Is Christianity Destined to Become a Form of Deism?
- ThomasHobbes
- Posts: 1122
- Joined: May 5th, 2018, 5:53 pm
Re: Is Christianity Destined to Become a Form of Deism?
necessity.
-
- Posts: 439
- Joined: January 12th, 2018, 4:01 pm
Re: Is Christianity Destined to Become a Form of Deism?
So in your view, the answer to why the universe exits (and presumably life as well) is not because "God did it", but rather the answer is: "Because it's necessary that it does"? It seems to me that both answers suggest that the person who holds the belief should stop looking for explanations. For that reason, I find both answers to be unsatisfactory.ThomasHobbes wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 9:13 am "You are claiming that the universe exists for a reason OR blind chance. Does your imagination not extend to other alternatives?"
necessity.
-
- Posts: 2466
- Joined: December 8th, 2016, 7:08 am
- Favorite Philosopher: Socrates
Re: Is Christianity Destined to Become a Form of Deism?
- ThomasHobbes
- Posts: 1122
- Joined: May 5th, 2018, 5:53 pm
Re: Is Christianity Destined to Become a Form of Deism?
My point was that there lies an alternative between chance and god. That alternative is Necessity, and requires no intention or randomness.anonymous66 wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 9:20 amSo in your view, the answer to why the universe exits (and presumably life as well) is not because "God did it", but rather the answer is: "Because it's necessary that it does"? It seems to me that both answers suggest that the person who holds the belief should stop looking for explanations. For that reason, I find both answers to be unsatisfactory.ThomasHobbes wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 9:13 am "You are claiming that the universe exists for a reason OR blind chance. Does your imagination not extend to other alternatives?"
necessity.
All I can say is that the more we understand the universe, the use of our knowledge of necessity has always given us the best answers.
Nothing happens by chance, and what kind of a bizarre god would create such absurdities?
Necessity is simply the unfolding of the universe in terms of it own order and character. As such it needs not explanation at all.
-
- Posts: 439
- Joined: January 12th, 2018, 4:01 pm
Re: Is Christianity Destined to Become a Form of Deism?
I'm looking for answers to questions like "why are we conscious?" and "how did life arise?" and "how is it that information became encoded in DNA (and before that RNA)?" All I can say is that "necessity" doesn't do much for me. Why is it necessary? How is it that it is necessary?ThomasHobbes wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 10:50 amMy point was that there lies an alternative between chance and god. That alternative is Necessity, and requires no intention or randomness.anonymous66 wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 9:20 am
So in your view, the answer to why the universe exits (and presumably life as well) is not because "God did it", but rather the answer is: "Because it's necessary that it does"? It seems to me that both answers suggest that the person who holds the belief should stop looking for explanations. For that reason, I find both answers to be unsatisfactory.
All I can say is that the more we understand the universe, the use of our knowledge of necessity has always given us the best answers.
Nothing happens by chance, and what kind of a bizarre god would create such absurdities?
Necessity is simply the unfolding of the universe in terms of it own order and character. As such it needs not explanation at all.
-
- Posts: 439
- Joined: January 12th, 2018, 4:01 pm
Re: Is Christianity Destined to Become a Form of Deism?
Necessity is no better an answer than "God did it" as far as I'm concerned.anonymous66 wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 10:56 am All I can say is that "necessity" doesn't do much for me. Why is it necessary? How is it that it is necessary?
- ThomasHobbes
- Posts: 1122
- Joined: May 5th, 2018, 5:53 pm
Re: Is Christianity Destined to Become a Form of Deism?
By what arrogance do you assume that any of these questions have the sort of answer you want?anonymous66 wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 10:56 amI'm looking for answers to questions like "why are we conscious?" and "how did life arise?" and "how is it that information became encoded in DNA (and before that RNA)?" All I can say is that "necessity" doesn't do much for me. Why is it necessary? How is it that it is necessary?ThomasHobbes wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 10:50 am
My point was that there lies an alternative between chance and god. That alternative is Necessity, and requires no intention or randomness.
All I can say is that the more we understand the universe, the use of our knowledge of necessity has always given us the best answers.
Nothing happens by chance, and what kind of a bizarre god would create such absurdities?
Necessity is simply the unfolding of the universe in terms of it own order and character. As such it needs not explanation at all.
