Talkin' Hawkin'

[Robert Martellaro]

On Pi day no less.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=22&v=7GEXrWf5CKQ

[Uilleann]

[drk]

Hawking was an atheist.

I wonder how he didn't realize his mechanistic view of the universe left no room for such silliness as romance and free will?

[Uilleann]

I'm an atheist as well - I was unaware we had a manifesto somewhere that said we couldn't be filled with wonder, marvel, and love for the universe as we work to understand it's workings? I don't think it's silly at all - quite the contrary. It's that same romance and passion he speaks of that drives the human spirit to seek out knowledge and understanding. He did say that women were forever his greatest enigma of course. Black holes were easy in comparison.

[lensmanmd]

I'm an atheist as well - I was unaware we had a manifesto somewhere that said we couldn't be filled with wonder, marvel, and love for the universe as we work to understand it's workings? I don't think it's silly at all - quite the contrary. It's that same romance and passion he speaks of that drives the human spirit to seek out knowledge and understanding. He did say that women were forever his greatest enigma of course. Black holes were easy in comparison.

Atheists are not bound by religious rules. Instead, they seek wisdom outside of God's rules.
Agnostics are also not bound by such rules. The difference is that agnostics do believe in a guiding principle, just that there is not a way to truly explain it.
This will sound blasphemous, but ALL stories in religion are just that, stories. Handed down from generation to generation to teach the difference between right and wrong. Absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Being free of religious constraints opens the mind to search for explanations beyond that of physical constraints. This is where SH shined.

Most atheists and agnostics that I have had the pleasure to converse with understand the scripture far better than many devout Christians. These conversations were simply amazing. I lean towards Eastern philosophies and believe in the duality of being and guidance through spirituality, and dare say, an agnostic.

I am not saying that religious beliefs are bad. I believe in spirituality. Spirituality remains outside the constraints of established religions. Just saying

[drk]

I'm an atheist as well - I was unaware we had a manifesto somewhere that said we couldn't be filled with wonder, marvel, and love for the universe as we work to understand it's workings? I don't think it's silly at all - quite the contrary. It's that same romance and passion he speaks of that drives the human spirit to seek out knowledge and understanding. He did say that women were forever his greatest enigma of course. Black holes were easy in comparison.

I'll mail you my old one...

[drk]

Contemplate this on the tree of woe... (remember that line? Awesome!)

If you are a product of a mechanical universe, whence your free will? Are you a biological machine?

[Steve Machol]

Let's not turn this into a political discussion please. :)

[lensmanmd]

Not a problem. Though, this is more of an existential discussion.

[Robert Martellaro]

The Meaning of Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq4uCWtQE24