Cthulhu

And I challenge you to a duel, sir. I choose pistols at dawn.

mongrel

I(and everyone else) have as much chance of proving (your particular version of)god doesn't exist, as you do of proving Santa Claus* doesn't exist.:banghead:

*Or the tooth fairy, centaurs, leprechauns, pegasus, etc.- get my point?

Mageth

The person who wrote this book happens to be a lawyer, but the book itself contains the findings of scientists: Crookes, Myers, Lodge, Osis, Moody, Ring, Morse, Fenwick, to name just a few. So your argument is invalid.

Crookes, Sir William 1832-1919, convinced by Miss Cook's mediurnship that seances were real, and that "Katie [channeled by Miss Cook] and Miss Cook were two separate material beings."

Sir Oliver Lodge FRS (1851-1940), whose "experiments" included seances

Sir William Barrett, F.R.S. - died in 1945 - wrote favorably on apparitions, seances, automatic writing, and even a chapter titled: "Proof of Supernormal Messages: The Ouija Board"

Professor Hylsop, from around the turn of the 20th century, instrumental in founding The American Society for Psychical Research

The author also appears to rely on Emmanuel Swedenborg (born 1688)

The author says "Another brilliant scientist and inventor who after investigating became totally convinced of the existence of the afterlife was American George Meek. "..."The major project pursued by his [Meek's] Metascience Foundation was development of the 'Spiricom', an electronic device which would provide real time two-way communication between our world and the next. "

As far as I can tell, Meek was an engineer and inventor, not a scientist.

He also mentions a couple of physicists that posit the "multiple universe" notion as "evidence" that an afterlife exists. I think he's absolutely wrong in making this assumption, because if such universes exists, neither you nor I will ever be able to travel to those other universes. Whatever there that is similar to me is not me.

Geez, with a list of pseudoscientific whizzes like that (and others he lists), his work must absolutely prove that an afterlife exists! Apparently, citing enough quacks and real scientists that have ventured into pseudoscience is "Irrefutable Objective Evidence" to him.

All the book proves to me is that smart people are capable of believing weird things.

Mark

Alpha Centauri, anyone?

'Man's unfailing capacity to believe what he prefers to be true rather than what the evidence shows to be likely and possible has always astounded me. We long for a caring Universe which will save us from our childish mistakes, and in the face of mountains of evidence to the contrary we will pin all our hopes on the slimmest of doubts. God has not been proven not to exist, therefore he must exist.'

Duvenoy

"A debate on the existance of God! How exciting," sez I. Profound statments cast about like mighty trees uprooted in the roiling waters of the Noahican Flood; great shouts of exurberence as powerful evidence disembowels a fragile, opposing point of view, and the pitious moans of the loser, breaking the hearts and the faith of his followers.

I was promised a freakin' debate. Wheredafork is it? Thus far, I've seen the challenge and a lot of refutation, and little else. As debates go, this is about as interesting as yesterday's defecation (assuming few or no, major internal parasites). Blah!

doov

Marcel

I am sorry to disappoint you, but that is what a metaphysical discussion as a reply to the logical flaw of theism has to offer. Atheism is not a religion, mind you.

emotional

The magic word! "Pseudoscience"! Of course! Anything that doesn't square up with the job of confirming a wholly materialistic universe is labelled "pseudoscience"! Nice way to ignore evidence that's put in front of you!

(edited to add) : so when Sir William Crookes discovers the chemical element Thallium he's a respected scientist, but when he decides to research psychic/paranormal phenomena, he's a pseudoscientist? That's a double standard! That's the foul game materialists are playing!

emotional

What saith your profile, Calzaer? "Wiccan-in-Training", does it not? Bring evidence to existence of the Goddess and God, can you? Or else forever hold your silence before criticising me!

Mageth

The magic word! "Pseudoscience"! Of course! Anything that doesn't square up with the job of confirming a wholly materialistic universe is labelled "pseudoscience"! Nice way to ignore evidence that's put in front of you!

Well, it is pseudoscience. And what evidence? Seances, Ouija boards, etc? C'mon, give me a break. Do you think seances and Ouija boards are evidence of the supernatural or an afterlife?

When and if they ever come up with real evidence, hypotheses, and testable, falsifiable, repeatable results, perhaps then their pseudoscience may be allowed into real science. Until then, it's pseudoscience and I don't waste my time on it.

Duvenoy

What?! Of course athiesm is a religion! I know all about athiests. They worship at the vile alter of Darwin the Charlatan, and work to teach our children his evil lies. On Febuary 12th, all the athiests celebrate the birthday of their false god, and praise his father, SATAN! These celebrations are nothing but profane debaucheries! They dance and drink strong liquors, and inhale the smoke of forbidden substances. Blood sacrifice has been rumored.

Will the world ever be saved from the curse of athieism? I don't know. SATAN and his son Darwin have made them very powerful. But if we presevere; if we can become strong enough, praise the Almighty, we shall send this foul religion to the hell it so richly deserves!

doov