romansh wrote:

John Platko wrote:

Scot Dutchy wrote:

John Platko wrote: imagine (how can I possibly know what's happening in worlds with other life forms when I have no EVIDENCE that they even exist) that God does for them, what God does for us, and that is: the best God can. If you have a further question about this just ask it in a detailed way and I'll do my best to give a detailed answer.

There is scientific evidence of their existence. So you cant accept REAL evidence but you accept myths as evidence?

A typical theist response when in doubt fingers in ears and keep repeating I don't understand.

BTW there is a massive thread about whether jesus existed maybe you might want to learn something? Pop by and read.

I didn't know there was scientific evidence for the existence of life beyond earth (space station included).
You'd be amazed at the number of things I don't know.
Can I get a link to the evidence?

It is OK to be agnostic about things you don't have evidence for ... whether it be alien life or God.

I was/am being agnostic about alien life.

John Platko wrote:
I was/am being agnostic about alien life.

That I would argue is the correct position.
I would say I am agnostic about god too. Though I could not say that about God ... especially some the Abrahamic interpretations.

Why are you not agnostic about God?

romansh wrote:

John Platko wrote:
I was/am being agnostic about alien life.

That I would argue is the correct position.
I would say I am agnostic about god too. Though I could not say that about God ... especially some the Abrahic interpretations.

Why are you not agnostic about God?

Well it's like this, if I'm taking out the garbage tonight and I see a flying saucer land in my back yard and unfamiliar looking creatures walk out and tell me they're not from this planet then I'll be apt to believe in aliens. (a SETI sighting might work too).

When I pray to God, I get answers that sound about as believable as the aliens would to me.

Only one question you must answer, then. Why is it that amputees don't enjoy that same success?

The_Metatron wrote:Only one question you must answer, then. Why is it that amputees don't enjoy that same success?

I imagine some do. But if you're question really is something more like, "Why the hell doesn't God just heal all amputees if "he's" so fucking all powerful, and loving, and merciful, and knowing?" I answer: God must not be able to.

Find one whose arm has re-grown. Just one kid who had a leg blown off by a landline sporting his new leg.

The point is simple. Remove ambiguity, and prayer does nothing. Nothing.

John Platko wrote:

The_Metatron wrote:Only one question you must answer, then. Why is it that amputees don't enjoy that same success?

I imagine some do. But if you're question really is something more like, "Why the hell doesn't God just heal all amputees if "he's" so fucking all powerful, and loving, and merciful, and knowing?" I answer: God must not be able to.

So God's not all powerful?

John Platko wrote:
When I pray to God, I get answers that sound about as believable as the aliens would to me.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/12082681/

Researchers emphasized that their work can't address whether God exists or answers prayers made on another's behalf.

So if the researchers think this does not address the god issue, why do you think your anecdotal study does?

edit fix quotes

John Platko wrote:When I pray to God, I get answers that sound about as believable as the aliens would to me.

If you talk to God, you are praying; If God talks to you, you have schizophrenia. - Thomas Szasz

hackenslash wrote:

John Platko wrote:When I pray to God, I get answers that sound about as believable as the aliens would to me.

If you talk to God, you are praying; If God talks to you, you have schizophrenia. - Thomas Szasz

Nope. John will explain it to you that you can get useful information from the god in question. Jeanne D'Arc is his witness. And Teresa of Avila and her divine orgasms. You cannot simply ignore such credible sources.

Yes, I saw his 'contribution' in the other thread.

The_Metatron wrote:The point is simple. Remove ambiguity, and prayer does nothing. Nothing.

Only if you don't understand the power of heuristics.

Thomas Eshuis wrote:

John Platko wrote:

The_Metatron wrote:Only one question you must answer, then. Why is it that amputees don't enjoy that same success?

I imagine some do. But if you're question really is something more like, "Why the hell doesn't God just heal all amputees if "he's" so fucking all powerful, and loving, and merciful, and knowing?" I answer: God must not be able to.

So God's not all powerful?

You'd have to be crazy to think so.

John Platko wrote:

The_Metatron wrote:The point is simple. Remove ambiguity, and prayer does nothing. Nothing.

Only if you don't understand the power of heuristics.

I'll start praying to the god of heuristics. Its name is...?

John Platko wrote:

Thomas Eshuis wrote:

John Platko wrote:

The_Metatron wrote:Only one question you must answer, then. Why is it that amputees don't enjoy that same success?

I imagine some do. But if you're question really is something more like, "Why the hell doesn't God just heal all amputees if "he's" so fucking all powerful, and loving, and merciful, and knowing?" I answer: God must not be able to.

So God's not all powerful?

You'd have to be crazy to think so.

I agree. And we've dealt with some of the crazies here.

John Platko wrote:

Thomas Eshuis wrote:

John Platko wrote:

The_Metatron wrote:Only one question you must answer, then. Why is it that amputees don't enjoy that same success?

I imagine some do. But if you're question really is something more like, "Why the hell doesn't God just heal all amputees if "he's" so fucking all powerful, and loving, and merciful, and knowing?" I answer: God must not be able to.

So God's not all powerful?

You'd have to be crazy to think so.

Why?

Also you still haven't presented any evidence that imagination is caused by something more than the human brain.

romansh wrote:

John Platko wrote:

romansh wrote:
When I pray to God, I get answers that sound about as believable as the aliens would to me.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/12082681/

Researchers emphasized that their work can't address whether God exists or answers prayers made on another's behalf.

So if the researchers think this does not address the god issue, why do you think your anecdotal study does?

Other "researchers" have come to different conclusions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOsK6Hz5-FU

But I would say, it is unreasonable to believe God is all powerful and can fix any medical or other serious problem a person has but for some mysterious reason that we can't fathom but God "understands" does not- because "he" loves us. That is a crazy making crap filled idea.

hackenslash wrote:

John Platko wrote:When I pray to God, I get answers that sound about as believable as the aliens would to me.

If you talk to God, you are praying; If God talks to you, you have schizophrenia. - Thomas Szasz

A long time ago, when prayer first started "working" after many years of just tuning in noise and thinking it was all a lot of nonsense I thought I'd better seek out professional advice to see if I was crazy. In fact I saw two people just to be careful. The first person couldn't figure out if I was crazy or not. I'm now married to the second person- and I'm pretty sure we're all a bit crazy.

Regina wrote:

John Platko wrote:

The_Metatron wrote:The point is simple. Remove ambiguity, and prayer does nothing. Nothing.

Only if you don't understand the power of heuristics.

I'll start praying to the god of heuristics. Its name is...?

ummmm RICHARD FEYNMAN ?

http://milesmathis.com/feyn2.html