Comments on: Coast to Coast AM wrap up http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/28/coast-to-coast-am-wrap-up/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:30:08 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: OsakaGuy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/28/coast-to-coast-am-wrap-up/comment-page-1/#comment-61403 OsakaGuy Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:26:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/28/coast-to-coast-am-wrap-up/#comment-61403 I like what Alan Watts had to say on these matters, which is basically the material IS spiritual. All that is, whatever it is, is natural. There is no supernatural, but the natural itself is SUPER! I like what Alan Watts had to say on these matters, which is basically the material IS spiritual. All that is, whatever it is, is natural. There is no supernatural, but the natural itself is SUPER!

]]> By: Barton Paul Levenson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/28/coast-to-coast-am-wrap-up/comment-page-1/#comment-61402 Barton Paul Levenson Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:40:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/28/coast-to-coast-am-wrap-up/#comment-61402 I'd agree that Frank Tipler's books tend to have more than the usual degree of flakiness. The common thread in it all, I think, is the desire to reduce spiritual/religious questions to something that can be described with math and physics. I think that's kind of futile. It can be fun when done well, though -- consider Richard Matheson's "I Am Legend," which was an exercise in ad hoc-ing vampires by explaining their traits in scientific terms. Somewhat more on the borderline are Larry Niven's descriptions of laws of magic in his "Warlock" stories -- e.g. <i>mana</i> as a non-renewable resource explaining why magic doesn't exist any more. I’d agree that Frank Tipler’s books tend to have more than the usual degree of flakiness. The common thread in it all, I think, is the desire to reduce spiritual/religious questions to something that can be described with math and physics. I think that’s kind of futile. It can be fun when done well, though — consider Richard Matheson’s “I Am Legend,” which was an exercise in ad hoc-ing vampires by explaining their traits in scientific terms. Somewhat more on the borderline are Larry Niven’s descriptions of laws of magic in his “Warlock” stories — e.g. mana as a non-renewable resource explaining why magic doesn’t exist any more.

]]> By: Barton Paul Levenson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/28/coast-to-coast-am-wrap-up/comment-page-1/#comment-61401 Barton Paul Levenson Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:37:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/28/coast-to-coast-am-wrap-up/#comment-61401 PK writes: [[<i>Given that there is no way to ascertain the objective truth of one religion over another, to base an absolute morality on one specific religion is a logical fallacy.</i>]] There is no formal logical fallacy of "basing an absolute morality on a religion whose objective truth can't be proved." Have you ever studied any formal logic? I was asking if my conclusions failed to follow from my premises, which is something you have yet to address. PK writes:

[[Given that there is no way to ascertain the objective truth of one religion over another, to base an absolute morality on one specific religion is a logical fallacy.]]

There is no formal logical fallacy of “basing an absolute morality on a religion whose objective truth can’t be proved.” Have you ever studied any formal logic? I was asking if my conclusions failed to follow from my premises, which is something you have yet to address.

]]> By: Barton Paul Levenson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/28/coast-to-coast-am-wrap-up/comment-page-1/#comment-61400 Barton Paul Levenson Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:35:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/28/coast-to-coast-am-wrap-up/#comment-61400 BaldApe posts: [[<i>Religion has almost no net effect on how people act. </i>]] A lot of sociologists would disagree with you. BaldApe posts:

[[Religion has almost no net effect on how people act. ]]

A lot of sociologists would disagree with you.

]]> By: Barton Paul Levenson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/28/coast-to-coast-am-wrap-up/comment-page-1/#comment-61399 Barton Paul Levenson Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:34:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/28/coast-to-coast-am-wrap-up/#comment-61399 Michael Lonergan writes: [[<i>I think the whole Theist - Atheist rant you expressed was a little irrational.</i>]] Again, what logical fallacies did I commit? [[<i> I’m not sure who you are preaching to, or for what purpose. If it is just to get a reaction out of people, I don’t really think you are succeeding. If it is a “Divine Mission” to convert the lost, I don’t think you will win many converts here. </i>]] Actually, it's just a reaction to the spate of anti-Christian and anti-theist comments that follow any mention, however peripheral, of religion-related subjects here. My purpose in coming here, originally, was to comment on solar effects of global warming, though I had been lurking for a long time before that to enjoy debunking of pseudoscience. I have never been fool enough to try to convert confirmed ideological atheists. In general I have to know someone fairly well before I'll talk about Jesus with him or her. But of course when Jesus, his people, or theists in general are attacked, I'll respond. Michael Lonergan writes:

[[I think the whole Theist - Atheist rant you expressed was a little irrational.]]

Again, what logical fallacies did I commit?

[[ I’m not sure who you are preaching to, or for what purpose. If it is just to get a reaction out of people, I don’t really think you are succeeding. If it is a “Divine Mission” to convert the lost, I don’t think you will win many converts here. ]]

Actually, it’s just a reaction to the spate of anti-Christian and anti-theist comments that follow any mention, however peripheral, of religion-related subjects here. My purpose in coming here, originally, was to comment on solar effects of global warming, though I had been lurking for a long time before that to enjoy debunking of pseudoscience.

I have never been fool enough to try to convert confirmed ideological atheists. In general I have to know someone fairly well before I’ll talk about Jesus with him or her. But of course when Jesus, his people, or theists in general are attacked, I’ll respond.

]]> By: kid cool http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/28/coast-to-coast-am-wrap-up/comment-page-1/#comment-61398 kid cool Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:31:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/28/coast-to-coast-am-wrap-up/#comment-61398 OsakaGuy, I didn't know about his Physics of Christianity. Since I am not a Christian, I doubt that I have an interest in this book. I thought that once it was shown that the Universe won't end in a big crunch that pretty much killed his Omega Point theory. I did like his discussion of multiple histories and the good / evil debate. kid cool OsakaGuy,

I didn’t know about his Physics of Christianity. Since I am not a Christian, I doubt that I have an interest in this book.

I thought that once it was shown that the Universe won’t end in a big crunch that pretty much killed his Omega Point theory.

I did like his discussion of multiple histories and the good / evil debate.

kid cool

]]> By: OsakaGuy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/28/coast-to-coast-am-wrap-up/comment-page-1/#comment-61356 OsakaGuy Sun, 30 Dec 2007 21:31:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/12/28/coast-to-coast-am-wrap-up/#comment-61356 Kid Cool, I have read The Physics of Immortality. It is interesting, but is probably just science fiction. The idea of a god which doesn't exist until the Big Crunch (omega point) is fascinating though even if it is just idle speculation. Since writing that book it appears Tipler has converted to Christianity since his latest book The Physics of Christianity goes completely overboard from interesting Sci Fi to complete lunacy. Kid Cool, I have read The Physics of Immortality. It is interesting, but is probably just science fiction. The idea of a god which doesn’t exist until the Big Crunch (omega point) is fascinating though even if it is just idle speculation.

Since writing that book it appears Tipler has converted to Christianity since his latest book The Physics of Christianity goes completely overboard from interesting Sci Fi to complete lunacy.

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