All we can do is describe nature and how things come to be. For that you only need an understanding of necessity.
- ThomasHobbes
- Posts: 1122
- Joined: May 5th, 2018, 5:53 pm
Re: Is Christianity Destined to Become a Form of Deism?
Chance or God are absurdities.anonymous66 wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 10:58 amNecessity is no better an answer than "God did it" as far as I'm concerned.anonymous66 wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 10:56 am All I can say is that "necessity" doesn't do much for me. Why is it necessary? How is it that it is necessary?
The Universe just it. Take it as you find it.
Why invent crap?
-
- Posts: 439
- Joined: January 12th, 2018, 4:01 pm
Re: Is Christianity Destined to Become a Form of Deism?
You misunderstand me. There is no "sort of answer that I want". I'd be satisfied with whatever the answer is. I just know that neither "necessity" or "God did it" or "it's just chance" is the answer.
Consider a time hundreds of years ago, when scientists were trying to figure out how it is that life came to be the way it is. The answer for many years was "God did it", but instead of just accepting that, some people kept looking. And now we understand evolution by means of natural selection.
Looking for answers instead accepting "God did it"or "it's necessary" or "it's just chance" is a way to increase our knowledge.
-
- Posts: 439
- Joined: January 12th, 2018, 4:01 pm
Re: Is Christianity Destined to Become a Form of Deism?
What is it that you propose he can't read?ThomasHobbes wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 9:12 am If Behe disagrees then he's a damn fool who can't read.
- ThomasHobbes
- Posts: 1122
- Joined: May 5th, 2018, 5:53 pm
Re: Is Christianity Destined to Become a Form of Deism?
No you do not.anonymous66 wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 11:29 am @ThomasHobbes
You misunderstand me. There is no "sort of answer that I want". I'd be satisfied with whatever the answer is. I just know that neither "necessity" or "God did it" or "it's just chance" is the answer.
And you are in fact assuming that there is an answer. So tell me what sort of answer do you think there can be.
You can't even ask the question. Why would you expect an answer.
- ThomasHobbes
- Posts: 1122
- Joined: May 5th, 2018, 5:53 pm
Re: Is Christianity Destined to Become a Form of Deism?
The only basis for being a Christian. If you can't be bothered to read the New Testament, or accept what is written there, then you can't claim to be a Christian.anonymous66 wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 11:41 amWhat is it that you propose he can't read?ThomasHobbes wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 9:12 am If Behe disagrees then he's a damn fool who can't read.
... obviously.
-
- Posts: 439
- Joined: January 12th, 2018, 4:01 pm
Re: Is Christianity Destined to Become a Form of Deism?
How about responding to the rest of my post?ThomasHobbes wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 11:51 amNo you do not.anonymous66 wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 11:29 am @ThomasHobbes
You misunderstand me. There is no "sort of answer that I want". I'd be satisfied with whatever the answer is. I just know that neither "necessity" or "God did it" or "it's just chance" is the answer.
And you are in fact assuming that there is an answer. So tell me what sort of answer do you think there can be.
You can't even ask the question. Why would you expect an answer.
-
- Posts: 439
- Joined: January 12th, 2018, 4:01 pm
Re: Is Christianity Destined to Become a Form of Deism?
You're going to have to spell it out. What makes you think Behe doesn't understand the New Testament?ThomasHobbes wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 11:52 amThe only basis for being a Christian. If you can't be bothered to read the New Testament, or accept what is written there, then you can't claim to be a Christian.
... obviously.
- ThomasHobbes
- Posts: 1122
- Joined: May 5th, 2018, 5:53 pm
Re: Is Christianity Destined to Become a Form of Deism?
I am saying that he cannot claim to be a Christian and a Deist at the same time.anonymous66 wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 11:55 amYou're going to have to spell it out. What makes you think Behe doesn't understand the New Testament?ThomasHobbes wrote: ↑August 10th, 2018, 11:52 am
The only basis for being a Christian. If you can't be bothered to read the New Testament, or accept what is written there, then you can't claim to be a Christian.
... obviously.
What do you think "Christ"-ian implies? How can a Deity who left the universe to cruise at the beginning of time without further intervention "annoint" a king or "messiah"?
How can an non-interventionist god have created a religion?
2024 Philosophy Books of the Month
2023 Philosophy Books of the Month
Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023
Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023