This chap at Atheist Tuesday says some flattering things about me...
No I am not working on a book explain why Pokemon is rubbish, I'm afraid.
No I am not working on a book explain why Pokemon is rubbish, I'm afraid.
(Published in Faith and Philosophy 2011. Volume 28, Issue 2, April 2011. Stephen Law. Pages 129-151) EVIDENCE, MIRACLES AND THE EXISTENCE OF JESUS Stephen Law Abstract The vast majority of Biblical historians believe there is evidence sufficient to place Jesus’ existence beyond reasonable doubt. Many believe the New Testament documents alone suffice firmly to establish Jesus as an actual, historical figure. I question these views. In particular, I argue (i) that the three most popular criteria by which various non-miraculous New Testament claims made about Jesus are supposedly corroborated are not sufficient, either singly or jointly, to place his existence beyond reasonable doubt, and (ii) that a prima facie plausible principle concerning how evidence should be assessed – a principle I call the contamination principle – entails that, given the large proportion of uncorroborated miracle claims made about Jesus in the New Testament documents, we should, in the absence of indepen...
Comments
"No I am not working on a book explain why Pokemon is rubbish. I'm afraid. "
I hope that's because you think Pokemon is awesome (which it is).
What better idea for a game is there than doing biological field work on magical creatures who can eviscerate their opponents by sleeping on them.
Oh, how nothing is more satisfying than watching Jigglypuff sleep attack Falco.
Stupid Falco... always with the hot-shot attitude...
Wait, I take that back. Watching the Universe implode on itself from the sheer awesomeness of two Captain Falcons doing a "Falcon Punch" on each other at the same time might be more satisfying than watching a pokemon sleep on someone.
Hmm... I need to write a book about this.
From this response, one could suggest that The Philosophy Files should be a school text, unless it is already (I don't live in the UK).
Regards, Paul.
Regards, Paul.
The Philosophy Files allows me to show my children there is more than one way to look at the world. That you can examine ideas from different angles and you don't have to take eveything on face value.
It also teaches them how to present an idea, how to argue it through logically. Something which I could have done with at school, if I had maybe I would be less grumpy and ranty about stuff...
I actually don’t mind too much if you believe all this. What I mind is your completely unconcealed smug belief that you are superior to everyone who doesn’t share your point of view. Doesn’t this constitute pride?
And I’m always amused by people who think they know the next life better than we know this one. Oh, and biblical prophecy. Yes, I read a book on that recently delineating all the prophecies of Jesus Christ. But prophecy of mythology is not prophecy I’m afraid. Events like the virgin birth, the ascension of Christ, which are crucial to your belief system are mythical events, along with the creation of Adam and Eve and the so-called fall of man, which is the critical mythical event that allows Jesus to become our unique saviour - without original sin, Christ would have no role. It’s hard to take seriously someone who makes no distinction between myth and reality.
So you maintain your pride and I’ll maintain mine. As for the afterlife, I quote Socrates: ‘Whether it be an endless sleep or the door to another world we don’t know.’ And I would add: we are not meant to know. How we live our life morally – that is in respect to how we treat others we meet - is far more important than how we live our life in regard to an imagined reward or punishment, because we fail to believe in a singular book, be it fiction or non-fiction, though, clearly, much of it is fiction. Mythology is fiction, at least in my world view. Mythology can contain profound truths, as any story can, but it doesn’t make the story itself true.
So you maintain your belief in God as the ultimate nemesis of all non-believers, who will punish them eternally in hell whether they’ve lived a good life or not. It is this specific view of God that makes me ask the question: what is the difference between God and Satan, if they’re both responsible for the ultimate act of torture?
Regards, Paul.