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Author Topic:   What is God’s Heaven or plan at the end? Would you like it?
nator
Member (Idle past 2198 days)
Posts: 12961
From: Ann Arbor
Joined: 12-09-2001


Message 166 of 242 (419497)
09-03-2007 8:29 AM
Reply to: Message 160 by Bailey
09-02-2007 5:07 AM


Re: Reality and Talk
quote:
Most theistic believes(did you mean "beliefs"?) are unverifiable, and so their truth or falsity is relative.
I must admit to not understanding how a belief being unverifiable renders the truth or falsity of that belief relative.
Please explain.
quote:
Like many things, rationale (did you mean "rationality"?) is relative to belief.
It is my understanding that for something to be a rational belief it must be verifiable. It also must be logical.
quote:
The rational remains the same even between these instances.
No, there are great differences between the man donating a kidney to his son and the idea that a supernatural being impregnated a human female with His offspring in order for the world to be "saved" in some way after his offspring was tortured and killed.
The first scenario can be undertaken with no requirement that any of the parties have faith without knowing exactly what the risks are. They can know exactly what is going to happen to them at every moment along the way. They can speak to others who have gone through the same operation and recovery. There is a great deal of positive, verifiable evidence to work with.
By contrast, the second scenario is just one baseless assumption after another. It is based on a lot of "if X is true, and if Y is true, and if A is true, and if B is true, then M is a rational belief."
Well, sure. That makes belief in the Invisible Pink Unicorn a 'rational belief'. It makes any sort of baseless thing one wants to hang their hat on a "rational belief".
In other words, you have rendered the term "rational" to be mostly meaningless.
Edited by nator, : No reason given.
Edited by nator, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 160 by Bailey, posted 09-02-2007 5:07 AM Bailey has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 170 by Bailey, posted 09-03-2007 3:35 PM nator has replied

  
Greatest I am
Member (Idle past 302 days)
Posts: 1676
Joined: 01-24-2007


Message 167 of 242 (419498)
09-03-2007 8:37 AM
Reply to: Message 165 by Archer Opteryx
09-03-2007 7:01 AM


Re: Reality and Talk
If God gave us all the answers we were seeking, then what would the next generation have to work towards. Nothing. They would have all answers to all questions. The end of human evolution and study.
Kind of boring for them.
This reality that a god would have to see as Perfect, if He was a God of merit, would need to include things like the uncertainty principle to keep something for future generations to occupy their time.
This also indicates that God has allowed for His reality to evolve with the acquisition of new information. Less boring for Him as well.
We split hairs here and it is likely that our Heavenly host do the same.
The only clear consensus I see is Christians, waiting for a God who by definition is Perfect, and can only create Perfect universes, to return to fix what ain't broke.
They completely ignore Jesus and His position of redeemer and savior. They wait for another one while still giving power to the one that has passed. Strange.
Regards
DL

This message is a reply to:
 Message 165 by Archer Opteryx, posted 09-03-2007 7:01 AM Archer Opteryx has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 169 by ringo, posted 09-03-2007 1:05 PM Greatest I am has replied
 Message 184 by Archer Opteryx, posted 09-05-2007 7:45 AM Greatest I am has replied

  
sidelined
Member (Idle past 5936 days)
Posts: 3435
From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Joined: 08-30-2003


Message 168 of 242 (419512)
09-03-2007 11:43 AM
Reply to: Message 160 by Bailey
09-02-2007 5:07 AM


