muon

I am reminded of a saying of the neo-Confucians. They used to warn their followers not to spend too much time trying to refute Buddhists, because anyone who spent so much time on that would in the end surely wind up becoming a Buddhist.

Frankly this whole thread leaves me saddened.

Ted Hoffman

There is no reason to be sad really. As far as I know, Peter never was such a strong advocate of atheism and he probably has a lot of work to do as far as the question of the existence of God is concerned.
I regard this as a phase and we shouldnt be too worried. He will come around. As others have noted he has not presented any compelling reason why he has deconverted. he doesnt seem to have given it a lot of thought otherwise he would be very disposed to lay out his thought system.
It seems to be a purely emotional pleasure response similar to his recent choice to start playing computer games.
He is searching. Some people find Jesus. He has found a comfortable place. But not for long. His search will continue soon. Think of this as a sojourn.

muon

Perhaps you're right. Actually it's the fact that this DOES seem to be an emotionally driven thing rather than any rational decision that saddens me, however. The lad's got a sharp mind---here's hoping it kicks in at some point and overrides the more primal parts of the brain.

No Robots

From Kirby's paper:

Question: Isn't the evidence for [the Resurrection, the Holy Qur'an, reincarnation, etc.] quite extraordinary?
The specific topic of whether there is extraordinary evidence for this or that extraordinary event will not be detailed here. This essay is intended to provide a general framework for discussing miracles. If you want to work within this framework to prove a miracle, I wish you the best of luck. But my own research into Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism shows that it's hard enough to provide any evidence for these claims, let alone extraordinary evidence.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

"I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY"

I guess this is one of the things he'll be "wrestling with."

Riverwind

So, back to the topic of this thread...

Where is Peter and what is he up to these days?

MortalWombat

Why should we even be worried in the first place? I mean it's no skin off my back if someone chooses to go back to religion and belief.

Zebulon

Your screen name is intended ironically, then? :Cheeky:

I'd say the self is a construct of our cognition, not of our perception. That it is a construct doesn't mean it isn't "real".

What you are advocating is basically radical behaviorism. One of the problems with this theory is that it undermines the scientific method just as much as does postmodernism. If those who advocate this theory do so because situational effects determine that they do, then it is impossible to evaluate its truth value. In fact the very ideas of logic and of the truth or falsity of propositions become meaningless.

In your model, does this "One" you reference have free will, or is its behavior likewise determined? If yes, on what basis do you assert this? If no, then why cannot its "localized concretizations" exercise free will?

No Robots

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men.

No Robots

My reply to Zebulon is here.

aa5874

I am not aware that there is any Jesus to find, at least not the ones described in the NT.

I find Peter's reasons extremely weak. We might as well start to worship Apollo again.