Truth about the Universe, Science or Religion?

Question

The conflict between Science and Religion is really just one question that has been globally left unanswered.

Does CONSCIOUSNESS arise from the PHYSICAL UNIVERSE, or does the PHYSICAL UNIVERSE arise from CONSCIOUSNESS?

If you take the position that the PHYSICAL UNIVERSE arises from CONSCIOUSNESS, then you believe in a GOD or SPIRITUAL SOURCE!

If you take the position that CONSCIOUSNESS arises from the PHYSICAL UNIVERSE, then you believe that everything in the PHYSICAL UNIVERSE is an accident, including your thoughts on the matter right now, and all previous thoughts!

The first position basically says that you have a real awareness and will (mind) capable of deciding your own life. The second does NOT!

If the second position is true, then anything you say here has no REASON for being said.

Any thoughts on this? ;)

The second position is without point because any point you have about it would be the result of an accident which means that no value is possible because it didn't come from any intelligent source promoting value, it was only an accidental occurrence in a long chain of accidents.

This dilemma forces us into a position with ourselves to evaluate whether we have any worth at all, and in any respect whatsoever.

The mindlessness of WAR is the direct anti-thesis of GOD or Spiritual Source, because WAR is a COMPLETE DEVALUATION of our lives!

Radzewicz, you didn't answer the question.

I'm interested in viewpoints, not EGOIC assertions.

Please, no "nobody knows the answer" idiots. These kind of people are just waisting everyone's time, and have completely missed the boat on what the Yahoo Answers forum is all about.

Well..., so far it seems nobody is getting the facts straight, or the point of this question, which I assure you is quite scientific. Conscience and Consciousness are quite different concepts. It would seem further study would be appropriate for the first three answering here.

Answer 1

It is unfortunate that people like 'HRH The Not-so-fresh Prince' feel the need to spout off as they do about interesting questions like this. Obvioulsy, he is not well versed or studied in the history of religion, and made the false assumption that you were referring to Christiantiy and the Bible, which you said nothing about.
Now that we've cleared that up - I think you bring up a great question, and even though science has progressed very far, I challenge anyone to explain the phenomenon of consciousness. Considering the fact that none of the great scientists in the world can right now, I think it's safe to say that it is the true "last frontier". Personally, I do not think that if I could reproduce all of the atoms in human brain, and put them all together just right, that I would be able to create something that has "consciousness". There are some good books by V S Ramachandran about this, and it is obvious from his, and other studies, that consciousness is not an obviously emergent property of the atoms and structures of the human mind. I don't know that the mystery will ever be solved, but I believe, like Einstein did (ever heard this Fresh Prince?) - "Religion without science is blind. Science without religion is lame". But, then again, according to some of the other posters here, he was probably just a whacko!

Answer 2

Yes religion is fiction, and a fairy tale, while science is facts, if it is wrong, it accepts and gives the new finding. But religion does not change because it was god written. Today all that god wrote is truning out to be wrong, like Adam and Eve. Science has mapped the whole gene pool and this rejects Adam and Eve, Why did god lie??? I do not bridge the gap, i just crossed the gap to the other side and live on reason and facts, there is no conflict, no ambilalence, or contradiction. Life is beautiful, If you are asking about my values, then i would say that we dont need religion to teach us moral values, as human beings we have the power to reason, check our feelings and do things to the point that it does not hurt others. If we set our limits to this point we know we are doing good.

Answer 3

You're not making any sense, and you're not changing anybody's mind.

Religion is bullcrap, provides no evidence, just a bunch of nonsensical stuff like you mentioned. You arrive at ludicrous conclusions without any actual evidence and without anything real, you claim some crap like the physical universe arises from consciousness so god exists.....what the f*ck? Lay down the pipe and go back to the religion section please.

I'll take science over religion any day. At least there's evidence backing up scientific claims. I have yet to see any evidence for any religious claims. All the evidence you nut cases offer is the bible, which is ridiculous, because thats like a criminal giving a piece of paper to the judge that says "I'm innocent" and offers it as his only evidence.

EDIT: Further study? In what, religion? No thank you.
Your question is nowhere near science, its in the realm of philosophy and religion. You have provided no facts or evidence whatsoever, yet you say that we need to get our facts straight.....

Quantumkev: I'm not interested in your views on consciousness or whatever, and I'm not interested in the history of religion either. It would be nice to keep those comments and questions like this out of the science sections and keep them in the religion or philosophy questions as they have absolutely NOTHING to do with science. I don't go into the religion section asking scientific questions or ridiculing your beliefs, as it has always been, its the religious nut cases that can't leave science alone because it proves their precious books and beliefs wrong.

Answer 4

Conscienceless can only be the result of the physical universe. However, it does not, as you claim, result in believing in a creator. Conscienceless is a direct result of the way the laws of this universe are applied. For example, without your brain, you will not be conscience of anything.

It took a series of evolutions to get to the step of getting the first brain cell. First, Genesis. The universe begins and the physical properties of this universe are set. Second, the universe begins to cool and allow clumps of a very primitive atoms come together to form a gas known as hydrogen. As they come together, they start to form stars, and through the process of fusion hydrogen is formed into other elements. The stars life ends and those elements are blasted into space allowing them to once again form into clumps of larger atoms making planets. The process goes on and on until finally almost 13.1 billion years later, we show up on earth.

Seeing this model, one must conclude that evolution is the key factor of our consciences today. Proving logically that our conscience is a result physical characteristics of the universe. This eliminates the use of a creator.

Answer 5

ah yes the earths longest and still ongoing war,science vs religion,religions are based on spirituality,although their are more than 1600 religions,one cannot say that 1599 are wrong,though most believe in a GOD,how you get their each to its own and science if you cant prove it factually it isn't so,Plato said or Socrates ,one of those dudes,you have a circle of religion,circle of science next to each other push them together just enough to create a small circle in the middle,that circle is knowledge,understanding and believing in both,those of us,are futures are bright

Answer 6

Stop trying to be clever, asking dumb questions is the wrong way to go.

Answer 7

Your fourth paragraph does not follow, it is wrong because it makes a conclusion, not in evidence, but based on your own beliefs. Faulty beliefs, I might add.

Answer 8

There is no conflict.

Religion is based on faith. Science is based on evidence.

Answer 9

Do you really believe there is something "out there" ?

Answer 10

poeple asking such questions have problems with faith