Re: Evidence first and foremost
Bailey
If something exists before our understanding of it evolves into a science, the items existence, or truth, is not somehow nullified
Of course it is not. However, the existence of something that we have no evidence for or cannot be given properties that we choose to assign it before we discover that something.
We can reason about the existence of things we cannot see , however, in order to assign any level of certainty{ and science cannot have 100% certainty} to a thing we must first be able to test that thing to see if it exists.
Your denial in God, if that is the case, will not somehow cause Him to desist existence if He indeed exists. In this instance, your belief need not be true or even verifiable to be rational to you, correct?
Incorrect. As an atheist I do not deny the existence of God I simply ask for evidence of the claims made by others for God. Without fail the evidence is non existent. The only thing that they manage to come up with is "what if" stories as though this were sufficient for any thinking person beyond the age of six.
Barring evidence { I am big on that as it helps in the credibility arena} we cannot say there is a God much less what the properties of that God are ,most especially given the propensity of humans to clothe their agendas beneath the blankets of religion.
I am not certain there is no God. I am quite certain that the God contained in "holy books" is so pitifully inadequate to the task of being a creator for the level of subtlety and beauty that is found in the universe that I pay it no mind.
Since rationality and validity requires evidence{ which is verifiable}then I would say that truth demands such first and foremost.
If things we know exist continue to elude our whole understanding, like the greater percentage of our 3 lb. brain that we cannot rationally assign function to,
I see you are among the 10% of a brain myth adherent. Sorry to bust the bubble old man but we use 100% of our grey matter just not 100% of it 100% of the time.
or the concept of love for instance,
Ok then. What is love and how do you conceive it? Should we view it as a feeling related to sexual overtones? That would fail to explain the love we have for our children. Is it the depth of feeling we develop over time for another then why do we sometimes feel love quickly for relative strangers? or is that something else?
Or is it along the lines of the combat soldier who's lives are in the hands of friends under the most brutal and lonely conditions humans can set themselves to as demonstrated by WW1 second lieutenant Wilfred Owen in these verses From Apologia Pro Poemate Meo
I have made fellowships ”
Untold of happy lovers in old song.
For love is not the binding of fair lips
With the soft silk of eyes that look and long,
By Joy, whose ribbon slips, ”
But wound with war's hard wire whose stakes are strong;
Bound with the bandage of the arm that drips;
Knit in the welding of the rifle-thong.
The difficulty probably does not lie with love itself but how we should define love in the first place.
why should we reasonably deny the incomprehensible rationale of any truth, theistic or otherwise.
Let us see. Hmmm..., because incomprehensibility cannot be rationalized? {I have to refrain from the added Homer Simpson expletive here}
With this mindset we'd have to deny the rationale of anything we cannot comprehend.
Do you comprehend the structure of atoms? Something that is mostly empty space can form a seemingly hard surface or that the atoms that make up your body today are not the ones you were born with? We all know that as we sit in a chair that gravity is pulling down on us yet few realize that the laws of nature explain that the chair we are sitting in pushes back with an equal force in the opposite direction. Is it rational to deny the existence of atoms?
Do you comprehend that on a day with no wind that the molecules in the air about you have an average velocity of 700 miles per hour? Is it rational to deny the existence of air if you do not?
could it be we need not because we have evidence for these phenomena without fully understanding these subtleties?
Denying the reasoning of something you cannot fully comprehend simply causes mental atrophy and scientific sloth
Denying does questioning does not.
The properties of electromagnetism did not function as a result of our comprehension of them. Denying the theory, or Law, of gravity before it was understood didn’t cause objects to float away.
Of course they did not since we can access{concentrate now} EVIDENCE! for the phenomena which we cannot do for God and that is the point. Why did you consistently ignore this?
Someone’s family member, let’s say their son, is in dire need of a kidney transplant. Is it irrational for the father, or someone in the family, to sacrifice a kidney to the son in order that he may not die. The donor, or father, survives, and provision is made to allow the son to live. This scenario is realistic, similar incidents occur everyday.
Suppose all of mankind needs a sacrifice to experience a non corporeal existence; that is, survive. Is it irrational for God to provide His Son as a sacrifice for many, providing the Son, or donor, survives along with mankind. Can anyone prove the Deity of Elohim . or Immanuel. Can anyone verify the sacrifice is needed. We can’t even support the truth of any non corporeal being’s existence.
Bailey writes:
The rational remains the same even between these instances. Whether out of love or necessity a sacrifice is to be made by one in order that another may remain in existence. I’m curious whether you agree the rationale between the tangible scenario and the hypothetical scenario are equivocal.
The rationale of the first can be debated because we are dealing with a factual {if hypothetical} situation. The latter,though, assumes things {God} A prori to the hypothetical situation {also A priori assumptions} neither of which are rational since there are no compelling reasons to hold them in the first place. Again we lack the key in all of this which I emphasized once before and shall do again.
EVIDENCE!
If this is the case, in terms of God and His Son, our rational would play no part in its truth. They, too, may or may not exist, separately from one another.
As Feynman once said
"They do not appreciate that the problem is not to demonstrate whether it's possible or not, but whether it's going on or not."
Again in matters such as the existence of God we must have evidence. Why is this concept so difficult to you?
It is quite easy to contemplate the rational of something before it is proved, theistically or otherwise.
Of course it is. However when there is no evidence for the rationale it ceases to be rational. Theism consistently fails to provide evidence. Have we got that word down pat yet?
Bailey writes:
What can mere humans, w/ our limited 3 lb. mass of brain, truly understand about a being who may be timeless, higher dimensional, and all knowing?
sidelined writes:
A being who may be timeless, higher dimensional, and all knowing? This is a question devoid of content. It is only rational to postulate such questions after the establishment of the existence of such a being...Let us rephrase the question with the same level of rationality and you should see what I mean.What can mere humans, w/ our limited 3 lb. mass of brain, truly understand about a jar of coagulated jello who may be beaming love throughout the universe?
Bailey writes:
Again this may not be as difficult as you presume.
Technically, all we would have to do is prove that this “being” cannot be proved false, thereby providing an axiom by which all of our theory may be premised.
But that is the point Bailey. Please prove false to us the existence of either 1} a being who may be timeless, higher dimensional, and all knowing
or
2}a jar of coagulated jello who may be beaming love throughout the universe.
I can't disprove God
Nor can I. However the fact that drills the deepest into the problem is that we cannot evidence God at all. This does not mean that God does not exist. It does however support the other possibility of there being no God at all.Go figure.
What can we, with a finite capacity for learning and acquiring knowledge, understand about something that may or may not exist?
We can know nothing and that is the point. Until we can evidence the concept we cannot say at all. The default position is that there is no God up until there is evidence otherwise.
What can become of an unsubstantiated postulation; a measure to achieve greater ends.
LOL. Only if we make a measurement Bailey. That is why the root word in unsubstantiated is substance.
Let’s go back in time. Suppose we are studying together the behavior and relation between electric and magnetic fields. We determine a medium, permeating all space, must exist by which the propagation of light can be rectified. Though we rely on this medium to form our hypothesis, it proves to be undetectable by any mechanical means so far. Though we are exhausted from hours of testing and formulating theories in regard to this matter, with this postulation the agreement of the results seems to show that light and magnetism are affections of the same substance, and that light is an electromagnetic disturbance propagated through the field according to electromagnetic laws. What can mere humans, w/ our limited 3 lb. mass of brain, truly understand about a luminiferous aether by which, without, the existence of waves of oscillating electric and magnetic fields cannot travel through empty space? Today the aether is regarded as a superseded scientific theory. Over time, the existence of such a medium, permeating all space and yet apparently undetectable by mechanical means, proved more and more difficult to reconcile with experiments. Moreover, it seemed to require an absolute frame of reference in which the equations were valid, with the distasteful result that the equations changed form for a moving observer. These difficulties inspired Albert Einstein to formulate the theory of special relativity, and in the process Einstein dispensed with the requirement of a luminiferous aether.
Even though it ultimately proved inefficient, and even false, it aided in the formulation of the quantitative connection between light and electromagnetism, considered one of the great triumphs of 19th century physics.
But it did so on the basis of experiments that provided that wonderful thing we call EVIDENCE
Whether we deduce a logical construct of what this “superior being's” characteristics may contain or institute it as an axiom for deducing and applying inference to other (theory dependent) truths, it serves as a starting point by which we may eventually derive worthwhile speculation, potentially on numerous levels.
You are putting the cart before the horse though Bailey. We assume the existence of something before we even get consensus as to what that thing make be. However if you have evidence that even implies God then go for it.
Edited by sidelined, : No reason given.

