I think it might be interesting to examine a few places where proponents, broadly defined, might disagree:
- Whether mind=brain is true. I think this is divorced from the question of materialism, because it depends on what a brain is. For example under Bernardo's Idealism a brain upon death rejoins the Transcendent/One. As we've discussed in the past many proponents see this as no better than the oblivion Materialism offers.
- Free will. For some this is due to karmic chains on causation, for others this is God's foreknowledge of all Time. I admit the latter has surprised me when theistic proponents claim God knows us so well he knows all we might do. This seems like a restatement of mechanistic-materialism in function.
- Evolution. Is there an Intelligent Designer (or more than one such entity)? I can't see how one gets from ID to the kind of God, say, Muslims/Jews/Christians worship. Personally it seems Psi effects would explain the issues presented? That or teleology in the sense of Aristotle's final causes.
- The "ism" of the Real. I don't think this necessarily is a major point of contention for most proponents, beyond the falsity of materialist/phyiscalism. Even then I think the primary concern is life after death whether that's accomplished by Information as Fundamental, Quantum Souls, or Idealism/Dualism.
- What does parapsychology have to say about religion? To me it seems parapsychology kills most mainstream religion while fulfilling some potential meta-religion. Prophets could be gifted with Psi of some sort, or aided by discarnate entities who aren't God. NDEs seem to offer a message different from religion, that or the contradictory nature of "missionary" NDEs cuts against any particular faith being right.
- Whether mind=brain is true. I think this is divorced from the question of materialism, because it depends on what a brain is. For example under Bernardo's Idealism a brain upon death rejoins the Transcendent/One. As we've discussed in the past many proponents see this as no better than the oblivion Materialism offers.
- Free will. For some this is due to karmic chains on causation, for others this is God's foreknowledge of all Time. I admit the latter has surprised me when theistic proponents claim God knows us so well he knows all we might do. This seems like a restatement of mechanistic-materialism in function.
- Evolution. Is there an Intelligent Designer (or more than one such entity)? I can't see how one gets from ID to the kind of God, say, Muslims/Jews/Christians worship. Personally it seems Psi effects would explain the issues presented? That or teleology in the sense of Aristotle's final causes.
- The "ism" of the Real. I don't think this necessarily is a major point of contention for most proponents, beyond the falsity of materialist/phyiscalism. Even then I think the primary concern is life after death whether that's accomplished by Information as Fundamental, Quantum Souls, or Idealism/Dualism.
- What does parapsychology have to say about religion? To me it seems parapsychology kills most mainstream religion while fulfilling some potential meta-religion. Prophets could be gifted with Psi of some sort, or aided by discarnate entities who aren't God. NDEs seem to offer a message different from religion, that or the contradictory nature of "missionary" NDEs cuts against any particular faith being right.
'Historically, we may regard materialism as a system of dogma set up to combat orthodox dogma...Accordingly we find that, as ancient orthodoxies disintegrate, materialism more and more gives way to scepticism.'
- Bertrand Russell
- Bertrand Russell
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