Freethought & Rationalism Archive

DrLao · 12-22-2002, 09:51 AM

It actually sounds like a simplistic retelling of the <a href="http://"http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/o/ont-arg.htm"" target="_blank">ontological argument</a>, which itself is pretty sophisticated. Like most philosophical proofs of God's existence it, at best, proves there is something that contains some of the properties we usually assign to God, but any resemblence to the God of the Bible, the Koran, or the Greek pantheon is purely coincidental.

seebs · 12-22-2002, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Thomas Ash:
<strong>
Actually, this type of argument is not so rare. I remember seeing an article in a local American newspaper devoted to the 'God Squad'(!), a Christian priest and a Jewish rabbi who answered people's religious questions for them. (I would have liked to write in to ask whether it posed any problems for the God Squad that they both though the other member was going to hell

</strong>

There are people on both sides who aren't sure of that; in particular, I don't think Orthodox Jews believe in anything very similar to the Christian "Hell" concept, although I could always be mistaken. (My grounding in other religions is shakier than I'd like it to be.)

Gurdur · 12-22-2002, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by seebs:

There are people on both sides who aren't sure of that; in particular, I don't think Orthodox Jews believe in anything very similar to the Christian "Hell" concept, although I could always be mistaken. (My grounding in other religions is shakier than I'd like it to be.)

Correct. Both "heaven" and "hell" do not exist as concepts in much of Judaism in its many forms.

Thomas Ash · 12-23-2002, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by seebs:
<strong>

There are people on both sides who aren't sure of that; in particular, I don't think Orthodox Jews believe in anything very similar to the Christian "Hell" concept, although I could always be mistaken. (My grounding in other religions is shakier than I'd like it to be.)</strong>

Oh yeah. Well, it's still pretty stupid, in that the Christian priest would have thought that the Jew was going to hell. At least if he'd read his Bible... It just slightly annoys me that newspaper do these sappy 'multi-faith' God Squads without realizing this.

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

12-22-2002, 09:51 AM	#21
DrLao Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Madison Posts: 39	It actually sounds like a simplistic retelling of the <a href="http://"http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/o/ont-arg.htm"" target="_blank">ontological argument</a>, which itself is pretty sophisticated. Like most philosophical proofs of God's existence it, at best, proves there is something that contains some of the properties we usually assign to God, but any resemblence to the God of the Bible, the Koran, or the Greek pantheon is purely coincidental.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.