"The tragedy of life is not so much what men suffer, but rather what they miss."
Thomas Carlyle

This message is a reply to:
 Message 160 by Bailey, posted 09-02-2007 5:07 AM Bailey has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 171 by Bailey, posted 09-04-2007 2:42 AM sidelined has not replied
 Message 172 by Bailey, posted 09-04-2007 2:45 AM sidelined has not replied

  
ringo
Member (Idle past 440 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


Message 169 of 242 (419546)
09-03-2007 1:05 PM
Reply to: Message 167 by Greatest I am
09-03-2007 8:37 AM


Re: Reality and Talk
Greatest I am writes:
If God gave us all the answers we were seeking, then what would the next generation have to work towards.
Apparently you don't have children. There are some things that can be passed down from generation to generation and some that can not.
You can tell your children about Disney World but you can't give them the experience. They have to go themselves.
You can teach your children to read, but you can't tell them what to think about what they read. You can teach them to walk, but you can't control where they go.
They won't learn from your mistakes, only their own.
Every generation has to find its own answers and every individual has to find his own answers. So there's no excuse for God not doling out answers.
Since He doesn't tell us explicitly what His plan is, it seems probable that He has none.
World without end, forever. Amen.

“Faith moves mountains, but only knowledge moves them to the right place” -- Joseph Goebbels
-------------
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This message is a reply to:
 Message 167 by Greatest I am, posted 09-03-2007 8:37 AM Greatest I am has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 174 by Greatest I am, posted 09-04-2007 7:37 AM ringo has replied

  
Bailey
Member (Idle past 4398 days)
Posts: 574
From: Earth
Joined: 08-24-2003


Message 170 of 242 (419563)
09-03-2007 3:35 PM
Reply to: Message 166 by nator
09-03-2007 8:29 AM


Re: Reality and Talk
Bailey writes:
Most theistic believes are unverifiable, and so their truth or falsity is relative.
nator writes:
did you mean "beliefs"
Yessir. Thank you.
I must admit to not understanding how a belief being unverifiable renders the truth or falsity of that belief relative.
Please explain.
In any example, to believe an absolute (truth) that cannot be ascertained aids in the development of said belief as a matter of opinion. The uncertainty (or opinion) itself gives credence to faith or hypothesis.
Do you feel an opinion cannot qualify as a belief?
Do you think the truth of a belief is relative to its certainty?
If so .
It should prove logical to you that the disputability of an unascertained belief renders the truth or falsity of that belief relative to a matter of opinion..
I hope the lack of appropriation, due to haste and callous, in exact terminology didn’t cause your sense of befuddlement.
If so, my apologies.
Baily writes:
Like many things, rationale is relative to belief.
nator writes:
did you mean "rationality"?
Not necessarily, but either term will serve the essence of the statement.
It is my understanding that for something to be a rational belief it must be verifiable.
It’s assumable your definition for “rationale” didn’t aid in a clear understanding.
Rationale can be equivocated to an explanation of controlling principles of opinion as well as belief.
Opinions are often unsubstantiated .
It also must be logical.
For something to be a rational belief it needn’t be logical.
Again, rationale can be equivocated to an explanation of controlling principles of opinion as well as belief. Logic itself may be relative to ones opinion, when contemplating an unsubstantiated belief.
Although logic and rationale (or rationality) are related, they aren’t synonymous.
No, there are great differences between the man donating a kidney to his son and the idea that a supernatural being impregnated a human female with His offspring in order for the world to be "saved" in some way after his offspring was tortured and killed.
There’s no reference to these staples of your fundamental Christian fanaticism. If you’ve correlated one you’ve muddied your own waters.
The first scenario can be undertaken with no requirement that any of the parties have faith without knowing exactly what the risks are.
Irrelevant. We are not rationalizing the risks at stake. But for the sake of debate...
A surgical (informed) consent is necessitated to perform a kidney transplant. This removes liability in case of an undesired consequence that can be traced to the surgery. Any hope of a positive result is certainly a matter of faith, whether the risks are established or otherwise.
Consider .
Faith is the evidence of things hoped for.
They can know exactly what is going to happen to them at every moment along the way.
This is irrelevant, and nonsense. These surgeries , although common, may, at any moment, produce a result other then the one hoped for or predicted. Malpractice insurance gives credence to this fact.
By contrast, the second scenario is just one baseless assumption after another. It is based on a lot of "if X is true, and if Y is true, and if A is true, and if B is true, then M is a rational belief." . Well, sure. That makes belief in the Invisible Pink Unicorn a 'rational belief'
Again the waters become muddied by irrelevancy. The tender subject of the rationality of your non-evidential fundamental Christian means of “salvation”, nor the means by which the “Son” of God became into existence, are not being disputed, or even debated in this instance. The underlying reasoning (or rationale) of a sacrifice being made by one in order that another may remain in existence alone is being rationalized in light of the contrast of the tangible scenario (belief) and the hypothetical scenario (opinion).
It makes any sort of baseless thing one wants to hang their hat on a "rational belief".
Perhaps this will clarify the term rationale for you.
Rationale is an explanation of controlling principles of opinion, belief, practice, or phenomena. Rationale can also be considered an underlying reasoning or basis for a belief or opinion.
As they are not being discussed, the rationality of your axioms regarding your fundamental Christian dogmatism is irrelevant to the conceptual relation and rationale of a sacrifice being made by somebody in order that another may remain in existence.
The equivocation of a tangible and hypothetical scenario is presented simply as a means to provide underlying reasoning, or rationalize, the concept of a sacrifice being made by one in order that another may remain in existence, period.
In other words, you have rendered the term "rational" to be mostly meaningless.
The distasteful, irrelevant, and seemingly bitter introduction of your “immaculate conception” and your torturous murder into the topic have attempted to render the term "rational" to be meaningless.
Nonetheless, I have provided you with a concise definition for the term "rationale" free of charge.
Be good, nator.

