Greetings and Salutations

About myself: I'm computer programmer, writer, cognitive scientist, photographer, pseudo-musician, foodie / oenophile, amateur mixologist, amateur cosmologist, and armchair philosopher (as opposed to one of those philosophers who force themselves to sit in uncomfortable chairs just so they seem smarter). I work in the entertainment industry, and live in California in the Oakland / San Francisco metroplex with my wife, 5 cats, and impending small human. When I am not busy working or playing, I spend most of my time being frustrated at how incredibly well our human brains are at conflating ignorance with certainty -- so I try to maximize my amount of time spent working or playing.

Views: 23

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Stephan Vladimir Bugaj on January 12, 2011 at 11:42am

Don't know anything about DMAE research, but I do know that anecdotal, self-reported feelings of "overall well being" are always suspect in terms of sorting-out placebo effect versus actual benefit.

 

I really have 5 cats.  And my hair is very thin, so it rarely obstructs my vision...

Permalink Reply by Stephan Vladimir Bugaj on January 13, 2011 at 4:19pm
I don't turn tricks.
Permalink Reply by Stephan Vladimir Bugaj on January 12, 2011 at 12:12pm
The Bay Area is certainly more open to Atheists than most parts of the country, though there is no shortage of believers here, too.  Lots of New Age folks in the Bay Area can be just as adamant about their faith.  CAM is popular here, which is often just faith healing by another name.  But there is very little open confrontation, and Fire and Brimstone type of rebuking of Atheists here.
Permalink Reply by Stanley Post on January 12, 2011 at 11:25am

Hi and welcome fellow heathen Stephan :)

We have something in commen, I also am interested in the neurosciences.

So much can be understood by studying how the human brain works.

Suddenly, lots of seemingly magical and mystical things make perfect sense :)

 

Do you read Dan Dennett? He is my favorite writter, thinker. Dan is the man :)

Philosphy without science backing is to me, not of much value other than being intellectualy

stimulating. Dan is both a scientist and philosopher :)

 

Look forward to seeing you around in the forums, you sound like an interesting guy :)

Permalink Reply by Stephan Vladimir Bugaj on January 12, 2011 at 12:25pm

Indeed understanding the human mind can explain why we believe things we believe.  I haven't read The God Gene yet, but I am reading The Invisible Gorilla right now.  It doesn't deal with faith in particular, but the cognitive issues they discuss are relevant. 

 

I have read Daniel Dennett (but not Breaking The Spell).  His work is interesting.

Permalink Reply by Stanley Post on January 12, 2011 at 2:53pm

Stephan,

Did you read Dennett's "Consciousness Explained"?

His ideas in that book blew me away. It was one of the most intellectually stimulating

books I have ever read!

Since you are into mind and consciousness, this is one I would think is already in your library :)

Permalink Reply by Stephan Vladimir Bugaj on January 12, 2011 at 3:30pm
Definitely.  Read Consciousness Explained, or parts thereof, for at least 3 college courses.

RSS

Members

Blog Posts

My first funeral as an atheist

Posted by Two Cult Survivor on May 21, 2013 at 11:30am 0 Comments

I posted the bulk of this on another thread, but wanted to add some context separately.

I finally confronted my faith and embraced the fact of my atheism late last August, 2012. Days after I revealed my "epiphany" to a few friends who knew me from another message board, my sister died from Lou Gehrig's Disease (which pissed her off because she hated catching a disease from someone she never f---ed).

THAT was my sister, understand? She was a beautiful, life-loving, potty-mouthed…

Continue

Death of a family member

Posted by Larry Taylor on May 20, 2013 at 8:15pm 7 Comments

OK. I am venting. My mother died two weeks ago. She was a “god fearing christian.” Before her death she refused all medical treatment. She wanted to be left alone. She even refused to speak with my brother who is a methodist minister. He is a pip, let me tell you! I suspect she did not believe, but a woman born in her time could not and did not state her actual beliefs. This is the opening salvo to all christians; FUCK YOU! I had so many people come and tell…

Continue

Unbelievable!!!!!!!!

Posted by Christy Stewart on May 20, 2013 at 2:17pm 6 Comments

This probably should not have shocked me as much as it did (especially since I am in Texas). I actually thought my coworkers were playing a joke on me because they know I am an atheist. Sadly, this was no joke. This actually happened.

I work in a psychiatric hospital. The doctors who admit patients are general MDs. (Psychiatrists see patients after admission) Yesterday evening we received several calls from irate parents. A new doctor who was doing admissions yesterday actually…

Continue

anti-atheist rant from an Orthodox Mormon part 2

Posted by Debra Stevenson on May 20, 2013 at 1:09pm 3 Comments

What do you think of this,

 

Nathan Young,

 

No Jason Torpy it is you that should be banned for promoting atheism, a belief that has no foundation in reality and zero proof behind it.  The letter was a mockery of your atheist beliefs.  I request to the board here that they remove Jason for his unverifiable beliefs in atheism for which he has no proof other than his arrogance.  The letter was a mockery of atheism.  Atheism is stupid and it should be mocked and it…

Continue

Events

© 2013   Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: Richard Haynes.

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service