Posts by Viviane

405

Origin of Life

by cofty in

in recent years significant progress has been made in solving the question of how life originated on our planet.. how do you think theists will respond when it finally happens?

as a former christian i know my reaction would have been something like "well that just goes to show that it takes intelligent life to make life", but for two reasons that defense doesn't work.. firstly it would prove that life is not an ethereal force that originates with god.

there is no 'ghost in the machine', no elan vital.

Viviane

The original post speaks for itself, that it was about how scientific discoveries impact belief in God.

It does. You're attempting to claim that is related to " the assumption that scientific discoveries can tell us anything about the nature or existence of God".

They are wildly different.

If you don't perceive a naturalistic solution to the origin of life as a challenge to theism, then why frame the discussion in terms of how theists may "respond" to this new information?

That has nothing to do with your claim about " the assumption that scientific discoveries can tell us anything about the nature or existence of God".

My point is that some theists will "respond" by pointing out that scientific discoveries do not tell us about the nature or existence of God.

Congratulations, you've identified a strawman argument.

And that, remarkable as the human mind and science are, there may be things about the universe and reality that it is not able to pin down once and for all in human categories.

Non-sequitur.

I fully understand that this response does not fall neatly into the clever trap you believe you set for creationists or theists by raising this issue.

It also doesn't fall into the trap of being a coherent argument.

22

Being nice to LGBTQ people is an affront to god?

by Viviane in

this should be titled "jerks for jesus afraid of their own shadow, sexuality".

seriously, someone thinks that a video on how to be nice to people different from him is an affront to his god.

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/09/federal-worker-would-rather-be-fired-than-watch-lgbt-diversity-video-god-doesnt-want-me-to-see-it/.

Viviane

This should be titled "Jerks for Jesus Afraid of Their Own Shadow, Sexuality"

Seriously, someone thinks that a video on how to be nice to people different from him is an affront to his god.

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/09/federal-worker-would-rather-be-fired-than-watch-lgbt-diversity-video-god-doesnt-want-me-to-see-it/

405

Origin of Life

by cofty in

in recent years significant progress has been made in solving the question of how life originated on our planet.. how do you think theists will respond when it finally happens?

as a former christian i know my reaction would have been something like "well that just goes to show that it takes intelligent life to make life", but for two reasons that defense doesn't work.. firstly it would prove that life is not an ethereal force that originates with god.

there is no 'ghost in the machine', no elan vital.

Viviane

The original post discusses the idea that future scientific discoveries about the origin of life may eliminate the need for God and leave theists with difficult questions to answer. I am pointing out that this approach to understanding reality rests upon various assumptions that are difficult the establish. Such as the assumption that scientific discoveries can tell us anything about the nature or existence of God. Also the assumption that human rationality is the measure of what is real and exists in the world.

See bolded text. That's not an assumption in science any kind. It's a claim made by those wishing to discredit science.

Also, one of the reasons science works the way it does it precisely because nature DOES defy human rationality. The study of quantum physics is proof of that.

These are hardly novel or even particularly "postmodern" ideas in the philosophy of religion. They are common objections to a purely materialist conception of reality. That you apparently give them no consideration is not, as you seem to imagine, proof that I am talking postmodern rubbish.

It's rubbish because the objections aren't actual things. In other words, they get no consideration because the premise is false.

If you have not considered these sorts of arguments it does speak well of the robustness of your own position that you trumpet with such confidence. Instead of trying to invent ways to embarrass creationists intellectually you could better spend time tidying your own intellectual back yard.

Instead of attempting to denigrate others for not being intellectual enough, have you considered making valid arguments based on actual things? In other words, in your attempt to tell other people how dumb they are, have you tried not being wrong?

34

Do you have / admire Charisma?

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

"charisma is a certain quality of an individual personality by virtue of which the person is set apart from ordinary people and treated as exceptional".

as a kid i was afraid of such charisma, as it was usually the quality i noticed elders, head masters, and parents had to exercise with unloving authority over me.. but now i think about it "charisma" doesn't need be only for people with authority.

" charisma" is something even we can have?

Viviane

This whole thread sounds very self-indulgent.

It should be re-titled "How to Humblebrag or, Please Notice How Awesome I Am, DO IT NOW!"

405

Origin of Life

by cofty in

in recent years significant progress has been made in solving the question of how life originated on our planet.. how do you think theists will respond when it finally happens?

as a former christian i know my reaction would have been something like "well that just goes to show that it takes intelligent life to make life", but for two reasons that defense doesn't work.. firstly it would prove that life is not an ethereal force that originates with god.

there is no 'ghost in the machine', no elan vital.

Viviane

In apophatic terms it could be said of God that he is both not alive and not not-alive.