Mercy Trumps Judgement,
Love Weary
Paul the humble... writes:
"I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing."

This message is a reply to:
 Message 166 by nator, posted 09-03-2007 8:29 AM nator has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 173 by nator, posted 09-04-2007 6:50 AM Bailey has replied

  
Bailey
Member (Idle past 4398 days)
Posts: 574
From: Earth
Joined: 08-24-2003


Message 171 of 242 (419666)
09-04-2007 2:42 AM
Reply to: Message 168 by sidelined
09-03-2007 11:43 AM


The Evidence Is All Around Us
Bailey writes:
If this is the case, in terms of God and His Son, our rational would play no part in its truth. They, too, may or may not exist, separately from one another.
sidelined writes:
Again in matters such as the existence of God we must have evidence.
Sidelined . in matters such as the existence of God your demand for evidence has not been met.
And again, I totally respect your opinion and procedural methodology.
Why is this concept so difficult to you?
Our requirements for the standards of evidence to personally establish the existence of G-d are not synonymous.
It’s not that difficult for me.
Consider .
Albert Einstein writes:
A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it is this knowledge and this emotion that constitute the truly religious attitude; in this sense, and in this alone, I am a deeply religious man.
he also writes:
The most beautiful and most profound experience is the sensation of the mystical. It is the sower of all true science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead. To know that what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their primitive forms - this knowledge, this feeling is at the center of true religiousness.
Bailey writes:
It is quite easy to contemplate the rational of something before it is proved, theistically or otherwise
sidelined writes:
Of course it is.
Agreed.
However when there is no evidence for the rationale it ceases to be rational.
This is nonsense . by definition, evidence is not necessary to establish a rationale, or maintain its rationality.
Please differentiate between logic and rationale.
Rationale is an explanation of controlling principles of opinion, belief, practice, or phenomena. Rationale can also be considered an underlying reasoning or basis for a belief or opinion.
No charge.
Theism consistently fails to provide evidence.
We agree on this for the most part.
There is a reason for this.
Bailey writes:
What can mere humans, w/ our limited 3 lb. mass of brain, truly understand about a being who may be timeless, higher dimensional, and all knowing?
sidelined writes:
A being who may be timeless, higher dimensional, and all knowing? This is a question devoid of content. It is only rational to postulate such questions after the establishment of the existence of such a being...Let us rephrase the question with the same level of rationality and you should see what I mean.What can mere humans, w/ our limited 3 lb. mass of brain, truly understand about a jar of coagulated jello who may be beaming love throughout the universe?
Bailey writes:
Again this may not be as difficult as you presume.
Technically, all we would have to do is prove that this “being” cannot be proved false, thereby providing an axiom by which all of our theory may be premised
sidelined writes:
But that is the point Bailey. Please prove false to us the existence of either
1} a being who may be timeless, higher dimensional, and all knowing
or
2}a jar of coagulated jello who may be beaming love throughout the universe.
Your missing it good friend . all we would have to do is prove that this “being” cannot be proved false.
No one can, or has, in thousands of years of recorded history, proved the existence of G-d false.
Until they can or do, that is one axiom on which my belief in His existence is premised.
You demand evidence for G-d’s existence to be proved . I demand evidence for G-d’s existence to be disproved.
A belief whether one method is better or worse will remain relative to a matter of opinion . but they will always remain different.
A jar of coagulated jello may well be beaming love throughout the universe too, but it hasn’t been disputed long enough, nor by any prominent philosophers, so as to strike my interest apparently.
Bailey writes:
I can't disprove God
sidelined writes:
Nor can I.
Ageed.
However the fact that drills the deepest into the problem is that we cannot evidence God at all. This does not mean that God does not exist. It does however support the other possibility of there being no God at all.Go figure.
You have yourself quite a crux .
In that regards, I tend to side more with the likes of Aristotle, Spinoza, Einstein, Maimonides, Aquinas, etc..
Bailey writes:
What can we, with a finite capacity for learning and acquiring knowledge, understand about something that may or may not exist?
sidelined writes:
We can know nothing and that is the point. Until we can evidence the concept we cannot say at all. The default position is that there is no God up until there is evidence otherwise.
Your default position is that there is no God up until there is evidence otherwise.
Consider . the notion of freewill “may be due to the fact that people are conscious of their actions, but not of the causes of their actions” .
I will say it one more time because I believe it’s not the duty of a man to give evidence, whether it exists or otherwise, to another man in regards to the existence of G-d .
I totally respect your opinion and procedural methodology.
Bailey writes:
What can become of an unsubstantiated postulation; a measure to achieve greater ends.
sidelined writes:
LOL. Only if we make a measurement Bailey. That is why the root word in unsubstantiated is substance.

