tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post2997679206631428468..comments2024-03-25T17:35:02.238-04:00Comments on Debunking Christianity: Weisberger Evaluates the Arguments in the Loftus-Wood DebateUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-88016044962849374412007-03-06T13:06:00.000-05:002007-03-06T13:06:00.000-05:00Do you lower-case the name of every being whose ex...Do you lower-case the name of every being whose existence is in question? How about santa claus, the wizard of oz and hercules?<BR/>http://www.jonesfiles.com/blog.htmlHacksaw Duckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08779494116778446650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-48878516871736313822007-03-05T20:59:00.000-05:002007-03-05T20:59:00.000-05:00Dr. Weisberger makes an interesting point, but doe...Dr. Weisberger makes an interesting point, but doesn't take it far enough when she states "god itself does not have free will, namely the ability to even choose to do evil since god is perfectly good."<BR/>In fact, an omniscient god, if we assume that this being has a 'plan for the Universe' whether we define the being as 'good' or whether we define 'forwarding this plan' as good, or even if we leave the question of 'good' unresolved, <B><I>can have no free will</I></B>.<BR/><BR/>Free will involves the making of choices at 'decision points.' But at ANY decision point, god, if omniscient, knows the results of the possible choices, and knows which choice will best advance its plan. How is it possible to argue that it is 'free' to choose anything but that?<BR/><BR/>A minor corollary to this is that the concept of this god 'answering prayers' is an absurdity and the act of praying (prayers of petition, that is) is the most blasphemous arrogance possible. ("C'mon, God, I know you have a plan for the Universe, but this is ME speaking, surely you'll tweak that a little to do ME a favor.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-58055348780858547692007-03-05T20:29:00.000-05:002007-03-05T20:29:00.000-05:00That's a great idea David. That's fine with me.That's a great idea David. That's fine with me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-29401327275666179432007-03-05T20:25:00.000-05:002007-03-05T20:25:00.000-05:00Busy at the moment. I can probably read it this we...Busy at the moment. I can probably read it this weekend. Anticipating the content based on the author, I'll probably write a response, too.<BR/><BR/>In the meantime, why don't we post the entire debate on YouTube? That way, we can both put it on our blogs, and everyone can watch it and see what they think.David Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10613366053392696689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-41124163299162043642007-03-05T15:13:00.000-05:002007-03-05T15:13:00.000-05:00Only this can be said:That was long, but it was to...Only this can be said:<BR/><BR/>That was long, but it was totally worth the time.Lokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08411761581686216312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-46459974351721364682007-03-05T13:38:00.000-05:002007-03-05T13:38:00.000-05:00In reading this again I noticed that Dr. Weisberge...In reading this again I noticed that Dr. Weisberger totally skipped Mr. Wood's mentioning of the arguments for the existence of "God," including the design argument. The reason why has already noted by me: 1) Mr. Wood never argued for them, he just mentioned them, so there was nothing to respond to; and 2)The debate was not whether Mr. Wood's "God" existed so much as how he can explain the presence of intense suffering if such a "God" does exist. I had already told Mr. Wood that in practically none of the literature that I see do Christian scholars counter the problem of evil by arguing for the existence of "God." I had already hypothetically granted that his God exists. Given the existence of Mr. Wood's "God," can he explain the presence of intense evil? And my answer is a resounding "NO!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-14943897157428710822007-03-05T05:29:00.000-05:002007-03-05T05:29:00.000-05:00Once again I'd like to thank Andrea for her work i...Once again I'd like to thank Andrea for her work in this whole area. For those who don't know, besides writing her excellent book called <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Suffering-Belief-Anglo-American-Defense-Religion/dp/0820439754/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-3407070-9831810?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173090465&sr=1-1" REL="nofollow">Suffering Belief </A>, she also wrote the chapter on the problem of evil for <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Companion-Atheism-Companions-Philosophy/dp/0521842700/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product/103-3407070-9831810" REL="nofollow">The Cambridge Companion to Atheism</A>, edited by Michael Martin.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com