Subject:
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Re: The Brick Testament parts the Red Sea
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Fri, 20 Dec 2002 22:57:39 GMT
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Viewed:
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1908 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Dave Schuler writes:
> In lugnet.off-topic.debate, John Neal writes:
> >
> > > I understand and accept your choice to withdraw from the debate, but I
> > > thought it worthwhile to point out the flaw in your basic premiss re:
> > > number-of-believers. If your intent is to validate Christianity by some
> > > statistical or scientific reasoning, it is imperative that you get your
> > > methodology straight.
> >
> > Perhaps Nathan meant it in the reverse-- if it truly were a bogus religion, it
> > probably would have faded into the past by now (a sort of twist on Occam's
> > razor?). Since Christianity is still going strong after 2,000 years,
> > *something* is working
>
> But Buddhism is going strong for quite a bit longer, and Judaism is no
> johnny-come-lately, either. Are both of those belief systems as strongly
> validated as Christianity by virtue of their respective ages?
Certainly Judaism. I honestly don't know that much about Buddhism to comment,
but can billions of Chinese be wrong? And if they were, would you point it out,
knowing full well that you could anger them into all deciding to jump
off of a step at the same time and knock the earth out of orbit???? Doubtful.
> > (a parking lot full of trucks usually *does* mean good
> > eats;-)
>
> I like that analogy!
I was just talking to someone off line about the Spamcake Diner-- must have
been something residual:-)
>
> > Though numbers aren't proof, it is certainly evidence (however much weight
> > you care to give it)
>
> But we have to be careful. Numbers are evidence belief, but not of
> veracity. It's not as though we're proving the existence of cancer or
> smallpox (nor even the quality of a roadside diner); we're trying to verify
> the existence of a metaphysical entity whose only evidence is in the
> "hearts" of his believers.
Agreed. It isn't and shouldn't be a matter of rational thought, but of faith.
JOHN
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: The Brick Testament parts the Red Sea
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| (...) But Buddhism is going strong for quite a bit longer, and Judaism is no johnny-come-lately, either. Are both of those belief systems as strongly validated as Christianity by virtue of their respective ages? (...) I like that analogy! (...) But (...) (22 years ago, 20-Dec-02, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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