Again, even though the luminiferous aether is now regarded as a superseded scientific theory and ultimately proved inefficient, and even false, it aided in the formulation of the quantitative connection between light and electromagnetism . one of the great triumphs of 19th century physics.
This will remain my steadfast example of how immeasurable “scientific make-believe” can be a means to achieve a greater end.
Bailey writes:
Let’s go back in time. Suppose we are studying together the behavior and relation between electric and magnetic fields . ..We determine a medium, permeating all space, must exist by which the propagation of light can be rectified. Though we rely on this medium to form our hypothesis, it proves to be undetectable by any mechanical means so far . . .Even though it ultimately proved inefficient, and even false, it aided in the formulation of the quantitative connection between light and electromagnetism, considered one of the great triumphs of 19th century physics . .These difficulties inspired Albert Einstein to formulate the theory of special relativity, and in the process Einstein dispensed with the requirement of a luminiferous aether. Today the aether is regarded as a superseded scientific theory. Over time, the existence of such a medium, permeating all space and yet apparently undetectable by mechanical means, proved more and more difficult to reconcile with experiments
sidelined writes:
But it did so on the basis of experiments that provided that wonderful thing we call EVIDENCE
LOL . The luminiferous aether wasn’t evidential. That’s what’s being referenced here. To the contrary, it’s superseded scientific theory . it proved false and impossible to reconcile to the evidence that was being, and has been, collected. It sure did serve its purpose though, even if it was “make-believe”.
Whether we deduce a logical construct of what this “superior being's” characteristics may contain or institute it as an axiom for deducing and applying inference to other (theory dependent) truths, it serves as a starting point by which we may eventually derive worthwhile speculation, potentially on numerous levels.
sidelined writes:
You are putting the cart before the horse though Bailey. We assume the existence of something before we even get consensus as to what that thing make be. However if you have evidence that even implies God then go for it.
Wouldn’t be the first time someone ran their cart over with a horse . and I doubt it’d be the last.
We have a consensus of what it may be . a jar of coagulated jello beaming love that holds the universe together and keeps everything from imploding.
Be good sidelined .
Edited by Bailey, : punct.

Mercy Trumps Judgement,
Love Weary
Paul the humble... writes:
"I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing."

This message is a reply to:
 Message 168 by sidelined, posted 09-03-2007 11:43 AM sidelined has not replied

  
Bailey
Member (Idle past 4398 days)
Posts: 574
From: Earth
Joined: 08-24-2003


Message 172 of 242 (419668)
09-04-2007 2:45 AM
Reply to: Message 168 by sidelined
09-03-2007 11:43 AM