Apophatic theology is nothing more than an attempt to pretend not knowing anything means actually knowing something. It's funny that proponents of it think anyone older than 5 would fall for it.

405

Origin of Life

by cofty in

in recent years significant progress has been made in solving the question of how life originated on our planet.. how do you think theists will respond when it finally happens?

as a former christian i know my reaction would have been something like "well that just goes to show that it takes intelligent life to make life", but for two reasons that defense doesn't work.. firstly it would prove that life is not an ethereal force that originates with god.

there is no 'ghost in the machine', no elan vital.

Viviane

I go for the rule: Life begets life

How do you solve the problem of that logic leading to the conclusion that your god must then, by definition, cannot exist, unless you are about to change your claim to some version of mysterious woo that your god isn't alive?

Also, that's not a rule, regardless of your personal experience. I mean, if "personal experience" was how rules are made, then it would be a rule that anyone on the internet claiming to be a microbiologist is a raging fraud.

405

Origin of Life

by cofty in

in recent years significant progress has been made in solving the question of how life originated on our planet.. how do you think theists will respond when it finally happens?

as a former christian i know my reaction would have been something like "well that just goes to show that it takes intelligent life to make life", but for two reasons that defense doesn't work.. firstly it would prove that life is not an ethereal force that originates with god.

there is no 'ghost in the machine', no elan vital.

Viviane

.. and here lies the real motive of threads like these. To bicker with and poke at those who don't see things the way you do. They might be hoping for it to not happen, but you as well are wishing for the opposite, so what's the point? It hasn't happened yet, and until it does, they have as much right to doubt it as you do to wish it

OK, so first, how do you presume to know the motive? Cofty posts many threads on science and evolution and does a good job of trying to keep things on track. He's also started threads on theism in which the discussion is around that topic. If theist are threatened by science, how is that Cofty's fault or motive?

Second, why is it the opposite to hope scientists discover more? Would hoping for a cure for cancer fall under that same "opposite"? I ask because it's the same science, biology, chemistry and physics, that will give us both answers.

Third, no one said they didn't have the right to doubt it, why would you pretend someone did?

405

Origin of Life

by cofty in

in recent years significant progress has been made in solving the question of how life originated on our planet.. how do you think theists will respond when it finally happens?

as a former christian i know my reaction would have been something like "well that just goes to show that it takes intelligent life to make life", but for two reasons that defense doesn't work.. firstly it would prove that life is not an ethereal force that originates with god.

there is no 'ghost in the machine', no elan vital.

Viviane

Hi Viv, where have you been hiding? Good to hear from you. The wannabee microbiologist is again at your service.
Interesting for a guy on psychedelic mushrooms to know man will reach a point in future where he is able to destroy his earthly home. It’s called prophecy, don’t you know? The little swallow knows not to defecate in his nest, a lesson man has not learnt as yet, especially now in the nuclear age.
However, if vermin and insects invade your home and are in the process of destroying it, you get in pest control to get rid of them. Remember “Apocalypse Now!” and the general standing on the beach, saying: “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.” I, again, find solace in the words, “and to destroy those who are destroying the earth” (Rev. 11:18 NJB).

Are you high?

405

Origin of Life

by cofty in

in recent years significant progress has been made in solving the question of how life originated on our planet.. how do you think theists will respond when it finally happens?

as a former christian i know my reaction would have been something like "well that just goes to show that it takes intelligent life to make life", but for two reasons that defense doesn't work.. firstly it would prove that life is not an ethereal force that originates with god.

there is no 'ghost in the machine', no elan vital.

Viviane

Even then the majority of anti-theists and evolutionists will reject His authority (cf. Rev. 11:18).

It always strikes me as bonkers that people that believe in invisible magic zombie sky fairies feel qualified to say with absolute confidence what other people think.

OTOH, they believe in invisible magic zombie sky fairies, so why would anyone be surprised at another bonkers thing they believe in?

I will just say: See you need an intelligent mind to create life.

Logically, then, your invisible magic zombie sky fairy cannot exist without a creator.

39

Is changing the "truth" / presenting "new light" really so bad?

by Zana in

jw
friends

playing devil's advocate here.... what's the difference between the gb changing bible interpretations compared to parliaments all over the world changing laws?

although the us constitution (=bible) remains untouched, congress passes i don't know how many new laws every year.

and of course people are expected to follow them.

Viviane

What's the difference between the GB changing bible interpretations compared to parliaments all over the world changing laws?

Great question! All you have to do to know that is look at the difference between a parliament and the GB to get that answer.

GB - not elected, no accountability, claim to be speaking directly for God, claim to have the only truth

Parliament - elected, accountable, speaking on behalf of those that elected them, open to points of view, compassion, and compromise