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From Psychology Today article by a 6th year doctoral student at University of Florida): http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-big-questions/201202/five-causes-belief-in-god There -- that should keep you lot busy for a while.

This should keep you busy for a while Rena - http://www.ancientgodsandaliens.com/ "Chariots of the Gods" by Erich Von Daniken opened my eyes to possibilities I never even imagined. Things like how and why ancient structures were built. The myths of gods and godesses and stories of creation. How we may have been visited by "ancient aliens" in our past that helped to shape our futures. All the ancient texts and religious beliefs that vary across this planet that have similar beliefs and stories. There are just so many unanswered questions. Almost every culture around the world have myths of "Gods" coming from the heavens. How can we dismiss this information when so many different cultures have amazingly similar stories about their past? Much of this is documented in ancient writings in texts, caves and on megalithic structures. This website will explore many of these various accounts in ancient times. Below are a few ideas to get things started. Let me be clear in saying that the ideas on this website are entirely speculative and not necessarily my beliefs. Be sure to check all the links and let me hear your opinion on any related topics on the Blog Page. Enjoy everyone! http://www.ancientgodsandaliens.com/uploads/7/1/3/1/7131130/9946263.jpg Antikythera Mechanism It doesn't look like much now because it was found in a ship wreck that occured over a thousand years ago, but the Antikythera mechanism was once used for astronomical purposes. It's a mechanical device that works much in the same way as a Swiss clock. The kicker is that researchers have dated this device back to 200 BC and this type of technology wasn't fully developed until the 19th century. When it was found off the coast of the Greek island, Antikythera, it left the divers who discovered it baffled. Even modern day scientists have a hard time understanding how such a sophisticated machine could have been created over 2,000 years ago. The functions of the device work like the gears on a clock. A date would be entered into the Antikythera mechanism and it would give precise calculations on the positioning of certain celestial objects. This device is obviously way before its time and the origins are still a mystery. It's just another piece the giant puzzle that ancient alien theorists have been trying to put together for years.

And the idiocy just keeps getting funnier and funnier!

Why don't you curse the gods again Rena, not that's idiocy - take on Khali she'd love to have a go at you - one day kid you are going to find out the hard way - the trouble with gods is their ego's, the trouble with unbelievers is also their ego's - go ahead, make their day, curse the gods - just for a laugh, I know I'll be laughing

I've watched a whole lotta ancient alien stuff on the tube over the years - I gotta admit that I find it rather fascinating... but I have yet to see anything that shows to be a smoking ray-gun to prove that ET built the pyramids. Or inhabited Atlantis. Or somehow messed with ancient DNA. Or anything else for that matter. Is it possible? Yes, I suppose it is - but it just seems to be too closely tied with human beings' need for something beyond ourselves... something greater than ourselves to explain this crazy mixed up universe. I believe that much of the crazy shit that we humans have ever done, said or believed in - and continue to do, say & believe in stems from the underlying & undeniable fact that our time here is temporary... and that it may, quite possibly be all that there is for us. And that's terrifying. But please, PLEASE... if they are going to continue throwing out their stories straight-faced and oh-so seriously...could they PLEASE get somebody other than this guy to pose as an expert: http://cdn.geckoandfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/ancient_aliens_guy.jpg Does he own a comb or a brush?... Does he look in the mirror before he goes on camera?... Is there anybody else there?!... Or is he setting up the camera & then running in front of it to do his gig? Oh, the humanity!!

Everybody can believe what they wish whether in a God, Godess, several Gods or nothing at all. I personally believe if there is a "Divine" that it would be devoid of any kind of ego - isn't that a human thing? Just my 2 cents.

I don't much like my beliefs being called "idiotic" who would - one has to have an open mind - and I've had too many experiences to dismiss them as nothing - there's weird sh*t out there

Well, you would be the expert on weird shit, Ezri.