The Evidence is All Around Us
Bailey writes:
If something exists before our understanding of it evolves into a science, the items existence, or truth, is not somehow nullified
sidelined writes:
Of course it is not. However, the existence of something that we have no evidence for or cannot be given properties that we choose to assign it before we discover that something.
Sure we can and it’s done quite often in science. I’m sure you could locate an expansive list of examples. Consider the aether once more; even though it eventually proved impossible to reconcile, it was assigned properties in the mean time. When the existence of these assumptions, whether properties have been assigned or otherwise, is finally verifiable it becomes evidence. And in contrast, when the existence of the assumption is proved to be impossible or illogical it’s considered a superseded scientific theory. Many times a proposition that is not proved or demonstrated, yet is considered as an initial necessary consensus for theory building or acceptation, is scientifically referred to as an axiom. In many contexts, "axiom," "postulate," and "assumption" are used interchangeably.
We can reason about the existence of things we cannot see , however, in order to assign any level of certainty{ and science cannot have 100% certainty} .
Agreed. Nor can faith.
Bailey writes:
Your denial in God, if that is the case, will not somehow cause Him to desist existence if He indeed exists. In this instance, your belief need not be true or even verifiable to be rational to you, correct?
sidelined writes:
Incorrect. As an atheist I do not deny the existence of God .
Your uncertainty in regards to the existence of God, will not somehow cause Him to desist existence if He indeed exists. In this instance, your belief, in regards to your uncertainty of the existence of God, need not be true or even verifiable to be rational to you, correct?
Or due you feel uncertainty does not qualify as a belief?
sidelined writes:
. we (I) cannot say there is a God much less what the properties of that God are (without scientific evidence), most especially given the propensity of humans to clothe their agendas beneath the blankets of religion.
Italics and paranthesis added for emphasis and clarification.
I am equally dismayed with the ever so popular agenda cloaking techniques.
I am not certain there is no God. I am quite certain that the God contained in "holy books" is so pitifully inadequate to the task of being a creator for the level of subtlety and beauty that is found in the universe that I pay it no mind.
Although Scripture remains one of the closest means by which any faith based evidence can be even postulated, I am probably close to equally disenfranchised with the inconsistent ability of people to reflect the true design and nature of G-d.
Since rationality and validity requires evidence{ which is verifiable}then I would say that truth demands such first and foremost.
Rationality and validity aren’t synonymous. Rationale can be equivocated to an explanation of controlling principles of opinion, and opinions are often unsubstantiated .
I would agree that “truth” and validity requires evidence.
. just not 100% of it 100% of the time.
Bailey writes:
. or the concept of love for instance,
sidelined writes:
Ok then. What is love and how do you conceive it? Should we view it as a feeling related to sexual overtones? That would fail to explain the love we have for our children. Is it the depth of feeling we develop over time for another then why do we sometimes feel love quickly for relative strangers? or is that something else? Or is it along the lines of the combat soldier who's lives are in the hands of friends under the most brutal and lonely conditions humans can set themselves to as demonstrated by WW1 second lieutenant Wilfred Owen . The difficulty probably does not lie with love itself but how we should define love in the first place.
Should we be uncertain of the existence of love ?
Perhaps when we have assigned love its relevant properties based on factual evidence we will be closer to defining G-d.
Bailey writes:
why should we reasonably deny the incomprehensible rationale of any truth, theistic or otherwise.
sidelined writes:
Let us see. Hmmm..., because incomprehensibility cannot be rationalized? {I have to refrain from the added Homer Simpson expletive here}
Rationale can be considered an underlying reasoning or basis for an opinion. Must all underlying reasoning in regards to an opinion be understood (or comprehendible) to exist? DOE!!
Bailey writes:
With this mindset we'd have to deny the rationale of anything we cannot comprehend.
sidelined writes:
Do you comprehend the structure of atoms . could it be we need not because we have evidence for these phenomena without fully understanding these subtleties?
I like that rationale. The perplexity of the universe, and these phenomena themselves, evidenced or not, give sway to the credence of a creator G-d for many, scientists and laymen alike, without fully understanding the subtleties.
Bailey writes:
Denying the reasoning of something you cannot fully comprehend simply causes mental atrophy and scientific sloth
sidelined writes:
Denying does questioning does not.
I’m not sure what your trying to convey here.
But I’ll take a stab .
Denying the questioning of something you cannot fully comprehend causes mental atrophy and scientific sloth as well.
Bailey writes:
The properties of electromagnetism did not function as a result of our comprehension of them. Denying the theory, or Law, of gravity before it was understood didn’t cause objects to float away
sidelined writes:
Of course they did not since we can access {concentrate now} EVIDENCE!
Your missing it sidewinder .
Whether we have evidence or not, the phenomena still exists.
Before the properties of electromagnetism were established in 1864, the phenomena had been occurring for G-d only knows how long. No pun intended.
for the phenomena which we cannot do for God and that is the point. Why did you consistently ignore this?

I must admit, I’m at a loss as to what, “for the phenomena which we cannot do for God” means.
Ima gonna givita stabaggin,
I think you are trying to reaffirm your position that you do not have any scientific evidence to institute a credence in the existence of a G-d.
If that’s right . I didn’t, and am not trying to ignore it.
I totally respect your opinion and procedural methodology.
Bailey writes:
Someone’s family member, let’s say their son, is in dire need of a kidney transplant. Is it irrational for the father, or someone in the family, to sacrifice a kidney to the son in order that he may not die. The donor, or father, survives, and provision is made to allow the son to live. This scenario is realistic, similar incidents occur everyday.
Suppose all of mankind needs a sacrifice to experience a non corporeal existence; that is, survive. Is it irrational for God to provide His Son as a sacrifice for many, providing the Son, or donor, survives along with mankind. Can anyone prove the Deity of Elohim . or Immanuel. Can anyone verify the sacrifice is needed. We can’t even support the truth of any non corporeal being’s existence
The rational remains the same even between these instances. Whether out of love or necessity a sacrifice is to be made by one in order that another may remain in existence. I’m curious whether you agree the rationale between the tangible scenario and the hypothetical scenario are equivocal
sidelined writes:
The rationale of the first can be debated because we are dealing with a factual {if hypothetical} situation. The latter,though, assumes things {God} A prori to the hypothetical situation {also A priori assumptions} neither of which are rational since there are no compelling reasons to hold them in the first place. Again we lack the key in all of this which I emphasized once before and shall do again.
EVIDENCE!
Rationale can be equivocated to an explanation of controlling principles of opinion as well as belief.
Opinions are often unsubstantiated.
Why do you keep ignoring this??
EVIDENCE IS NOT REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH A RATIONALE, WHICH BY DEFINITION CAN BE AN UNDERLYING REASONING OR BASIS FOR AN OPINION!!
The underlying reasoning (or rationale) of a sacrifice being made by one in order that another may remain in existence alone is being rationalized in light of the contrast of the tangible scenario (belief) and the hypothetical scenario (opinion). The equivocation of the tangible and hypothetical scenario is presented simply as a means to provide underlying reasoning to the concept of a sacrifice being made by one in order that another may remain in existence, period.
Cont..
Edited by Bailey, : punct.

Mercy Trumps Judgement,
Love Weary
Paul the humble... writes:
"I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing."

This message is a reply to:
 Message 168 by sidelined, posted 09-03-2007 11:43 AM sidelined has not replied

  
nator
Member (Idle past 2198 days)
Posts: 12961
From: Ann Arbor
Joined: 12-09-2001


Message 173 of 242 (419681)
09-04-2007 6:50 AM
Reply to: Message 170 by Bailey
09-03-2007 3:35 PM


several things...
1) What on earth led you to believe I am a fundamentalist Christian?
2) I like to think that I have a decent reading comprehension ability. I did get a nearly perfect score, years and years ago, on the verbal portion of the SAT. Nevertheless, even after careful reading of your reply to me, I still don't have a clue what the heck you are trying to say, overall. I get the general idea that you disagree, but if asked to put why you disagree in my own words, I wouldn't be able to do it.
Perhaps a bit less of the flowery prose, a lot less assumption about what my position is, and in general, much more simple, clear explanations of your position would help my obviously waning reading comprehension powers.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 170 by Bailey, posted 09-03-2007 3:35 PM Bailey has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 176 by Bailey, posted 09-04-2007 7:53 PM nator has replied

  
Greatest I am
Member (Idle past 302 days)
Posts: 1676
Joined: 01-24-2007


Message 174 of 242 (419686)
09-04-2007 7:37 AM
Reply to: Message 169 by ringo
09-03-2007 1:05 PM


Re: Reality and Talk
I have 4 children thanks and i tell them the truth as I see it. Including the reality of God.
The other truths and how God fits into their reality I cannot do much about.
My duty is to try to decrease the mistakes they might make.
This same duty is what brings me here.
Religion , It can be said is carried from generation to generation. How many are in a certain religion just because of tradition. Many I would think. Perhaps the majority of adherents.
Regards
DL

This message is a reply to:
 Message 169 by ringo, posted 09-03-2007 1:05 PM ringo has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 175 by ringo, posted 09-04-2007 11:07 AM Greatest I am has replied

  
ringo
Member (Idle past 440 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


Message 175 of 242 (419704)
09-04-2007 11:07 AM
Reply to: Message 174 by Greatest I am
09-04-2007 7:37 AM


Greatest I am writes:
Religion , It can be said is carried from generation to generation.
But truth is not. Every generation has to learn its own truth.
You haven't responded to my post at all. You made the claim that God doesn't give us "the answers" because we could pass them on intact to our children. I countered that we can never pass on "truths" to our children, so there is no excuse for God not to give "the answers" one generation at a time.
I also suggested that God's reluctance/failure to give "the answers" might be an indication that He doesn't have any - i.e. that He doesn't have a "plan". (That was my attempt to steer toward the topic.)
Edited by Ringo, : Changed verb from "can" to "is" to correspond with quote.
Edited by Ringo, : Changed "their" to "there".

“Faith moves mountains, but only knowledge moves them to the right place” -- Joseph Goebbels
-------------
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This message is a reply to:
 Message 174 by Greatest I am, posted 09-04-2007 7:37 AM Greatest I am has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 183 by Greatest I am, posted 09-05-2007 6:35 AM ringo has replied

  
Bailey
Member (Idle past 4398 days)
Posts: 574
From: Earth
Joined: 08-24-2003


Message 176 of 242 (419789)
09-04-2007 7:53 PM
Reply to: Message 173 by nator
09-04-2007 6:50 AM


Re: several things...that are off topic
nator writes:
What on earth led you to believe I am a fundamentalist Christian?
Nator, I’m fairly certain this matter is off topic . “What is God’s Heaven or plan at the end? Would you like it?”. You brought your own fundamentalist Christian baggage into the post . it wasn’t relevant to the discussion then, and it doesn”t seem relevant now. Your position, unless it has bearing on the topic, is irrelevant as far as I am concerned, period, and I don’t mean this in a harsh way. Your certainly entitled to your position on G-d, whatever it may be.
I like to think that I have a decent reading comprehension ability. I did get a nearly perfect score, years and years ago, on the verbal portion of the SAT. Nevertheless, even after careful reading of your reply to me, I still don't have a clue what the heck you are trying to say, overall. I get the general idea that you disagree, but if asked to put why you disagree in my own words, I wouldn't be able to do it.
I'm empathetic. Although, by comparison to many others on this forum, the post is a simple read. Nevertheless, I do tend to over articulate occasionally. I’ll give you that. As they apparently don’t prove effective anymore, you may consider disregarding your old SAT scores and at least touching up on your reading / verbal comprehension abilities in a modern arena other than online forum. Consider...a rolling stone gathers no moss. Some of your definitions have proved inefficient and that may aid in your struggle to make sense of things.
Perhaps a bit less of the flowery prose, a lot less assumption about what my position is, and in general, much more simple, clear explanations of your position would help my obviously waning reading comprehension powers.
Matters will be simplified as much as possible when replying to you. I’m able to produce posts on a basic reading level. In light of your situation, a note shall be made to refrain from using big words such as rationale, disputability, unascertained, appropriation and such, whenever possible.
Let's try, together, to keep things on topic,
Thanks for the exchange .
Be good nator.

Mercy Trumps Judgement,
Love Weary
Paul the humble... writes:
"I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing."

This message is a reply to:
 Message 173 by nator, posted 09-04-2007 6:50 AM nator has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 177 by crashfrog, posted 09-04-2007 8:11 PM Bailey has replied
 Message 178 by nator, posted 09-04-2007 8:29 PM Bailey has replied

  
crashfrog
Member (Idle past 1495 days)
Posts: 19762
From: Silver Spring, MD
Joined: 03-20-2003


Message 177 of 242 (419793)
09-04-2007 8:11 PM
Reply to: Message 176 by Bailey
09-04-2007 7:53 PM


Re: several things...that are off topic
Hopefully your reading comprehension is up to this: Take your smug superiority and cram it up your ass. We can all recognize gibberish when we read it, thank you very much.
I’m able to produce posts on a basic reading level.
I doubt it. You're certainly not able to reason on a basic level, or any apparent level.
In light of your situation, a note shall be made to refrain from using big words such as rationale, disputability, unascertained, appropriation and such, whenever possible.
Perhaps if you used those words correctly, it would be better. Of course, then it would be immediately obvious that you have no idea what you're talking about.
Seriously, if there's one thing I can't abide, it's people who act like every idle thought of theirs is a treasure that must be hoarded and concealed behind a smokescreen of obfuscatory nonsense. Bailey - you're simply not that smart. And we're not very likely to esteem the intelligence of someone who refuses to just come out and say what they mean.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 176 by Bailey, posted 09-04-2007 7:53 PM Bailey has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 179 by Bailey, posted 09-04-2007 9:29 PM crashfrog has replied
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nator
Member (Idle past 2198 days)
Posts: 12961
From: Ann Arbor
Joined: 12-09-2001


Message 178 of 242 (419802)
09-04-2007 8:29 PM
Reply to: Message 176 by Bailey
09-04-2007 7:53 PM


Re: several things...that are off topic
See how Crashfrog just wrote?
I understand him perfectly.
Please write more like Crashfrog.
...or Ringo, or Archer, or Percy, or RAZD, or Omniverous, or anglagard, or Coragyps, or Trixie, or any one of a number of posters on this forum who can express themselves, well, much more clearly that you do.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 176 by Bailey, posted 09-04-2007 7:53 PM Bailey has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 180 by Bailey, posted 09-04-2007 9:31 PM nator has not replied

  
Bailey
Member (Idle past 4398 days)
Posts: 574
From: Earth
Joined: 08-24-2003


Message 179 of 242 (419809)
09-04-2007 9:29 PM
Reply to: Message 177 by crashfrog
09-04-2007 8:11 PM


Re: several things...that are off topic
Hopefully your reading comprehension is up to this: Take your smug superiority and cram it up your ass. We can all recognize gibberish when we read it, thank you very much . I doubt it. You're certainly not able to reason on a basic level, or any apparent level . Perhaps if you used those words correctly, it would be better. Of course, then it would be immediately obvious that you have no idea what you're talking about.
Seriously, if there's one thing I can't abide, it's people who act like every idle thought of theirs is a treasure that must be hoarded and concealed behind a smokescreen of obfuscatory nonsense. Bailey - you're simply not that smart. And we're not very likely to esteem the intelligence of someone who refuses to just come out and say what they mean
Daaaaang crash frog.
Yur an animal. I didn’t know ya had it in ya. I must admit, I’m a lil’ sad you think this of me. For one, you have no idea of my background. Secondly, I’ve declared openly on numerous occasions that I’m mildly retarded. On the other hand, I’m a lil’ flattered too. Although, until recently, I haven’t participated . I feel back at home. That being said, obfuscation, arrogance, and sarcasm seem to be a touchstone of this forum. I thought I was adapting nicely. I don’t mean serious insult to anybody, whether they deserve it or not. Your, and my, and everybody’s displays of smugness and taunting, from time to time, are all pointless and childish (as well as very amusing). I hope I haven’t pissed you and nator off past the point of reconciliation. I’d hate to lose any of you folks. And I’m not kidding. The variety of personality and discussion at EVC is more than refreshing to me. Thank you for the formal initiation.
And when I say this, I’m not being a smartass, I mean it .
Be good crashfrog.

Mercy Trumps Judgement,
Love Weary
Paul the humble... writes:
"I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing."

This message is a reply to:
 Message 177 by crashfrog, posted 09-04-2007 8:11 PM crashfrog has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 181 by AdminPhat, posted 09-04-2007 9:58 PM Bailey has not replied
 Message 187 by crashfrog, posted 09-05-2007 10:13 AM Bailey has not replied
 Message 194 by nator, posted 09-05-2007 5:47 PM Bailey has not replied

  
Bailey
Member (Idle past 4398 days)
Posts: 574
From: Earth
Joined: 08-24-2003


Message 180 of 242 (419810)
09-04-2007 9:31 PM
Reply to: Message 178 by nator
09-04-2007 8:29 PM


Re: several things...that are off topic
See how Crashfrog just wrote?
I understand him perfectly.
Please write more like Crashfrog
Gotcha...

Mercy Trumps Judgement,
Love Weary
Paul the humble... writes:
"I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing."

This message is a reply to:
 Message 178 by nator, posted 09-04-2007 8:29 PM nator has not replied

  
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