If you were God?

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
Free willed beings can choose something other than A. God or B. No God? Is that what you're saying?

What I am saying is that their choices are affected by countless things which come about as a result of the experiences they have.

Originally posted by Darfius
Second rate? Lewis is a giant in the field of 20th century literature. Maybe you should stick to clogging your posts with probability symbols, as your ignorance in most everything else is beginning to show.

Mere Christianity has been called a top tier apologetical work by both Christians and skeptics alike since its publication. It is not fiction, and ...[text shortened]... ating your absurd request that I explain all Christianity to you personally before you believe.

I have read it. You need to venture out of that small pond you're in.

Originally posted by dottewell
Well, I have an MPhil in philosophy from Cambridge, and a large number of my friends are academic philosophers.

But if Todd says otherwise, I guess...

What I provided was sufficient to refute your claim that he is not taken seriously.

Originally posted by Darfius
Natural forces occur everywhere on the face of the planet. If you were trying to suggest that God could have populated people only where such did not occur, then it was a poor suggestion.

Man, your god isn't very tough is he?

Originally posted by dottewell
No; my point was only that natural forces are not an "unknown quantity" to the omniscient creator of the natural world.

God certainly could have created people who CHOSE, freely, to live in areas that would never have been affected by earthquakes. He could equally have created a world that never experienced earthquakes at all.

There are no unknown fa ...[text shortened]... istory would choose to do IF he created the world as it actually is. And he went ahead anyway.

A world without earthquakes is a water world. Tectonic activity is necessary to have continents. Whoops.

No unknown factors as far as God is concerned, but apparently quite a few where you are.

Originally posted by Darfius
Said in complete ignorance:

"In concluding this discussion, I would first like to urge anyone who is not familiar with the works of C.S. Lewis to take the time to become acquainted with him." - Todd Kappelman M.A. in philosophy

Philosophers like William Lane Craig and Alvin Platinga view C.S. Lewis as a solid philosopher as well. Frankly, I don't think you have any support for the claim.

Wow and MA, my my. Really is that the best you've got?

Of course Craig and Plantinga say that. They're apologists. As philosophers they are laughing stocks.

Originally posted by Darfius
A world without earthquakes is a water world. Tectonic activity is necessary to have continents. Whoops.

No unknown factors as far as God is concerned, but apparently quite a few where you are.

God in a box. Who created these physical laws?

Originally posted by telerion
Man, your god isn't very tough is he?

lol. Yea, what a sissy. Not being able to make a spot for humans on Earth where the laws of physics break down and have them survive simultaneously.

You skeptics are cute when you try to be sarcastic.

Originally posted by telerion
Wow and MA, my my. Really is that the best you've got?

Of course Craig and Plantinga say that. They're apologists. As philosophers they are laughing stocks.

Laughing stocks according to whom? Your posturing, as always, is unimpressive. And your philosophy can't touch either of the two, so you're also speaking above yourself.

By the way, next time you quote a secular philosopher, I'll say "of course he'd say that, he's a secularist." Grow up.

Originally posted by Darfius
What I provided was sufficient to refute your claim that he is not taken seriously.

Actually, it wasn't. One first-hand quote from someone with an MA, and anecdotal reference to two other philosophers (with quite differing reputations).

I was responding to your "said in complete ignorance", which was unjustified.

Originally posted by dottewell
No; my point was only that natural forces are not an "unknown quantity" to the omniscient creator of the natural world.

God certainly could have created people who CHOSE, freely, to live in areas that would never have been affected by earthquakes. He could equally have created a world that never experienced earthquakes at all.

There are no unknown fa ...[text shortened]... istory would choose to do IF he created the world as it actually is. And he went ahead anyway.

Dottewell, can you imagine that God created this world and all living beings in it; and yet doesn't have (enough) resources to control everything? That He can't after all be everywhere at the same time? That He can't possibly know everything? Hence the possibility that someone might worship Him royally and yet has the lousiest of lucks and die unnoticed (by Him)? That an unborn child just die for no apparent reason because God wasn't there to save him? To me, that would at least explain many unfortunate tragedies that had happened to good religious people.

Originally posted by Darfius
lol. Yea, what a sissy. Not being able to make a spot for humans on Earth where the laws of physics break down and have them survive simultaneously.

You skeptics are cute when you try to be sarcastic.

The lack of earthquakes in some place is not a violation of physics. Laws of physics are written by the designer. Did your god make this creation or did he just follow Muffy's orders?

Where are your necessary and sufficient conditions?

Originally posted by telerion
God in a box. Who created these physical laws?

Does it matter? Make a better suggestion.

Originally posted by Darfius
Does it matter? Make a better suggestion.

You didn't get the point.

Originally posted by dottewell
Actually, it wasn't. One first-hand quote from someone with an MA, and anecdotal reference to two other philosophers (with quite differing reputations).

I was responding to your "said in complete ignorance", which was unjustified.

It was, but I'll give you the point if you can explain WHY Lewis isn't respected. If you say "Because he was a Christian", well, please say that. 😉