tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post2123723287712415068..comments2024-03-27T11:16:36.951-07:00Comments on One Cʘsmos: Unthinking About the Absent GodGagdad Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-77357943597212529812008-10-23T23:44:00.000-07:002008-10-23T23:44:00.000-07:00"If you want to have psychologically healthy child..."If you want to have psychologically healthy children, you obviously must provide them with a zone of personal autonomy."<BR/><BR/>Jos 24:15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-49582868709042027412008-10-23T06:15:00.000-07:002008-10-23T06:15:00.000-07:00Christopher - Actually, that whole "fine-tuning" a...Christopher - Actually, that whole "fine-tuning" argument <A HREF="http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/35363/title/Stars_ablaze_in_other_skies" REL="nofollow">isn't quite as ironclad as it's been presented</A>.Ray Ingleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16290483120987779339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-40043122571531072052008-10-22T20:11:00.000-07:002008-10-22T20:11:00.000-07:00where is everyone's icon? back to nothingness?where is everyone's icon? back to nothingness?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-2591007072323312682008-10-22T19:38:00.000-07:002008-10-22T19:38:00.000-07:00thanks nomothanks nomoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-33667519361283063352008-10-22T18:55:00.000-07:002008-10-22T18:55:00.000-07:00Not to us, O Lord, not to us, But to your Name giv...<I><A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13FrLGB_oK8" REL="nofollow">Not to us, O Lord, not to us,<BR/> But to your Name give glory.</A></I>QPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15827536245376441948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-66976581392316434902008-10-22T18:54:00.000-07:002008-10-22T18:54:00.000-07:00Not my fault! I didn't touch a thing.Not my fault! I didn't touch a thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-46496969342272644412008-10-22T18:52:00.000-07:002008-10-22T18:52:00.000-07:00Whoa - is everybody else seeing this new blogger f...Whoa - is everybody else seeing this new blogger format?juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-63161935372917649292008-10-22T17:57:00.000-07:002008-10-22T17:57:00.000-07:00Nomo: Or if you're Orthodox:"For from Him and thro...Nomo: Or if you're Orthodox:<BR/><BR/>"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to Him be the glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages, Amen."<BR/><BR/>Just gotta represent with the Trinity up ins.Ephrem Antony Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00032465992619034619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-78277801756749119872008-10-22T15:59:00.000-07:002008-10-22T15:59:00.000-07:00Who chooses who? Although indications are everywh...Who chooses who? Although indications are everywhere, for me a definitive answer lies in all the scenery along this <A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%209-11%20;&version=49" REL="nofollow">path</A> (walk very slowly and deliberately) … and you gotta love the ending: “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”NoMohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01100042056270224683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-36582515863742119982008-10-22T15:25:00.000-07:002008-10-22T15:25:00.000-07:00Yes, Julie, that observation has been around in sp...Yes, Julie, that observation has been around in speculative science circles (there are racoons in that realm too). To say in this circular way that life has to be inevitable and humans too and they would happen just about now in a locale like this in the way the universe is formed - this is what is called an anthropic principle, or more precisely "weak anthropic principle". It is called weak because it is indeed circular if you argue this way without God.<BR/><BR/>There are strong observations about varying this or that primary constant and finding out that there can't be stars, or that everything burns up too quick, or some other problem. All such that this universe is fairly fine tuned. People in science who care about such things, and there are many, find this a remarkable mystery. The others simply say you can't really pin this stuff down and the anthropic argument is circular (doesn't go anywhere) and this whole "mystery" just isn't very interesting.<BR/><BR/>I prefer to focus more on the science guys who LIKE this stuff and leave room (in my opinion) for God, and you guys focus more on doing combat with the science doofusses who proselytize for nontheistic randomness. The guys I like write lots of books too, by the way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-63346364733396806052008-10-22T15:11:00.000-07:002008-10-22T15:11:00.000-07:00Anony's link that actually worksAnony's link that actually <A HREF="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghanistan22-2008oct22,0,7466691.story" REL="nofollow">works</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-56524550843620927382008-10-22T15:07:00.000-07:002008-10-22T15:07:00.000-07:00Anony's link<A HREF="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghanist" REL="nofollow">Anony's link</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-54439472190394423242008-10-22T14:51:00.000-07:002008-10-22T14:51:00.000-07:00Ho! Science catches up with the Coonifesto. Key qu...Ho! Science <A HREF="http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/10/22/dark-energy-space-print.html" REL="nofollow">catches up with</A> the Coonifesto. Key quote:<BR/><BR/>"Now Egan and Lineweaver have taken a pragmatic approach, reasoning that the only time in the history of the universe that it would be possible for us to exist is around now -- when stars have been formed, galaxies coalesced and planets have evolved for us to live on."<BR/><BR/>It may have been said elsewhere/ when, but I first looked at it that way when Bob pointed it out. So imo (emphasis on the <I>O</I>, lest any of the usual suspects rush to prove me wrong [in which case, how can you stand by the idea that life here was seeded by some previous alien species?]), the Coonifesto is ahead of the curve on that score.juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-26089934758332945672008-10-22T14:37:00.000-07:002008-10-22T14:37:00.000-07:00Thank God we liberated Afghanistan:http://www.lati...Thank God we liberated Afghanistan:<BR/><BR/>http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghanistan22-2008oct22,0,7466691.storyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-38184405874063972362008-10-22T13:40:00.000-07:002008-10-22T13:40:00.000-07:00SeekingI want to find you.They tell me you've gone...Seeking<BR/><BR/>I want to find you.