As far as Aliens go I have no problem believing that life exists elsewhere in the universe. I do think however ancient people could have built the pyramids without extraterrestrial help, it's called human ingenuity. We have created the micro chip, the artificial heart and many other things without help why couldn't the ancients have done the same?

LOL That guy does have some weird hair going on

"Well, you would be the expert on weird shit, Ezri" Only when I think of you Rena - the Queen of the Weird

Watch this TED talk, a new way of psychological thinking about religious and spirituality http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_humanity_s_stairway_to_self_transcendence.html?awesm=on.ted.com_Haidt&utm_campaign=&utm_medium=on.ted.com-static&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_content=awesm-publisher

Try dying with an open mind. There may be more then this, but a lot of people are going to be surprised. Perhaps even myself when I make the final journey.

I believe that we are beings of energy, energy cannot be destroyed only transformed. What happens in that transformation, I haven't got a clue.

After 15+ years as a CHristian and nearly 10 years as a pagan, I came to the conclusions that all supernatural phenomena is complete and total bollocks. That's nearly 30 years of "keeping an open mind" (ie -- being gullible.) It makes more sense to live as if this is your only shot in life rather than just limping along and hoping some Big Fairy in the sky or karma will take care of everything. And "dying with an open mind"? Sounds gruesome! (Wink) One scientist who spent over 30 years investigating supernatural phenomena is Dr, Susan Blackmore (who I think has a short appearance in EVE) She had a near death experience and wanted to find proof of an afterlife, of the Loch Ness Monster, mind reading and other supernatural phenomenon. She found no evidence to support the hypothesis that anything supernatural or even life after death exists. For example, near death experiences can be recreated in a lab setting. People who suffer from Parkinson's disease, temporal lobe epilepsy or schizophrenia will see, feel and hear things that are not there. But they will have hallucinations and delusions that are as intense as real life. More about Susan Blackmore: http://www.susanblackmore.co.uk/Chapters/ShermerNDE.htm A dying brain lacks oxygen. Without oxygen, you start to halucinate -- often with tunnel vision. The dying brain also releases large amounts of happy chemicals which may (may) lead to a pleasant hallucination that perhaps seemingly lasts for an eternity. Of course, after you die, you won't know if the dream stops. And, as Carl Sagan wrote, the evidence for aliens visiting the Earth is "pretty crummy." I have read Chariots of the Gods and its Plan 9 From Outer Space laughable. His failure of the imagination is absolutely staggering. Real life is far more interesting than superstition. BTW -- anyone actually look at the Psychology Today blog post? "There's more beauty in truth, even if it is dreadful beauty." (John Steinbeck "East of Eden")

Pagans' rule - maybe you didn't do it right

LOL at Bob's picture. It looks like he got on his scooter with wet hair. Not sure what to believe, but it's hard to believe so called peaceful religions that want to kill me. Between avoiding Jihad or the next Inquisition what can a Heathen really do to be free?

I'm posting here today (as opposed to the blank one of yesterday) only to say this: I came on here yesterday. I read the discussion. I have absolutely nothing to say about this and have no intention of posting my beliefs on the subject (but I have enjoyed reading everyone's posts -- I am "open minded" that way ). The reason for my post here on this topic is this: Yesterday while reading, I noticed that I was not "signed in" here. I hadn't been on here for a few days/week and didn't realize that during that time, I had been logged out (I think any time that my computer does its own little tune up while I sleep, it logs me out of some networks, but that's just my hypothesis -- no real proof just yet ). When I noticed I was "logged out" I decided to log in. I guess my "logging in" here created a post by me, hence, the blank post. I believe I made a discovery here. You can now return to your own beliefs.

I've been thinking a lot about death lately, probably because of the losses I've suffered in the recent past. Anyway I decided to watch a movie called Hereafter - I thought it might make me feel better. Ended up turning it off half way through. This has got to be one of the most BORING movies I've ever watched (partially) in a very long time. Anyone know of any good movies on the subject?