tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post9218107718278138936..comments2024-03-27T11:16:36.951-07:00Comments on One Cʘsmos: The Limits of an Unlimited GodGagdad Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-28122688709966991312007-12-24T11:40:00.000-08:002007-12-24T11:40:00.000-08:00Good Poem, Will. Most intrugeing.Good Poem, Will. Most intrugeing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-8505795046536718632007-12-24T09:01:00.001-08:002007-12-24T09:01:00.001-08:00Bob:OC has been a major development in my life, as...Bob:<BR/><BR/>OC has been a major development in my life, as I know it has for many others here. I'd wager that few bloggers with hundreds of thousands of readers (e.g., Glenn Reynolds - who is a great guy) have the tiniest fraction of an impact on the lives of any of them compared with OC.<BR/><BR/>OC itself is almost holographic. I've long stopped trying to read the posts "linearly", the way I would read a prospectus or technical specification. Each post contains myriad strands connected to other posts, to the book, to comments -- only over time does the whole begin to emerge. Few people in our culture have the inclination or patience to follow this path, but that's a <I>good thing</I>. The alternative is Deepak Doo Doo. <BR/><BR/>OC has aligned me in ways which have been critical at this juncture. Wealth -- though nowhere nearly as dangerous as power -- invites corruption of the soul. This past year represented the build-up to the point where I let myself go -- to cut the old materialistic, ego-driven ties -- to immerse myself in God as much as I in my humbleness am able to do so.<BR/><BR/>So many things are changing. Some weeks ago I mentioned here I was having an affair with a 23 year old blond co-ed. She has my copy of Polanyi's <I>Meaning</I>. I ordered a new one from Amazon this morning...Stephen Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13474300559219020772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-6850564142627887332007-12-24T09:01:00.000-08:002007-12-24T09:01:00.000-08:00The Scott Walker didn't expire, he was killed.The Scott Walker didn't expire, he was killed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-59377623143251451282007-12-24T08:59:00.000-08:002007-12-24T08:59:00.000-08:00will said... "In a couple of his sci-fi novels -De...will said... "In a couple of his sci-fi novels -Destination: Void and The Jesus Incident - Frank (Dune) Herbert has scientists tying to create a computerized artificial intelligence, one that doesn't go bonkers the second it comes online. Finally, they manage to give the computer an "unconscious mind", and presto, true artificial intelligence! And surprise, the intelligence turns out to be God. I mean literally so."<BR/><BR/>Will, I enjoyed those also...(rustling through top shelf of bookcase), ah, here it is. The last line of Destination:Void was a winner:"'Flattery knows' said the Vocoder.'You must decide how you will WorShip Me."Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-59078743391667788352007-12-24T08:49:00.000-08:002007-12-24T08:49:00.000-08:00"But Bob feels that God wouldn't be God if there w..."But Bob feels that God wouldn't be God if there weren't this built-in aspect of indeterminacy. Otherwise the cosmos is just a machine, so it would eliminate creativity, free will, and morality in one fool swipe. Each of these things only has meaning in a cosmos that is genuinely constituted of nature + adventure, fate + providence, matter + soul, freedom + determinacy, etc. Ironically, materialists and metaphysical monists are singing from the same Him book, since they sing Him in the same way, i.e., as a big simpleOne, if not ton."<BR/><BR/>No comment needed, just wanted to see it again.<BR/><BR/>Not being the procrastinator Bob is (imagine putting off Christmas shopping until Christmas Eve! Unbelievable), I planned ahead and did all my shopping the day <I>before</I> Christmas Eve. Yep... mister planning and foresight - that's me. Unfortunately it meant I couldn't get in on the action today... yesterday... or see the youtubes... why do they expire?<BR/><BR/>Anyway, Merry Christmas all!Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-61461448513027706592007-12-24T07:28:00.000-08:002007-12-24T07:28:00.000-08:00What's interesting in relation to this is that the...What's interesting in relation to this is that the human heart would beat at an incredible and fierce rate except that there is a hormonal connection from the nervous system that suppresses the rate of beating. That is to say, when your heart rate goes 'up', what is really happening is the limiter on your heart rate is being reduced.Ephrem Antony Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00032465992619034619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-73449800174869792642007-12-24T06:29:00.000-08:002007-12-24T06:29:00.000-08:00"understanding what Man is is the key to understan..."understanding what Man is is the key to understanding the whole existentialada"<BR/><BR/>I don't think I ever have learnt so much of True Importance as I have reading O.C. during this year. A turningpoint in my liffe from where it is no point of return. Thanks!