Deepak Chopra: The problem with atheism

[trdsf]

WTF is wrong with CNN that they pick a known purveyor of woo to discuss atheism?  I don't see them tapping Sam Harris to discuss Christianity (if they have, I will cheerily back down from my WTF).

Insert heartfelt eyeroll here.

[stromboli]

Chopra is a user of words to convey some form of mish mosh that keeps him "current" in the spiritual sense. He writes crap for the sake of dollars and I seriously doubt he believes any of it.

[SkyChief]

He seems to blindside people because he is exceptionally gifted at how to use language; even to me at times it truly does sound like he is making sense.

You are very charitable. 

Harris exposes Chopra for what he is:  just a delusional, woo woo ninja. 

[GSOgymrat]

Chopra is a user of words to convey some form of mish mosh that keeps him "current" in the spiritual sense. He writes crap for the sake of dollars and I seriously doubt he believes any of it.

But... but... Oprah loves him!

[Hydra009]

Mike Myers is apparently a huge fan of Deepak as well.  The box office bomb Love Guru seemed to be heavily inspired by him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABAHR0oNusM

All the quantum woo and Rapsutin-like status with a SNL legend aside, butchering Shakespeare is enough to instantly put me off the guy.

[Shiranu]

Honestly, Chopra has some really great quotes. It's a shame his body of work though is a majority of rubbish.

[Solitary]

When a spirituous person speaks about science I cringe, even if they are a physicist. Quantum mechanics is about quantum particles, not wave functions or energy---which itself are particles called photons etc. The whole idea that religion or spiritualism and science can merge is ridiculous without including the brain that is composed of particles. Solitary

[Sargon The Grape]

Science and religion go together like water and oil. They might make pretty colors when they meet, but they can never mix.

[SGOS]

The methodology (which is the defining difference) of science is actually contrary to religion's methodology.  This makes them irreconcilable.  I think when most people bring up the "science coming together with religion" canard, they are only thinking about the remote possibility of science proving religious belief to be true.  They are not thinking about the incompatible methodologies behind the two.

But how does one reconcile the scientific method with pulling supernatural ideas out of the air?  Any scientist that would pine for a melding of religion and science on that level would have to be plain nuts.  The appeal of science and religion coming together is the hope of theists.  In other words, they recognize the power of a testimony from science if it relinquished it's reliance on rational methodology and simply agreed with the needs of religion.  It's a one way street.  Religion would only gain from such a bonding.  Science would go the way of alchemy and astrology.  There can be no union.

[Hydra009]

Agreed.  They want the authority of science without its methodology.

[SkyChief]

Honestly, Chopra has some really great quotes. It's a shame his body of work though is a majority of rubbish.

Honestly, you are very charitable.

Chopra posesses a rare gift for taking random, religious and philosophical buzz words and cleverly arranging them in seemingly sensible messages.

He's a hoot. 

For fun, check out this Chopra-Random-Quote-Generator:               http://www.wisdomofchopra.com/

[Brian37]

I am a flaming liberal but a con is a con, even if they are willing to be inclusive on who they con.

[SGOS]

For fun, check out this Chopra-Random-Quote-Generator:               http://www.wisdomofchopra.com/

I love these random generators.  Here's the first hit I got.  I tried it three times, but I like the first one the best.  They do sound like Chopra talking.

"The mind compliments the light of balance"

[Unbeliever]

Any scientist that would pine for a melding of religion and science on that level would have to be plain nuts.

Well, that or they're simply hungry for a Templeton prize.

Wonder why Chopra seems to be so emotionally invested in his position? Harris and Shermer seemed very calm and reflective by comparison.

[Unbeliever]

"Knowledge self interacts with dimensionless positivity"

"Your body comprehends total acceptance of timelessness"

"The universe is inside your own sensations"

Yep, sounds just like him! I bet he uses that generator to write his books.