Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83 based; site hou2a.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!houxm!hou2a!54375rr From: 54375rr@hou2a.UUCP (R.RENNINGER) Newsgroups: net.philosophy Subject: Re: Omniscience and Freedom Message-ID: <430@hou2a.UUCP> Date: Tue, 9-Oct-84 12:54:49 EDT Article-I.D.: hou2a.430 Posted: Tue Oct 9 12:54:49 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 10-Oct-84 04:26:08 EDT References: <379@wucs.UUCP> <423@hou2a.UUCP>, <4424@fortune.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ Lines: 33 Keywords: Omniscience God > You seem to think that _your_ beliefs have somethng to do with the > nature of God. If He "exists", so to speak, what He is like > may well have nothing to do with how you and I finally decide > on how to use words like "mind" and "consciousness". > With respect to God or any other superior being or force or > whatever, we are like the proverbial seven blind blind men > and the elephant. Anything we say is impure speculation. > They or it or Him will do whatever they or it or He > damn well pleases. If we think it is contradictory or impossible or > generally un-God-like, that's _our_ problem.... > How can we then hope to define a supeior being with > certainty? > > Yours for a universe filled with surprises. > Henry Polard > {ihnp4,cbosgd,amd}!fortune!polard You can define him any way you want, but you shouldn't expect anyone to believe that you are talking about something that exists unless your description is non-contradictory and you provide some evidence that what you describe is real. Making up a notion of "God" or "supreme being" is easy, but first you really ought to offer some evidence. Our thoughts most assuredly do not determine reality. We must take the utmost care just to make sure that they reflect reality. It doesn't help matters if we uncritically accept notions that are unsupported by facts or logic. I would much rather admit my ignorance about the world than to make assumptions, revel in their incoherence, and call them explanations. Bob Renninger hou2a!54375