On 2006-11-16, Matt Whiting wrote:
To me the analogy is more akin to a computer CPU. As long as it has
power, it is processing. The process my be excuting NOP instructions,
but the point is that the CPU is ALWAYS executing as long as it has
power.

On a point of pedantry:
It doesn't have to be so. The Z80 processor, for example, executes NOP
instructions when it stops at a HALT instruction because this keeps the
built in DRAM refresh circuitry running. However, it is entirely
possible to design a processor that really does halt completely until it
receives an interrupt.

Even with a processor like the Z80 example, it is possible to stop it
executing (not even NOP operations) and leave it powered up - just take
away the clock signal, and it won't even execute NOPs nor will it
refresh DRAM (which is not a problem if you use SRAM, or your embedded
computer code is entirely in ROM).

I believe the same is true of the human brain. It is always
processing and always believing in something. So, I reject the idea
that it is possible to either believe in nothing or have no beliefs at all.

That's not terribly useful to this debate, though. It is entirely
possible to not believe in a god. I suppose you can call it a 'belief',
just as logic 0 is different to an input just left floating, but not
believing in deities is not a religion. Absence of a religion is not a
religion.

--
Yes, the Reply-To email address is valid.
Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de