always tricky when discussing something based off another property

Truth. He was also good with the lollipops

"If nothing we do matters, all that matters is what we do."

Ah, too bad. Goat is a cool name.

that's what she said?

All religions: science and otherwise, seek meaning (at least the couple dozen or so I know. There are thousands, of course, so I haven't studied them all, yet I believe in them all equally, science included). Also: is Goat your real surname? That is kind of awesome

haha. What sanity?

Yes — the spice. Excellent analogy. Spices are not necessary. They are fun and awesome, but not essential. Just like science. Look, I love science. It's fun and cool and awesome, but that's all. It serves no practical purpose.

Wait — why can't I define something with its accepted definition? Let's not get into the problems with communication and words and meanings. That is a WHOLE other rabbit hole!

Honestly, it's the opposite. I used to be SUPER depressed, but once I came to terms with the absurdity of existence, well, it was super liberating. I think finding meaning in life would devastate me and spiral me back down again. I do love me some History of the World, Part I though!

you are welcome, and thank YOU for the thoughtful discussion. By the way, I am super excited for this movie!

Let's go to the dictionary: complete trust or confidence in someone or something. a strongly held belief or theory

Okay, so you just summarized my point in the first sentence there: one needs to have faith in the nature of existence, whether one is a believer in science or some other religion (there are a ton of other foundational faiths they have in common, like linear time, the difference between existence and non-existence,…

Look, I have never said that you shouldn't be able to believe what you wish, and act accordingly. And, remember, I am a believer as well, so I practice the religion of science pretty much every day. I'm just trying to point out that I am well aware that it is faith-based, and I am okay with that.

Ok, thanks for being rational about this. And thanks for acknowledging that we do, indeed, make assumptions about the nature of the existence pretty much constantly. But I would posit that those assumptions are not minimal, but in fact pretty colossal. They represent the underpinning of how people act, what they truly…

I don't much mind if I get eaten!

Sorry, I am not sure what one has to do with the other. First, why would you believe that the world IS comprehensible in the first place? I see why people might; it's comforting, but just because something is comforting does not make it so. And, frankly, our cognitive systems kind of suck, so there's little reason to…

No religions do that, science included. The key phrase is "objectively observing." Observation, by it's nature, is SUBjective. Also, the human creature is very limited in its ability to observe anything due to its structure, so I am not certain any observations would be worth anything. Also, "evidence" is a loaded…

Ahhh. I finally see the crux of the situation here. You have positioned this as a challenge to yourself, as a situation where one can win or one can lose. That's just silly. Neither of is can ever be right (frankly, no one can ever be right about anything!). (as an aside, I am offended by the assumption that I have…

This comment is a good example of your faith. You take it on faith that 1) this person exists 2) the planets exist 3) that they move, etc., etc. You choose to believe what he says because you have faith that he is correct. And, if you choose to try and replicate a method of "proving" that what he is saying is correct,…