently state outre things unsupported by the very "realism" you assert you are master concerning.

I can't reason with people who can't reason. I'm not wasting my time with you.

"I can't reason with people who can't reason...."

To understand the irony of this statment, refer to RAY'S website.

"I'm not wasting my time with you...."

Or with any serious scholarship, which of course never has to include me.

Put another way, RAY, given you've created such a bubble for your ideas, is it not even remotely possible that someone more learned and (gasp) brighter than you are could pop it?

Even remotely?

To understand the irony of this statment, refer to RAY'S website.

You forgot to give out the name: usbible.com.

BTW, you're a best endorsement on DR for my website. Thanks!

Sorry, RAY---Next time I'll give that information---Maybe when you link your website to some sort of peer reviewed journal where it has been, uh, looked at.

I can't reason with people who can't reason. I'm not wasting my time with you.

Posted by Ray at 2010-02-26 08:00 AM

Zed is a moron, Ray are you admitting defeat to a moron?

You don't have the requisite degree, you let me tell you how this is done---Write your ideas with supporting documentation to a Ph.D. Historian and/or Archeologist first.

If he sees merit he'll sponsor and/or recommend your publication either in a journal or some appropriate publishing house. If he doesn't see merit he'll tell you why beforehand to save both of you embarassment prior to some editor seeing it.

Well, hey---JACKASS---Riding to my defense? Worth being called a moron for that.

Zed is a moron, Ray are you admitting defeat to a moron?
#33 | POSTED BY JACKASS

Then I would have to come down to the moron level.

"Then I would have to come down to the moron level...."

We would never expect you to do that. Too Christlike.

Zed,

If you haven't already done so, take a gander at Ray's website.

You may decide he's full of it, but his analysis of biblical text and history is quite fascinating IMO.

JEFF--I have read RAY'S website---It's interesting in the same way that Eric VonDanniken's ideas are, but even more idiosyncratic. In other words---An hour of eccentric entertainment.

The image of a kid stamping the ground and shouting "No, I'm being rational!" comes to mind when dealing with RAY.

I point of fact, that image comes to mind when dealing with a lot of persons who imagine themselves "realists"---A lot of hooting for others to examine their assumptions but not a whole lot of hard work personally.

You'd expect a realist to be disciplined somehow. What I usually get is a defense of being stoned.

So...it turns out that religion really is the opiate (or xanax) of the masses.

"The image of a kid stamping the ground and shouting "No, I'm being rational!" comes to mind when dealing with RAY."

The exact same thing could be said of you, Zed...and carry exactly the same weight.

Ray - I have bookmarked your site - Happy to see you've expounded on the "astronomy" aspect of the Bible - a difficult concept for some to grasp - so many Christians get into the "astrology" aspect far too much. Good job!

But for the existence of certain receptors and agonists therefore in our brains, we would all be depressed.

After all, we have eaten of the tree of knowledge and that we each know we will inescapably die.

What's more depressing than that?

If religion increases the production of the brain chemicals that make us smile, that's great.

Doesn't change the reality, however.

Have a nice day.

Please excuse the grammatical errors.

Having trouble with editing and posting.

After all, we have eaten of the tree of knowledge and that we each know we will inescapably die.
What's more depressing than that?

When your time is up, it's a easy as falling asleep.

Meanwhile, in Jerusalem:

Belief in Santa Claus makes my grandkids happy. What's so different between that and belief in God making an adult happy?

"The same thing could be said of you, ZED, and carry the same weight...."

Need I really say it, DAVE? And also about you, my boy. Also about you.....

"Doesn't change the reality, however..."

Well, it certainly doesn't change your personal opinion about reality. Not for the last time, I didn't get the same flier you did in the mail. What a shame, I guess you're special.

"Need I really say it, DAVE? And also about you, my boy. Also about you....."

If I were arguing with you over yer silly superstition, you could.