<BR/><BR/>Merry Christmas Bob with family, Bob's unconscious, and all of you raccoons!<BR/><BR/>/Johan, a cosmic Swede at the edge of understandingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-73237389515711680432007-12-23T20:35:00.000-08:002007-12-23T20:35:00.000-08:00Will:The poem is superb. I didn't realize Neon Cat...Will:<BR/>The poem is superb. I didn't realize Neon Cat was off line until now. I hit the bookmark, and got the dismal screen of gray. Are you giving the site up altogether?<BR/><BR/>JWMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-41809106404888122742007-12-23T20:14:00.000-08:002007-12-23T20:14:00.000-08:00> There is simply no way around the fact that if G...> There is simply no way around the fact that if God is (only) one, then God and existence are also meaningless, since there is nothing they refer to.<BR/><BR/>Yup. Bravo, doc! And Merry Christmas to one and all!Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13623170987747998335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-14664152312077908612007-12-23T20:06:00.000-08:002007-12-23T20:06:00.000-08:00> "God wouldn't be God if there weren't this built...> "God wouldn't be God if there weren't this built-in aspect of indeterminacy. Otherwise the cosmos is just a machine, so it would eliminate creativity, free will, and morality in one fool swipe." - Bob<BR/><BR/>"Christianity is the only religion on earth that has felt that omnipotence made God incomplete." <BR/>- ChestertonWarrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13623170987747998335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-86866159527933725972007-12-23T19:00:00.000-08:002007-12-23T19:00:00.000-08:00Well, I thought some may want a Pinky Update.....I...Well, I thought some may want a Pinky Update.....It has been over six months now and she is still missing. I have not been able to find her but many people all over the world are finding her. She has become the first image displayed when you google "deer head chihuahua" "tan deer chihuahua" under the images tab. Isn't that bizarre, there are over 7000 images and she is first now!? <BR/><BR/>So Bob, if you really want to increase your traffic by at least 5 people a day, feel free to post a picture of Pinky labeled tan deer-head chihuahua! ;)Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04969685296436358865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-51177651181959656092007-12-23T18:18:00.000-08:002007-12-23T18:18:00.000-08:00Few readers of OC recently? Well, these things do ...Few readers of OC recently? Well, these things do go in cycles, and besides . . quality over quantity in spiritual matters, as always.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, back when I had a functioning website, I included the following poem set to music - and it had virtually no listeners. So, speaking of artificial intelligence/unconscious mind, etc., here it is: (it's got a moral to it)<BR/><BR/>SOUL X<BR/><BR/>deep in the cool synapses<BR/>of the Great Computer,<BR/>an interesting tableaux - <BR/>a twinkling, a micro-shift of temperature,<BR/>odd stirring among humming lattices - <BR/>Soul X has decided to incarnate<BR/>in the computer, saving the draggy flesh<BR/>for the next go round,<BR/>that is, he thinks, if he even needs another<BR/>spin on the samsaric Catherine Wheel - <BR/>Soul X (as he explained it to Soul Y)<BR/>believes that the incarnate have finally<BR/>wire-spun a computer so complex,<BR/>so oceanically micro-chipped (bloody huge,<BR/>this machine) that it rivals the glowing<BR/>human brain in complexity - <BR/>and that means, my dear Ms. Y,<BR/>that Soul X can fully incarnate in this<BR/>silicon dreadnought, can download his<BR/>unconscious to the left wing, while<BR/>reserving the right wing for his quotidian<BR/>needs - <BR/>and all the cheery while no demands<BR/>of the flesh, no carrion call no more, over and out - <BR/>but Soul Y caveats, it's still material body<BR/>and what's wrong with flesh, Mr. X, is it<BR/>not to be danced with until such time the<BR/>dancer becomes the dance? <BR/>But Soul X is already on his way, already<BR/>clearing his astral pipes for his first media gig, ho,<BR/>that should wake them up in the Work Station Central - <BR/>but uh oh Houston, we've got a problem - <BR/>Soul X is now locked in and finding he doesn't<BR/>have all that much wiggle room - <BR/>and there is the matter of the coolent in<BR/>tiers B - 984, <BR/>it frankly . . . irritates -<BR/>Soul X stretches his multi-synaptical arms,<BR/>instantly jealous of the computer-to-be whose<BR/>reach will be a jot more encompassing than his - <BR/>no passion-killer, this, thinks Soul X,<BR/>his thoughts bubbling the bright panel lights<BR/>in Control Room Alpha.