Alex's religious beliefs?

[Venom]

The way Alex talks about the atheist in his podcast, it's pretty obvious he's not an atheist himself.

He's a theist.

But do we know anything more about his religious beliefs?

Thanks,

[eyemsougly]

I used to be really religious, then really anti religious, then non religious but thiestic and now I'm just an agnostic.

All I can say for sure is that if there is a God he has done a horrible job.

[Larry Boy]

Originally Posted by Venom

The way Alex talks about the atheist in his podcast, it's pretty obvious he's not an atheist himself.

He's a theist.

But do we know anything more about his religious beliefs?

Why not just ask him?

[eyemsougly]

Originally Posted by Larry Boy

Why not just ask him?

that's basically what he's doing

[Larry Boy]

Originally Posted by eyemsougly

that's basically what he's doing

In third-person?

Originally Posted by Venom, in "49. Craig Hogan, Your Mind Is Not Your Brain (Podcast)", p. 2

I must say I was happy to hear Alex clearly stating that the reason why he's promoting parapsychology is because he wants to have spirituality and science merged. I had that impression before, with his previous episode when he interviewed an ID proponent. No this interview is even clearer about his agenda.

Venom,

Aren't you overplaying the significance of Alex's "spiritual motivations"? Doesn't everybody have an "agenda"? If the research that Alex is founding and supporting is done properly and reported honestly whatever the results may turn out to be, then what's the problem?

[Venom]

Originally Posted by Larry Boy

In third-person?

Well, I have noticed in the past that Alex has a strong tendency not to respond to skeptic's messages. Here on this forum, or on the SGU forum, or on YouTube. On this forum, he writes from time time to time, but always responding to a Psi-believer. A don't remember him responding to me once.

So ok, it would be great if he could answer this question himself. Fell free to do so Alex, after all, this forum is about your show.

But if doesn't do it, I'd like to have the information, even if it's from someone else.

Venom,

Aren't you overplaying the significance of Alex's "spiritual motivations"? Doesn't everybody have an "agenda"? If the research that Alex is founding and supporting is done properly and reported honestly whatever the results may turn out to be, then what's the problem?

I find that funny to read that here, when in the podcast Alex is explaining almost the entire skeptical mouvement by the "athist hypothesis" (aka "scientist rejects the Psi because they are athists").

So what the f..., what's good for Alex is good for me too. If he's explaining my skepticism by the fact that I'm an atheist, I'm gonna explain is Psi-belief position by the fact that he's a theist. Sound fair enough to me.

[Open Mind]

Originally Posted by Venom

The way Alex talks about the atheist in his podcast, it's pretty obvious he's not an atheist himself.

He's a theist.

But do we know anything more about his religious beliefs?

Thanks

Venom if you actually listen and stop twisting people's words you would have heard Alex say during interview he had left Christianity behind ...

Spirituality doesn't necessarily mean religion.

Since you claim to be a atheist, does that automatically make you unspiritual?

There is no reason why science cannot investigate spirituality.... what it is, what it means etc.

[Larry Boy]

Originally Posted by Venom

I find that funny to read that here, when in the podcast Alex is explaining almost the entire skeptical mouvement by the "athist hypothesis" (aka "scientist rejects the Psi because they are athists").

If I'm not mistaken, it was Hogan, not Alex, who said something to that effect (that scientists reject psi because they're atheists). If you listen to for instance the interview with... I think it was the one with Chris Carter... you will hear that Alex actually tends to defend skeptics' rationality, and distance himself from theories about skeptics having a certain kind of group mentality etc.

Originally Posted by Venom

So what the f..., what's good for Alex is good for me too. If he's explaining my skepticism by the fact that I'm an atheist, I'm gonna explain is Psi-belief position by the fact that he's a theist.

What it is that you're upset by?

[Venom]

Originally Posted by Open Mind

Venom if you actually listen and stop twisting people's words you would have heard Alex say during interview he had left Christianity behind ...

Spirituality doesn't necessarily mean religion.

Did you listen to the part when they discuss about Jesus being one of the "Luminaries"?

What they mean by spirituality is believing in God and a "life after death" but just not actually going to church. So what? For me going to church is not important. What's important is the "believing in God" part and "believing in a life after death" part.

I do listen to the podcast, do you?

Since you claim to be a atheist, does that automatically make you unspiritual?

Define spirituality please?

In the meaning they're using the word (being theist, believing in a life after death, and so on), sure I'm not spiritual at all.

I'm a deep guy (the kind of guy who reads a lot of philosophy for exemple), but if spirituality equals with being irrationnal (or to speculate about a supernature if you prefer), I'm not at all part of that weird way of thinking...

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by Venom

I'm a deep guy (the kind of guy who reads a lot of philosophy for exemple), but if spirituality equals with being irrationnal (or to speculate about a supernature if you prefer), I'm not at all part of that weird way of thinking...

The problem with that approach is that it can only be justified in hindsight after the relevant issues have been settled. I am sure something similar was uttered by opponents to QM - "mystical rubbish about particles being waves, probability waves interfering with each other ..... totally fuzzy non-scientific thinking!"

I would say that you have to open your mind a little (i.e. sit on the fence) to things that you think are unlikely - otherwise you never know when you are wrong!

David