On the Nature of Things | Forum

Parodite wrote:. . Kmich flunked the sophomore level and dropped out before he learned to walk and now plays with Marcus in the sand box.

Tacky, tacky, Rhapsody . . such hubris is unbecoming . . . . or are you perhaps channeling Ibs?

1). . science cannot remain science and make universal epistemological or metaphysical claims. In this sense, “scientism,” which claims the universal competence of science as the arbiter of truth is not science at all - not even a “pseudo-science,” but more a “pseudo-philosophy.” . . 2) The charge ...

Endovelico wrote:Ideology? Never! Values and principles, yes, ideologies are mere scripts for failure.

But isn't an ideology essentially a systematized set of values and principles?

Apologies to an Unbeliever by Thomas Merton This faith has too often become rigid, or complex, sentimental, foolish, or impertinent. It has lost itself in imaginings and unrealities, dispersed itself in pontifical and organizational routines, or evaporated in activism and loose talk. I could not ag...

Parodite wrote:. . the One is Changing

From what to what?

I hope you can read this, Rhap . . .

. . a Jesus that is basically a social and moral reformer who speaks to and for the poor, the rejected and forgotten of society. . . ending up with Jesus primarily as a Rabbi, teacher and wonder-doer. . . end up with a boy who grows up without a father, and who seeks a new Father figure in Heaven a...

Parodite wrote:

Marcus wrote:In the end analysis, Scientism and its stepchildren arise out of the displacement of God.

God doesn't need your help to save him from materialism. Why even bother?

Why bother?

Because while God needs no help to save Him from Materialism, we certainly do . . . need help, that is . .

Heracleum Persicum wrote:. . A safe bet is NSA reading all mails in the world and listening to all phone calls in the world .. and the result is what you see

Conclusion is less energy is put into understanding what is going on.

Bureaucrats care nothing for results.

Bureaucrats care only for process.

In the end analysis, Scientism and its stepchildren arise out of the displacement of God. All that is left is the mind of man, undifferentiated particularity, and descent into the homogeneity of the herd. Poor man . . unlike God, man cannot create ex nihilo but must work with what is given . . . . ....

Parodite wrote:Too much folly in this thread. That Marcus doesn't get... ok. . . .

Give me another try, Rhap . . explain yourself again.

In all candor, I can understand C. S. Lewis, Michael Polanyi, Rosenstock-Huessy, and more.

That I "don't get" you could be you, not me . . ?

. . For me, the standard perceived difference between the material and the spiritual . . is as meaningless as say, the difference between pebbles and mushrooms. . . Thanks, Rhap, and I'll wait to hear more on your views. In the meantime, we live in a world of meaningful particularity that really, r...

Rhap, First of all, my apologies if I've come across as hubristic or condescending in any way . . that is assuredly not my intent. Each of us is free to believe as our conscience dictates . . no argument here. Second, I am using the definition of Scientism as ". . the view that the characterist...

One begins reasoning from God or without God, all else follows from one or the other. I understand. The first thing you do in the morning is putting on a hat and carry it all day long... or you don't. All else follows from one or the other. The day will be with-hat or without-hat. But Marcus, would...

One begins reasoning from God or without God, all else follows from one or the other. Epistemology models ontology: "I coined the phrase, and my wife heard me say it so often that she gave me a sweatshirt with the slogan inscribed upon it. For me the phrase is a succinct statement of a realisti...

So you agree with indirect realism? What I believe is that a God-created, objective reality exists outside me and that I can make contact with that reality. As for your question: . . both direct and indirect realism are frankly incredible , although each is incredible for different reasons. The dir...

Marcus, put for a moment on hold what you think I mean and say "actually". What makes more sense to you, "direct realism" or "indirect realism". See Direct and indirect realism : . . that we have knowledge of the outside world that is unconstrained by our sense organs ...

[tongue in cheek] Btw.. aren't some of you (Nonc for starters) just trying to tongue-in-cheek get even with those people who blame religion instead of the people who f*ck it up occasionally? [/tongue in cheek] In a very rough sense, yes. It would be more accurate to say that all human belief is sub...

Marcus, . . I do know you just don't understand what I'm saying aqa what I'm trying to say. . . You could be right, Rhap, but maybe not. Let me take a stab at it. You are, as I hear you, trying to construct a case for the non-existence of anything transcendent/metaphysical, and you are doing it by ...

monster_gardener wrote:. . G_d created the Universe & the Laws & materialistic processes that run it under most circumstances....

"For in him we live and move and have our being." —St. Paul to the Greeks

. . what is it that it represented in the brain and perceived as "the material world with a material brain embedded in it"? How would you call that original source material that we only know of in terms of representations? . . Good question, Rhap, and one that entertains only two possible...

. . what is it that it represented in the brain and perceived as "the material world with a material brain embedded in it"? How would you call that original source material that we only know of in terms of representations? . . Good question, Rhap, and one that entertains only two possible...

Today's problems are the collapse of the Common Vision....... It came with the Christian triumph over Roman society. Its high point came just before the schism in the 14th c. and it's been on the wane since the Reformation. The common vision is what makes our individual realities a universal one an...

Why doesn't the cop bring the 12 gauge to the traffic stop? Maybe it would be bad judgment? . . Indeed. If he pulled you over for a bad brake light, the 12 gauge would be bad judgement. Howeverrrrr . . if it came up on his dash computer that you had an outstanding warrant for murder, trust me, he'd...

. . the open carry of long guns is more of a hazard than a defense. . . How so? The most lethal weapon of defense has got to be a 12-gauge loaded with buckshot . . I'm lost . . . how would/does open-carry of a long-gun constitute a hazard? Cops keep the shotgun locked in the patrol car so that no o...