Freethought & Rationalism Archive

lunachick · 12-12-2002, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sole Controller:
I try and perform the old Solomon trick or was it David, but anyway. I would take a newly born infant and demand that this god or devil slay the baby. If he does, then he is the devil. I say this because the baby has not been baptized and the baby's soul would automatically go to hell, which would somehow benefit the devil.
If this person spares the baby, then it is probably god because he would want the baby to live and have a chance to be baptized to he could claim the soul.
Peace

Now that's some seriously fucked up logic.

Personally, they couldn't do anything as I don't believe in them. I'd definitely give them a piece of my mind, though!

Hail · 12-12-2002, 10:41 PM

You would give a baby to a man who you don't know to see if he would kill it?

Hail · 12-12-2002, 10:47 PM

I doubt that you would really do that.

Frivolous · 12-12-2002, 11:40 PM

You have to remember that the devil would be cunning and devious. Evil is often dishonest i suppose. So the devil probably wouldnt do what you expected him to do, seeing as he is so shifty and all

lunachick · 12-13-2002, 12:47 AM

Oh, I don't know, Frivolous. From what I've read, God's the shifty one.

smugg · 12-13-2002, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lunachick:
Oh, I don't know, Frivolous. From what I've read, God's the shifty one.

Damn straight. At least you know where you stand with Ol' Nick.

Jayjay · 12-13-2002, 06:50 AM

Hmm... I suppose there is not one single thing I could ask the person to do, but after a couple of experiments I could draw at least some conclusions:

1. First, the guy has to demonstrate that he is in possession of vast supernatural powers. Do the mind reading trick, and maybe move some mountains. After the first test we've established that the entity in question is at least in the same ballpark as gods and devils.

2. It's easy to rule out the christian devil: he cannot praise Jesus. So, I'm asking the guy to pray to Jesus and say that he's the lord or whatever seems sufficient. If the test subject is unable to praise Jesus, or finds an excuse ("he doesn't exist, and it would be dishonest for me to say something I don't believe in"), then he's the devil. If he does pass the test, then he's either God, or christianity is wrong and this devil is not bound by such silliness.

3. At this point, the experiment gets really tricky. I could try test the omnipotence of the test subject by requesting him to divide his power to half, and repeat this infinite number of times. If he can still pass test 1 after this, then he's either omnipotent, or lying, but let's assume that for the sake of the experiment, the test subject is not going to fake the results.

David Bowden · 12-13-2002, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jayjay:
...but let's assume that for the sake of the experiment, the test subject is not going to fake the results.

But if I remember correctly, the Christian devil is also called "a liar and the father of lies"...

faustuz · 12-13-2002, 12:50 PM

First you need to ask for the obligatory miracle to ascertain that he is supernatural. Then ask if God exists. God will say no because He doesn�t want to interfere with your free will to disbelieve. The devil will naturally say yes being as you would expect him to do the opposite of whatever God would do, evil bastard that he is.

ApostateAbe · 12-13-2002, 01:09 PM

In order to discern between God and the Devil, I would have a conversation with him about the atrocities committed by the Hebrews as described in the Old Testament. Then I would talk about the billions of unbelievers and sinners that are destined for a torturous eternal fate. If at any time he breaks out into the helpless laughter of a tyrranical maniac, then I will know him to be God, not Satan.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

12-12-2002, 10:41 PM	#12
Hail Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 60	You would give a baby to a man who you don't know to see if he would kill it?

12-12-2002, 10:47 PM	#13
Hail Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 60	I doubt that you would really do that.

12-12-2002, 11:40 PM	#14
Frivolous Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 101	You have to remember that the devil would be cunning and devious. Evil is often dishonest i suppose. So the devil probably wouldnt do what you expected him to do, seeing as he is so shifty and all

12-13-2002, 12:47 AM	#15
lunachick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NZ Posts: 7,895	Oh, I don't know, Frivolous. From what I've read, God's the shifty one.

12-13-2002, 06:50 AM	#17
Jayjay Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Finland Posts: 6,261	Hmm... I suppose there is not one single thing I could ask the person to do, but after a couple of experiments I could draw at least some conclusions: 1. First, the guy has to demonstrate that he is in possession of vast supernatural powers. Do the mind reading trick, and maybe move some mountains. After the first test we've established that the entity in question is at least in the same ballpark as gods and devils. 2. It's easy to rule out the christian devil: he cannot praise Jesus. So, I'm asking the guy to pray to Jesus and say that he's the lord or whatever seems sufficient. If the test subject is unable to praise Jesus, or finds an excuse ("he doesn't exist, and it would be dishonest for me to say something I don't believe in"), then he's the devil. If he does pass the test, then he's either God, or christianity is wrong and this devil is not bound by such silliness. 3. At this point, the experiment gets really tricky. I could try test the omnipotence of the test subject by requesting him to divide his power to half, and repeat this infinite number of times. If he can still pass test 1 after this, then he's either omnipotent, or lying, but let's assume that for the sake of the experiment, the test subject is not going to fake the results.

12-13-2002, 12:50 PM	#19
faustuz Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: SoCal Posts: 207	First you need to ask for the obligatory miracle to ascertain that he is supernatural. Then ask if God exists. God will say no because He doesn�t want to interfere with your free will to disbelieve. The devil will naturally say yes being as you would expect him to do the opposite of whatever God would do, evil bastard that he is.

12-13-2002, 01:09 PM	#20
ApostateAbe Contributor Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: MT Posts: 10,656	In order to discern between God and the Devil, I would have a conversation with him about the atrocities committed by the Hebrews as described in the Old Testament. Then I would talk about the billions of unbelievers and sinners that are destined for a torturous eternal fate. If at any time he breaks out into the helpless laughter of a tyrranical maniac, then I will know him to be God, not Satan.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.