<BR/>And then with a rippling discharge of gloom,<BR/>Soul X realizes that, yes, <BR/>one can only search for Buddha where<BR/>one has lost Buddha, roger that - Ms. Y, Mr. Z, he calls, would you be so kind<BR/>as to help me out of here?<BR/>But, alas, I have returned to my<BR/>work in the soul-laboratories, and<BR/>Soul Y is gone, incarnated on<BR/>a grassy hill in Asia under a<BR/>yellow sun in this,<BR/>the Year of the Dragon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-31923589056071029852007-12-23T18:04:00.000-08:002007-12-23T18:04:00.000-08:00>>True creativity is an instance of "creation out ...>>True creativity is an instance of "creation out of nothing," since one is bringing something entirely new into the world, something that is not determined and not reducible to its constituent parts<<<BR/><BR/>I think maybe not creation out of an absolute nothing, unless the "nothing" translates as the infinite Void of Limitless Possibility and Potentiality.<BR/><BR/>The created something is surely not reducible to its consituent parts, but I think it does have "constituent parts" in the sense of it resonating with and manifesting divine archetypes. Of course, the divine archetypes can be infinitely re-arranged and manifested in such a way as to eternally surprise and enlighten.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-73032614563569107112007-12-23T17:14:00.000-08:002007-12-23T17:14:00.000-08:00>>let's say they come up with "artificial intellig...>>let's say they come up with "artificial intelligence." It will never actually be human intelligence because it will never have an unconscious<<<BR/><BR/>In a couple of his sci-fi novels -Destination: Void and The Jesus Incident - Frank (Dune) Herbert has scientists tying to create a computerized artificial intelligence, one that doesn't go bonkers the second it comes online. Finally, they manage to give the computer an "unconscious mind", and presto, true artificial intelligence! And surprise, the intelligence turns out to be God. I mean literally so.<BR/><BR/>Actually, as "secular" as this may sound, these particular novels are quite imaginatively mystical and they do score some genuine mystical points.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-25838152767296547582007-12-23T14:48:00.000-08:002007-12-23T14:48:00.000-08:00"To cite an analogy, let's say Bach had an unlimit..."To cite an analogy, let's say Bach had an unlimited musical imagination. The only way he could express this unlimitedness was through the limitation of musical instruments, notation, and other musicians (not to mention listeners). It's truly meaningless to separate the one from the other -- like segregating the Cheshire cat from his chick. This is what art -- and by extension, the cosmos -- is: the expression of the infinite within the finite, the latter being intrinsically necessary to the former."<BR/><BR/>That is the perhaps the best explanation I have ever heard, among so many best revelations at the OC, revealing the True meaning of One Cosmos; Liberty plus Creativity...therefore, all things are made new...I mean just wOw!<BR/><BR/>I love the cut of that improvisional jib! <BR/>Play on, man, play on! :^)USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-22056141595842701492007-12-23T14:33:00.000-08:002007-12-23T14:33:00.000-08:00"If Something is to come from Nothing, the Somethi..."If Something is to come from Nothing, the Something must have an element of genuine surprise, or else it's not really novel. Is this clear? If A is the total cause of B, then B is not a product of creativity or free will (since there can only be freedom if there is indeterminacy)."<BR/><BR/>I cooncur wholeheartedly, BU!<BR/>We ain't no Borg. And yet, many people who believe in God essentially believe just that.<BR/>Pity that so many believers don't believe we are indeed created with True Liberty.<BR/>They all play the same tune...over and over and over.<BR/><BR/>With True Liberty, the song doesn't remain the same.USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-33209577776856289642007-12-23T13:04:00.000-08:002007-12-23T13:04:00.000-08:00Stations of the Ecliptichear the midnight skycalcu...