Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Koyaanisqatsi · 03-04-2002, 06:39 AM

WHAT IF SOMMS were a toadstool? Would you believe?

WHAT IF SOMMS were a singularity at the center of an intellectual black hole? Would you believe?

WHAT IF the entire universe was a piece of candy slowly digesting in a fat kid's stomache on Halloween night? Would you believe?

WHAT IF SOMMS ever just once presented a cogent, intelligent argument or direct, intellectually honest answer to someone's post? Would you believe?

WHAT IF a "what if" proposition served any purpose whatsoever? Would you believe?

WHAT IF WHAT IF? WHAT IF? OR, WHAT IF?

Such questions are important. To SOMMS...

Malaclypse the Younger · 03-04-2002, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Koyaanisqatsi:
WHAT IF SOMMS ever just once presented a cogent, intelligent argument or direct, intellectually honest answer to someone's post? Would you believe?

I would immediately mount my flying pig for my long-awaited ski vacation in Hades.

GunnerJ · 03-04-2002, 10:34 AM

Quote:

WHAT IF SOMMS were a singularity at the center of an intellectual black hole? Would you believe?

Whaddaya mean "what if?"

You da man, Koy; my posts can only reflect Your glory. <img src="graemlins/notworthy.gif" border="0" alt="[Not Worthy]" />

[ March 04, 2002: Message edited by: Rimstalker ]

Satan Oscillate My Metallic Sonatas · 03-04-2002, 11:11 AM

Malaclypse,

Quote:

Originally posted by Malaclypse the Younger:

Selective quotation...

How is it selective?

You either said

Quote:

Originally posted by Malaclypse the Younger:

Probably nothing.

...or you didn't.

Which one is it?

Satan Oscilliate My Metallic Sonatas

Satan Oscillate My Metallic Sonatas · 03-04-2002, 11:21 AM

ex-preacher,

Quote:

Originally posted by ex-preacher:

It's a quote by Ni'Mah Isma'il Nawwab from Aramco World May/June 2000, p. 27.

Hmm...Muslims declaring Biblical errancy. Who would have thought? Not the most unbiased of sources Ex.

Quote:

Originally posted by ex-preacher:

My need for evidence is fairly similar to the need exhibited by Thomas and Paul. Each required first-hand proof even though they had access to all the items you claim are so convincing.

So you require 'first hand' experience as proof?

Satan Oscillate My Metallic Sonatas

Satan Oscillate My Metallic Sonatas · 03-04-2002, 11:23 AM

Pitshade,

Quote:

Originally posted by Pitshade:


So to answer your question, "what COULD HAVE happened 2000 years ago that would give you good reason to believe TODAY?" I would have to answer, "Something that didn't also stop 2000 years ago."

Quick question: What do you mean by 'stopped'.

Satan Oscillate My Metallic Sonatas

tronvillain · 03-04-2002, 11:33 AM

SOMMS:
It is selective quotation because you selected "Probably nothing" and left out:

Quote:

Probably nothing. Too many important facts are lost to time to draw any really surprising conclusions from the historical facts we have today.

It is unsurprising that christians would turn for "proof" to the most inexact science with the most ambiguous facts, the weakest of possible inferences, and the necessity of imposing an arbitrary context to draw those inferences from the facts.

Pitshade · 03-04-2002, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Satan Oscillate My Metallic Sonatas:
Pitshade,

Quick question: What do you mean by 'stopped'.

Satan Oscillate My Metallic Sonatas

I went into that in some detail in the parts of my post you snipped. According to the sources you cite for the ressurection, Jesus not only performed many other signs and miracles, but also promised that those who believed in him would also have these 'gifts.'

Quote:

Mark 16:17-18
And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.

Please go back and read the whole post.

[ March 04, 2002: Message edited by: Pitshade ]

Malaclypse the Younger · 03-04-2002, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Satan Oscillate My Metallic Sonatas:
How is it selective? You either said "Probably nothing" or you didn't.

Apparently your ignorance extends to basic English. I did not accuse you of misquotation but of <a href="http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=selective" target="_blank">selective</a> quotation. It becomes tedious to have to constantly link to the dictionary to support the basic meanings of words.

Dishonest selective quotation occurs when you change the meaning of a comment by removing it from the context in which it appears. It is obviously true that the meaning has changed in this case.

Against the possibility that you are merely dumber than a box of hammers, I will explain again: I cannot know anything about what happened 2000 years ago as fact.

What I have for facts are the things I see now; in this context documents and ordinary scientific evidence as to how the universe works. And based on the facts I have now, the inference is entirely ludicrous that Yahweh went around smiting everything in sight or that dead people were popping out of tombs like a bad drive-in movie.

Hypothesizing unknowable facts two millennia old is just not at all useful. There are any number of things that could have happened; without a way of knowing those facts, however, my beliefs are not going to rationally change.

[ March 04, 2002: Message edited by: Malaclypse the Younger ]

Satan Oscillate My Metallic Sonatas · 03-04-2002, 08:24 PM

Malaclypse the Younger,

Quote:

Originally posted by Malaclypse the Younger:

I cannot know anything about what happened 2000 years ago as fact.

So, for clarity...you DO NOT believe that Jesus (or even Julius Caesar for that matter) actually existed some 2000 years ago.

Is this right?

Satan Oscilliate My Metallic Sonatas

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03-04-2002, 06:39 AM	#141
Koyaanisqatsi Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Yes, I have dyslexia. Sue me. Posts: 6,508	WHAT IF SOMMS were a toadstool? Would you believe? WHAT IF SOMMS were a singularity at the center of an intellectual black hole? Would you believe? WHAT IF the entire universe was a piece of candy slowly digesting in a fat kid's stomache on Halloween night? Would you believe? WHAT IF SOMMS ever just once presented a cogent, intelligent argument or direct, intellectually honest answer to someone's post? Would you believe? WHAT IF a "what if" proposition served any purpose whatsoever? Would you believe? WHAT IF WHAT IF? WHAT IF? OR, WHAT IF? Such questions are important. To SOMMS...

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