When I was growing up - knowing I was pagan but stuck in a Christian system - I used to be relieved when I heard someone was atheist. It usually meant we had a good deal in common.
I still have several atheist friends, and we're cool with each other. But lately it seems I'm seeing more and more atheists who are hostile to all theists. I've heard a lot of claims that theists' faith and experiences can be disproved because we can find parts of the brain that activate when we're having spiritual experiences.
Here's the way I see it: we can make fact-based claims about the physical world. We cannot make fact-based claims about the otherworld. Those experiences are personal and subjective. My relationship with Osiris is beautiful, but trying to prove that he physically existed would be against the very non-corporeal nature of his being.
I also feel we cannot disprove subjective experiences, such as those that occur in the otherworld. Yes, certain neural pathways light up when we have spiritual experiences. But why should the experiences not be genuine and valid just because we can see parts of the brain responding? Maybe we're seeing certain parts of the brain light up when a deity is present. I wouldn't try to prove that, but I don't see how anyone can disprove it.
Have other people noticed divisions between atheists and pagans in the last few years? If so, did they have anything to do with this debate about neural activity and attempting to disprove spiritual experiences?
I still have several atheist friends, and we're cool with each other. But lately it seems I'm seeing more and more atheists who are hostile to all theists. I've heard a lot of claims that theists' faith and experiences can be disproved because we can find parts of the brain that activate when we're having spiritual experiences.
Here's the way I see it: we can make fact-based claims about the physical world. We cannot make fact-based claims about the otherworld. Those experiences are personal and subjective. My relationship with Osiris is beautiful, but trying to prove that he physically existed would be against the very non-corporeal nature of his being.
I also feel we cannot disprove subjective experiences, such as those that occur in the otherworld. Yes, certain neural pathways light up when we have spiritual experiences. But why should the experiences not be genuine and valid just because we can see parts of the brain responding? Maybe we're seeing certain parts of the brain light up when a deity is present. I wouldn't try to prove that, but I don't see how anyone can disprove it.
Have other people noticed divisions between atheists and pagans in the last few years? If so, did they have anything to do with this debate about neural activity and attempting to disprove spiritual experiences?
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