PandaPirate Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 I moved into a new house at the beginning of the year. Since I have not worked in a very long time we don't have a TV ( I sold everything when I packed up and moved to Colorado last summer but since then I've moved back to Florida and used up every bit of savings I had). So, I started reading a book called DNA and the Origins of Knowledge by anthropologist Jeremy Narby. This book really got me thinking and highly interested in DNA and biology. So I read his next book Intelligence in Nature. Then I read Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors by Carl Sagan which really got me interested in learning biology and evolution. So I went and got a biology textbook and an evolution textbook. I'm hooked. But, for me, who was right at the point of being atheist...the more I learn biology the more I see order. (Yes, I know Dawkins says it's an illusion but I'm not convinced yet). I would say I'm closer to being a Deist at this point in my life. I'm still learning the fundamentals of evolution and until I can completely understand it I'm not making any decisions as to what I believe. I just find it really convenient that we have eyes to see, lungs to breathe the air, etc. Not to mention that everything seems to work as one cohesive whole. If I were to say god existed it wouldn't be outside time and space I would say god is in every particle that exists and that "it" is us and we are the evidence that "it" exists. I don't know. I'm just reflecting on what I've been thinking lately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legion Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 PandaPirate I am encouraged by the fact that biology excites you. I know people must grow weary of my frequent references, but I can’t pass up an opportunity to mention some of my favorite biologists. I would recommend that you check out Stuart Kauffman’s At Home in the Universe. And after that I would further recommend Robert Rosen’s Life Itself. Best wishes for you as you continue to examine the world through a biological lense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Apodioxis Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Hey, PandaPirate. I'm a bit towards that way of thinking, too. The "___" is within everything. I'm somewhat pro-Tao, which the way I understand it is very much more a Nature-centric universe (God from the perspective of nature) rather than a separate, aloof, judging "Divine Being". The real divine "Being" would not be a "thing"; it would be a . . . "harmony of nature". (From my admittedly ever-evolving perspective.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babysealclubber Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Pantheists (as I understand it) see the universe as a manifestation of God. It may be a better word to describe your thoughts. I don't mean to be pedantic, just wanted to throw it out there for you I find biology interesting too, although evolution isn't really my favorite subject. When I first got into it, I kept seeing it as evidence for a creator of some sort. Too complicated, too much structure, etc. I don't see things that way anymore, but I get where you're coming from. Best of luck! EDIT: I love the word 'endoplasmic reticulum' as well. So much fun to say! What bio textbook are you reading? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PandaPirate Posted February 27, 2009 Author Share Posted February 27, 2009 It's a self teaching guide. I forget who wrote it. I don't have it handy at the moment. But yeah, Endoplasmic Reticulum is the coolest word. Evar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 The best way for me to learn has always been to find something I'm interested and go check out a bunch of books from the library about it. Sounds like that's what you're doing as well. I really like your avatar btw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Genesis Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I was just curious, but what book does Dawkins say that order is an illusion? I'm just curious to know because the only book of his I've read is The God Delusion and he said in that book that design is an illusion, but he didn't say order was. I'm just curious because I haven't read his other books yet to know what he says in them. I think the universe is probably the closest thing to a god that I think deserves any "worship" in the broadest sense of the word, though I don't think there's anything supernatural behind it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PandaPirate Posted March 9, 2009 Author Share Posted March 9, 2009 I think it must have been The Ancestor's Tale because that's the only book of his I have but I've heard him say it elsewhere.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oddbird1963 Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 If I were to say god existed it wouldn't be outside time and space I would say god is in every particle that exists and that "it" is us and we are the evidence that "it" exists. I don't know. I'm just reflecting on what I've been thinking lately. Thelogian Paul Tillich explored the concept of God as "the ground of all being." Culture and Religion are manifestations of the desire to get in touch with that "ground of being." It's been a long time since I made myself read his writings, but his concept of "God" was not the usual fuzzy and cuddly Jesus with an grey-bearded old man looking thoughfully (or sternly) down from the clouds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts