Posts by maksutov

40

The mathematical probability of spontaneous order (no designer/creator)

by Fernando in

there seem to be many prerequisites for life as we know it.. to name a few: order, function, compatibility, availability, sustainability, intelligence, consciousness, intuition and so on.. focusing on only one, namely order.. what are the chances of order arising spontaneously, by chance, with no creator/designer?.

i have often pondered this and recently came across a mathematical summary of the big picture:.

if every particle in the known physical universe (10^80 particles), participated in one trillion interactions (10^12 interactions) per second, for the entire 30 billion years of the universe's existence (10^18 seconds), then we would by now have covered only 10^110 permutations.. if you had only 100 components in a container, what are the chances that a blindfolded person could lay them out in order on a table?.

maksutov

The universe must have laws - it could not exist without them. There is no other way for the universe to be (than to have natural laws). The laws themselves could be different to the ones we have, and if they were, we would not exist (but something else would). This does not require an intelligence to create the laws, the laws just are. 2+2=4 regardless of whether any intelligence exists to realise it. Nobody had to 'invent' the fact that 2+2=4, it just is. The laws of physics just are. Natural laws do not require a law maker - using man-made laws to claim that they do is a false analogy (a logical fallacy).

As such, to postulate that either life arose by 'chance' or was 'designed' is a false dichotomy (another logical fallacy). Natural laws influence what happens, making some outcomes more likely than others. It is not random, neither need it be intelligently controlled. For all we know, the probability that life would arise spontaneously given the laws of physics in our universe could be 100%. Or it could be 0.00001%. We don't know, because we don't know exactly what happened or how it happened. Either is fine, and neither requires an intelligent agent. Occam's razor should indeed be applied, but the existence of a supernatural intelligence greatly complicates things, since you then have to account for its existence - and the only way to do that is with special pleading (another logical fallacy).

The universe is reckoned to be about 13.82 billion years old btw.

36

Has This Site Ever Hurt You In Your Journey Out Of The JW Religion?

by minimus in

jw
friends

this site has gone through many metamorphosis over the years.

i believe it is a kinder, less edgy place tan it was a few years ago.

i wonder how many people were helped versus turned off by this place.

maksutov

I left 5 years ago, and checked out several sites. I found this one too abrasive at the time so I joined the yuku one. I agree it has mellowed now though, and it seems to me the one with the most interesting topics at the moment. It can still get a bit dicey in here though, which puts me off posting much.

3

Anyone going to MotoGP in Austin?

by JakeM2012 in

jw
friends

so i just received my one ticket to motogp in austin april 10,11,and 12. is anyone else in this neighborhood going?

maksutov

I love MotoGP, but I'm in the UK, so no, I won't be going to Texas, lol. I went to Silverstone last year though. Go Crutchlow!

1

What would it really be like to live forever?

by maksutov in

of course jws have the 'perfection' rider and the ability of god to intervene at any time to skirt round the logical flaws, but here is an amusing look at what might really happen if we could live forever:.

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/if-superpowers-were-real-immortality-joy-lin.

maksutov

Of course JWs have the 'perfection' rider and the ability of God to intervene at any time to skirt round the logical flaws, but here is an amusing look at what might really happen if we could live forever:

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/if-superpowers-were-real-immortality-joy-lin

70

Wife fully awake.

by cappytan in

i learned this past week that my wife is now awake.

i just shared the pbs newshour segment with her with no comment other than something along the lines of, "jw story on pbs.".

she is furious at the arrogance of these men.. thats what happens when you get a momma angry!.

maksutov

Excellent! Really pleased for you, and your family. Congrats.

13

Our Eyes Are Wired Backwards For a Good Reason

by cofty in

it is often said that our retinas are are an example of sub-optimal design.. a few years ago i was intrigued by a passing comment in one of nick lane's to the effect that this is not a good argument but he didn't go into much detail.. researchers at leipzig have revealed the role of glial cells in transmitting light from the surface of the retina to the cones, acting like fiber-optic cables.. erex ribak has built a model of the eye and demonstrated some fascinating details.... so, the question is - does this reflect good "design" or a retro-fitted repair like the hubble telescope's glasses?.

maksutov

I don't think any evolutionist would suggest that apparent design flaws prove there is no designer, just that they are not entirely consistent with an all-knowing designer whose works are perfect. It is not possible to prove there is no designer, as the existence of a designer is not falsifiable. Evolution is a well established scientific theory with an overwhelming amount of supporting evidence and does not rely on weak and subjective arguments such as whether or not something seems to have been designed.

19

Great article about intelligent design in science without being religious

by EndofMysteries in

for those who think that belief or the possibility of intelligent design means you must accept or believe everything or anything you have heard about god or a god is incorrect.

i'll quote one line from the article, " but intelligent design, unlike creationism, is not based upon the bible.

design is an inference from biological data, not a deduction from religious authority.

maksutov

There is no such thing as the 'theory of intelligent design', not a scientific theory anyway. If there was, it could be tested and peer reviewed. It doesn't really matter that the source of the hypothesis is biological data rather than religious authority - that is pretty much irrelevant in regard to its claims of veracity. Intelligent design is supported by logical fallacies (in particular, personal incredulity, false analogy, arguments from ignorance, begging the question, and often straw men), not testable evidence.

18

UK- Watchtower is in court TODAY, is anyone able to attend and tell us what happened?

by defender of truth in

here are the court details and the story behind it all... man suing watchtower for disfellowshipping/defamation.

maksutov

I received a copy of the judgement, and yes, it says the case is being dismissed due to being filed one day late. The judge was distinctly unimpressed with the claimant, and not in the least bit bothered about shunning. He also seemed to make a strong distinction between the claimant seeking to be re-instated and being defamed - as though seeking to be reinstated meant that the claimant was not bothered about the slander. The judge comes across as surprisingly cold and harsh - not pleasant reading.

18

UK- Watchtower is in court TODAY, is anyone able to attend and tell us what happened?

by defender of truth in

here are the court details and the story behind it all... man suing watchtower for disfellowshipping/defamation.

maksutov

I don't get why they would hear the case at all if it was filed late. Nor why the guy on the phone told me that a £15,000 payment had to be made. I have asked for a copy of the judgment, but have not received it yet.

12

Your Expert Research is needed!

by Atlantis in

friends:.

doug mason needs no introductions here.

we all know him to be an excellent writer, such as: blondie, terry, jwfacts, barbara anderson and countless others on this board.. doug is asking for assistance on a new project he is working on to explain in terms easy to understand, the changes the watchtower now expects jehovah's witnesses and others to believe.. your expert knowledge on these subjects such as: 144,000, great crowd, order of special full time servants, and governing body would be greatly appreciated.

maksutov

The term 'overseer' is used in the NWT (eg. 1 Tim 3:1,2). The New International Version also uses it. King James says 'bishop'.