Does Something Imaginary Serve A Purpose.

[modeller]

I am thinking especially of Fairies and Gods. Neither can be proved because they are imaginary . Neither can they be disproved for the same reason . However that depends on the meaning and definition of ' proof ' . Just believing is enough for many because it gives comfort . It satisfies a 'need ' . They don't want the truth . ( Something that can be repeatably tested. ).
They prefer to live in their comfortable imaginary world. So in that respect belief does serve a purpose for the believer.

The problem is how does their belief affect the rest of the world. It's not a fundamental question of Fairies and Gods but rather all the man made different religions that evolve from them.

[jno]

well, consider the role of Christian belief and believers in ending the slave trade. for instance.

[Old_Geezer]

How do you know they are imaginary ?

[douglas9401]

Only Christians or do you have particular issues with that cult?

[modeller]

jno The belief in a philosophy is not the same as believing in an imaginary entity.

OG I use my five senses and they ( GODS AND FAIRIES } fail on every one.
Which additional superior senses do you possess to the rest of us that makes you think they are not imaginary. ?

Douglas . Sorry I don't understand your comment. However I don't believe in any imaginary entities and I judge philosophies , like politics by what happens in practice. To me Theology as a concept is just another method of wielding power.

[jno]

modeller, you specifically mentioned the man-made religions, so I've answered your question.

[Old_Geezer]

I have made no claim to having superior senses.
But just because you don't detect something doesn't mean it isn't real.
Presently I believe I'm detecting a sneer at religious folk. Or is that my imagination ?

[benhilton]

Modeller you commit the classic dogmatic atheists error of stating that because our senses and our current scientific equipment can not yet detect something then it cannot possibly exist .
I do not have superior senses , I just take the view that matter can not create itself , energy can not create itself and life can not create itself and that these things were created by someone/something .
Also , what does science know about how thoughts are generated in the brain ? What generates the thoughts that drive you and I on to have this conversation ? Chemical reactions in cells ? Surely there is more to it than that .
I consider that leaving yourself open to the existence of a creator is a far more rational and open minded view than stating , for example , that our existence is due to an extraordinary combination of coincidences which , no matter how small their probability , must in an infinite universe at some stage occur .
I could just as well ask you how your closed , narrow " we haven't detected it so it doesn't exist " approach affects the rest of the world .

[naomi24]

benhilton, it’s all very well being open to the potential existence of a creator, but a problem arises when people decide they know not only who and what that creator was, but also how it thinks and what it wants.

To answer the question, yes something imaginary can serve a purpose for the believer - and in the case of the God of Abraham, for millions it does.

[Sparky22]

God is real as he talks to some of us, fairies not so real

[naomi24]

Sparky, how do you know who's talking to you? It might be a fairy posing as God. ;o)

[Sparky22]

He has a booming voice and orders you to do things but that's not be mixed up with the leprecaun who has a squeaky irish voice and tells people to burn things :O)

[naomi24]

Ha ha! No flies on you, Sparky. ;o)

[Sparky22]

;)

[-Talbot-]

naomi24
Sparky, how do you know who's talking to you? It might be a fairy posing as God. ;o)



Or one of the many voices in his head.

[Sparky22]

Or maybe it's you walking behind people with a microphone and a large speaker mr "Man of a thousand voices" talbot.

[vulcan42]

There are no flies on Sparky but you can see where they've been. :o)

[Sparky22]

Do they carry tiny suitcases with stickers of where they've been all over them vulcan?

[Zacs-Master]

I think you need to either up or moderate your meds Modeller.

[Sparky22]

I'm on the strongest dose as it is zacsmaster. How do you and talbot know so much about me seeing today was the first time I've used this site unless you're fans of my youtube channel?

[Zacs-Master]

Erm, my comment was addressed to Modeller. It's jus Me Me Me with you ain't it.