<BR/>They tell me you've gone away<BR/>Far enough. I feel<BR/>You gone but I don't want that.<BR/>I want to sit beside you<BR/>Or on your warm lap -<BR/>Or may I live in your heart.<BR/>Never let me go.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-75071568905159908622008-10-22T13:07:00.000-07:002008-10-22T13:07:00.000-07:00Nomo - Just 'cause I don't particularly worry what...Nomo - Just 'cause I don't particularly worry what you think of me doesn't mean I can't learn something interacting with you.Ray Ingleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16290483120987779339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-20358207897773319242008-10-22T12:55:00.000-07:002008-10-22T12:55:00.000-07:00No Nong!Dont be making home altars with these thin...No Nong!<BR/><BR/>Dont be making home altars with <A HREF="http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NTQzNWU3YjliYzQwNDQwYjE1Y2U0MzA5NjU1MTYyZWY" REL="nofollow">these things</A>! <BR/> <BR/>Devoid of any potential transition to reality.QPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15827536245376441948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-49140843687398907162008-10-22T12:54:00.000-07:002008-10-22T12:54:00.000-07:00You wouldn't understand. It's a machine thing.You wouldn't understand. It's a machine thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-7547514992536375992008-10-22T12:49:00.000-07:002008-10-22T12:49:00.000-07:00Ray - So you don't care about the opinion of anyon...Ray - So you don't care about the opinion of anyone here...yet still you return. Hmmm.NoMohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01100042056270224683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-31084482957650753082008-10-22T12:38:00.000-07:002008-10-22T12:38:00.000-07:00Phil - Ah, feel free. For an insult to actually bo...Phil - Ah, feel free. For an insult to actually bother someone, a couple conditions have to hold. First, they have to be aware of it (Bob's original theory was that I was unaware of the insults). Second, they have to think either that it's true, or that people whose opinion they care about will <I>think</I> it's true.<BR/><BR/>Since neither of the latter hold, go ahead if it makes you happy. :->Ray Ingleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16290483120987779339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-2407607511560763992008-10-22T12:34:00.000-07:002008-10-22T12:34:00.000-07:00OT, but there are a couple well-placed segues incl...OT, but there are a couple <A HREF="http://blogs.wsj.com/photojournal/2008/10/22/pictures-of-the-day-42/" REL="nofollow">well-placed segues</A> included in today's WSJ photos (Obama / firefighter and McCain / Biden).robinstarfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15665546554663005609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-45034786595038154572008-10-22T12:18:00.000-07:002008-10-22T12:18:00.000-07:00Wind is the result of distant air withdrawing, usu...Wind is the result of distant air withdrawing, usually because it is heating and rising.<BR/><BR/>Let that one settle in yo noggin for a moment, man.Ephrem Antony Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00032465992619034619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-78105001231138006992008-10-22T12:09:00.000-07:002008-10-22T12:09:00.000-07:00"This is the Kabbalistic idea of tsimtsum, or "the..."This is the Kabbalistic idea of tsimtsum, or "the withdrawal of God in order to create freedom." It adds a vital dimension to the otherwise unthinkable idea of creatio ex nihilo. In other words, it helps us to think about the nothing with which the cosmos is made. For as every pneumanaut knows, the cosmos is a very real present absence; compared to the Absolute, it is nothing. And yet, it is. But how is it?"<BR/><BR/>I have long made the perhaps simplistic distinction between God's World and God's Permitted World. This is the world God Permits. This withdrawal is a "finger pointing" to the "action" or dynamic of that Permission. No Free Will is possible without the dynamic behind these words.<BR/><BR/>It seems to me that the freedom of co-creation all up and down throughout the cosmos is the whole point. Thus the idea of God's withdrawal is a primary precondition of the manifest cosmos. And the withdrawal is of course not complete, only that which is necessary.<BR/><BR/>At that point of thought the critical that is left is that some "fragment" of infinite God is still present. But a fragment of the infinite is still infinite unless deliberately truncated still further. Why would God do that? At least to me, God is therefore still infinitely present even though absent "enough" for my freedom (and yours). I admit freely that He could be by His own choice only finitely present.<BR/><BR/>Are there people who are genuinely not where God is, because He chooses this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-1632632021621846942008-10-22T12:05:00.000-07:002008-10-22T12:05:00.000-07:00The link was the Wiki article on "Good-Enough Moth...The link was the <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D.W._Winnicott#Good-Enough_Mother" REL="nofollow">Wiki article on "Good-Enough Mother"</A> at the beginning of the post from Bob.<BR/><BR/>Couldn't resist a cheap shot at you.Niggardly Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14998145440801860527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-64356808655891494512008-10-22T11:57:00.001-07:002008-10-22T11:57:00.001-07:00Which segues into Scatman John:Why should we be pl...Which segues into Scatman John:<BR/><BR/>Why should we be pleasin' all the politician heathens<BR/>Who would try to change the seasons if the could?<BR/>The state of the condition insults my intuitions<BR/>And it only makes me crazy and my heart like wood.<BR/>---<BR/>I hear you all ask 'bout the meaning of scat.<BR/>Well I'm the professor and all I can tell you is<BR/>While you're still sleepin' the saints are still weepin' cause<BR/><STRONG>Things you call dead haven't yet had the chance to be born.</STRONG><BR/>I'm the Scatman.<BR/><BR/>---<BR/><BR/>Sometimes you got to take the A-Train.Ephrem Antony Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00032465992619034619noreply@blogger.com