Posted: Mar 10, 2020 9:15 am
ambivalentskeptic wrote:I'm curious to hear other skeptics' thoughts and advice on something. Most of what I know about the world suggests to me that it's unlikely there are any gods or other supernatural beings who intervene in our world, but of course I'm open to changing my mind with sufficient evidence. One of the few things that makes me wonder is Joan of Arc and the predictions she apparently made that came true, as described under "Jehanne's Prophecies" at http://www.stjoan-center.com/topics/jgrundy.html and under "Other Prophocies" at http://saint-joan-of-arc.com/prophecies.htm.
I'm particularly puzzled about her predicting she'd be captured by midsummer day (June 24) of the next year which came true when she was captured in next year's May and her accurate prediction of getting the Dauphin crowned in the coming summer. Does anyone have any guesses for non-supernatural ways she could have predicted these things? If we couldn't think of a way, do you think it'd be rational to consider a supernatural explanation, or just to conclude that there's probably a natural one that we haven't figured out?
I think if i was given a list of choices to choose from
One
the surviving record may represent the fabrications of corrupt court officials or her own possible fabrications to protect state secrets. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_Arc#Visions
Two
epilepsy, migraine, tuberculosis, and schizophrenia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_Arc#Visions
Three
Joan of Arc was not actually burned at the stake; she was secretly the half sister of King Charles VII; she was not a true Christian but a member of a pagan cult; most of the story of Joan of Arc is actually a myth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_A ... t_theories
I think i would hedge my bet on number one, and roll it up with the last one from number three..May even consider taking my slip back from the bookie, to consider including the second last one from number 3 to the accumulator