Philosophy Discussion Forums | A Humans-Only Club for Open-Minded Discussion & Debate

[whateverist]

Well the goal for which the rules are intended seems like a good one and I have no problem with the rules as I understand them -hopefully they work well- so let's give this a try. While I was an undergrad philosophy major I don't think of philosophy as anything more than careful language use and agreeing not to misrepresent one's understanding for the sake of persuasion.

My goal for this self introduction is not to impress but only to establish my credentials as a peer of the realm, any realm. I'm far from young and am not looking for approval but I hope to find others whose opinion matters enough to me to elicit my better thoughts so that I can learn what those are too as well as to hear some other perspectives.

My background: I went from a naive understanding of religion to no religion very early in my life. While the idea of an engineering, creator God seems lame to me, I want to be sure there wasn't actually some sort of worthwhile baby in the bath I emptied so hastily.

For the last five years I've posted at a Christian forums which aimed for much the same things identified as the goal here: a place open to a wide range of voices who treat each other with respect. Sadly there were a couple of annoying posters there who just couldn't deal hospitably with my non/other orientation and when push came to shove, the moderation team chose to emphasize openness even to them as they were behaving over holding the line where respectful interaction was concerned. So I left. No hard feelings. It was an education and I got a lot of questions answered, but it was never an ideal fit and the connections I made there continue even though I don't participate there anymore.

The question I explored there was why God belief has been so prevalent for so long almost everywhere people have lived? I have my theories but they are admittedly outsider/anthropological opinions. I've decided there is something more that gives rise to God belief which is real and important, it just isn't a being in the sense we think of that. There is no God central creating or directing everything. That would be a nightmare to imagine let alone to manage. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist, just that we can't possibly do it justice conceptually so why not leave it unspecified? That is the point of my username, whatever-ist.

My current philosophic interests are being met by Iain McGilchrist's newest doorstop, The Matter With Things. I am in the third chapter (on time) of the last of three sections of the book, the one that makes up the entire second volume. I'm reading this very slowly as I did his first book, The Master and His Emissary. I wonder if anyone else has been influenced by his writing? I admit I have.