Of course, it is my view that the TOE be developed and understood, i.e. explainable in clear and understandable language, as soon as possible; hence this website. Whether people believe it or not is another question. Most people prefer to be right rather than to know the truth. An ego thing I guess. Thus, if one believes in a deity, he will continue to do so, and if one is an Atheist she will continue to be one. It takes time to change ones beliefs that are so deeply ingrained in ones nature. This is one topic I'd like to bring up at this Saturday's
Chat Session - Thoughts -- Where do thoughts come from? Why are we so resistant to new ideas? Why do we sometimes believe in nonsense? How our environment, religious and cultural upbringing, education have such a profound influence on our thoughs and beliefs.
Let's assume that the TOE contains such conclusive evidence and is so easily explained that everyone instantly believes in what it explains reality to be. Whether the TOE makes lives better or worse will depend on what it says about reality. For example, if it says that there is a spiritual reality where we go after death and are judged on our deeds during our life, then given a new life that we reincarnate into, and suffer the negative karma of our previous lives, then we would certainly become nice, loving and generous people.
On the other hand, if the TOE says that there is no spiritual reality, no intellegent design, no consequences to our actions other than what society imposes, then the only thing keeping us from becoming bad people might be our conscience or empathy for other people, but would this be enough? I think that over time, perhaps generations, this feeling of guilt would subside since we would now see each other as
"stupid sacks of protoplasm" as
barkster likes to refers to himself. We might still be influenced by the illusion that people are more than sacks, but we would realize it is only an illusion. I think that would be very depressing for most people -- to realize, beyond any doubt, that your life is essentially meaningless, that there is nothing more after death, that you react to life's events in a fixed way based on the neural pathways in your brain. This would be no different from waking up and suddenly realizing that you are a robot. Are we robots? Are your thoughts simply rationalizations for actions which you had no control over in the first place? Come find out at this Saturday, November 12th, at 3pm in the
Flash Chatroom.
Carly will entertain guests preceeding the
Chat Session. Hope to see you there.
--Robert