Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] More on Pascal's wager [was: Famous atheistchanges his mind]

[Rick Buford <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

Stephen Montgomery-Smith wrote:

> It seems that these discussions create a lot less heat than they used 
> to.  Or perhaps it was the politics rather than the religion that got 
> people excited.

Take your pick. I'll argue about anything =)

[Joan of Arc story snipped...]

> There is much in this story that would appeal to the theistic 15th 
> century folk, who much like myself had this tendency to attribute the 
> many events of life to the hand of God working (like my interpretation 
> of the hurricane and tornado that drove the British from sacking 
> Washington D.C. in 1814).  But I feel that even if modern atheists and 
> agnostics would study the well documented story of Joan of Arc, that 
> they might find many mysteries within it.

There are mysteries all around you, none of which require the "hand of 
God" as an explanation. You can find many inconsistencies in the bible 
too, but a faithful person simply isn't able to set aside their faith in 
a manner that allows them to question their beliefs. This is the very 
definition and failing of "faith".

> This one woman is probably responsible for driving England out of 
> France, and had she not done so there is no doubt in my mind that our 
> present history would be very very different - for example, I think 
> that the present day USA would be completely different in a manner 
> that cannot at all be predicted.

While discussing this Joan of Arc, perhaps Hitler would be a good 
counterpoint. This man drove France out of France, most of Europe out of 
their homes, and given a few more years unchecked, probably would have 
conquered the planet. Does this make him a "hand of God" too?

-- 
    People who are willing to rely on the government to keep them safe are pretty much standing on Darwin's mat, pounding on the door, screaming, "Take me, take me!" 

Carl Jacobs 




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