<A HREF="http://robinstarfish.blogspot.com/2007/12/stations-of-ecliptic.html" REL="nofollow">Stations of the Ecliptic</A><BR/>hear the midnight sky<BR/>calculating intervals<BR/>equal tempered starsrobinstarfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15665546554663005609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-87284839817444660422007-12-23T11:08:00.000-08:002007-12-23T11:08:00.000-08:00"I realized last night, we're not in Kansas anymor..."I realized last night, we're not in Kansas anymore. Rather, we're in Oz. Which is in Kansas. And there's no place like it. Except everywhere. And when."<BR/><BR/><BR/>I just had to watch last night since it was on the tube. It really never gets old, and the meaning seems unbounded.<BR/><BR/>I used to wonder as a kid why absurd things--like the witch melting after having water thrown on her--mean. Most of the credit goes to Mr. Anonymous for helping understand.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I spent alot of time on that post, which means it was good. I think I learnt something.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-7614729088081663972007-12-23T10:48:00.000-08:002007-12-23T10:48:00.000-08:00Dear Bob's Unconscious,Believe me, I am a loyal re...Dear Bob's Unconscious,<BR/><BR/>Believe me, I am a loyal reader - a long-time member of Bob's Few, so to speak. What you explain about the hologrammatic nature of reality sounds right, though I still sense a small separation between myself and my computer's screen (though, <I>not much</I>).<BR/><BR/>But, though each post reflects all other posts, there never seem to be "enough." Perhaps I suffer, as you said, from "alwaysthemore."<BR/><BR/>For instance, I took great hope from your statement, "... human creativity ... is inexhaustible, since it is a mirror of the divine mind." It follows from this that we can "expect" an One Cosmos Post tucked under the tree on Christmas morning, right? To be opened "first," yes?<BR/><BR/>But then you wrote, "... you cannot compose a symphony by merely applying a predetermined rule for the combination of notes." Oh. Oh, of course.<BR/>I know: <I>call me greedy!</I> <BR/><BR/> "Alwaysthemore" is but a dualistic form of <I>gratitude!</I> One Cosmos is <I>El Cielito Lindo,</I> and that's just how it is!walthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388218390016612051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-50357986710008484352007-12-23T09:56:00.000-08:002007-12-23T09:56:00.000-08:00Okay, sunday slack has been restored. Thanks for ...Okay, sunday slack has been restored. Thanks for being so reasonable....Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04969685296436358865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-72011765861311469582007-12-23T09:44:00.000-08:002007-12-23T09:44:00.000-08:00Just shows you how humans are so different from ea...Just shows you how humans are so different from each other when you can so admire one's thoughts and ideas and still find they have hideous God-awful tastes once in a while.....ha ha!;)Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04969685296436358865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-66402310780743165042007-12-23T09:42:00.000-08:002007-12-23T09:42:00.000-08:00Bob's unconscious said: "Bob can only listen to Sc...Bob's unconscious said: "Bob can only listen to Scott Walker when Mrs. G is out of the house."<BR/><BR/><BR/>Does Mrs. G really leave him with no adult supervision? That sounds dangerous.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-67894779849593709222007-12-23T09:30:00.001-08:002007-12-23T09:30:00.001-08:00Sounds familiar. Bob can only listen to Scott Wal...Sounds familiar. Bob can only listen to Scott Walker when Mrs. G is out of the house.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-16845048088579925122007-12-23T09:27:00.000-08:002007-12-23T09:27:00.000-08:00Reminded me of a quote that I really liked from th...Reminded me of a quote that I really liked from the Oscar Wilde play/movie An Ideal Husband. <BR/><BR/>"Women and sausages are best enjoyed if you don't watch the preparation."<BR/><BR/>PS. I agree with dougman about Scott Walker. It was like watching a bad infomercial.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04969685296436358865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-86184143818464872792007-12-23T09:12:00.000-08:002007-12-23T09:12:00.000-08:00Each paragraph formsa ray of truth beaming outone ...Each paragraph forms<BR/>a ray of truth beaming out<BR/>one bright Christmas starjuliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.com