05 May 05
Originally posted by ColettiHardly. If you read what dj2 posted carefully, you will notice that the people in the mist will die if they do nothing. Moreover, when the person jumps in the first example, he thinks that he might survive and find a way. Given that remaining offers him zero probability of surviving, and that jumping gives him some positive probability of surviving, reason tells him to jump.
Your idea of faith also differs from almost all Christians and most dictionaries.
The second case is exactly alike only the positive probability of surviving from jumping is increased. Case 2 is even more reasonable than the second.
These would have been faith (the religious type of faith) if he had claimed that he was sure that he would survive. For example, it would have been faith if he had claimed in case 1, yeah it's probably a long fall, but I believe on faith that there is a giant airbag at the bottom that will break my fall. Without assuming other information, there is no reason to think that a giant airbag lies at the bottom. Believing that one was there would be faith.
05 May 05
1 edit
Originally posted by ColettiYou like to equivocate between
Your idea of faith also differs from almost all Christians and most dictionaries.
faith -
1) Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
2) Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.
Your religious faith is of the nature in 2.
[edit: dictionary.com for these definitions]
The faith dj2 actually (unintentionally) describes in his post is 1.
05 May 05
Originally posted by telerionNeither case had a logical proof or depended on material evidence. Both were cases of a reasoned responses - one supported by evidence, and one not. If you claim there was material evidence then you would have to accept the Bible as evidence for justifying faith.
You like to equivocate between
faith -
1) Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
2) Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.
Your religious faith is of the nature in 2.
[edit: dictionary.com for these definitions]
The faith dj2 actually (unintentionally) describes in his post is 1.
05 May 05
2 edits
Originally posted by lucifershammerLet us suppose there is such a tortoise, and that it is the creature with the longest observed longevity in modern times.
Some species of tortoise, perhaps?
Is it reasonable to believe that a human lived 5 times as long as this creature, which has the longest observed longevity, and which itself lives twice as long as the most aged observed humans of modern times?
05 May 05
1 edit
Originally posted by DoctorScribblesObserved? I don't think you were around then.
How old was Noah reported to be? Almost 1000 years old? This is an outrageous claim. Is there any animal known to man that has an observed lifespan of even 200 years?
Aging has is mainly a genetic issue. Theoretically, scientist are close to solving the problem of aging. In another 20 years, aging may be just another disease we have a cure for.
There's really nothing outrageous about it.
05 May 05
Originally posted by DoctorScribblesWhat talking snakes? Who have you been taking to?
Do you think the existence of talking snakes is reasonable?
How about the loading of a pair of each of the world's billions of species onto a boat and keeping them alive together for weeks by a staff of a handful of humans?
How many species were there then? I don't believe we have an inventory. And "species" has a loose definition according to modern biologist. And how may species may have evolved since then? Then how many of the animals where full grown and how many might have been infants. And do you know the gestation period for dinosaurs eggs? Most of the answers to these questions would be speculation.
05 May 05
1 edit
Originally posted by DoctorScribblesIs it reasonable? Given that all mentions come from Genesis, probably not. Is it impossible, however?
Let us suppose there is such a tortoise, and that it is the creature with the longest observed longevity in modern times.
Is it reasonable to believe that a human lived 5 times as long as this creature, which has the longest obse ...[text shortened]... es twice as long as the most aged observed humans of modern times?