... ***** Agreed. (Frankly, I'm not sure what the distinction between natural and supernatural is supposed to be, but I agree with you that it doesn't seem to...
And to throw another wrench into the works: can we make a distinction between irrational, that is claims that are held against observable facts, and...
I don't agree; in fact I'll crawl out on a limb (saw in hand) and say "if it is intelligible then it is a product of intelligence."  Regards  Kevin ... ...
... What are the criteria for determining what is "rational" what is "irrational" and what is "non-rational"? Michel, you seem to be equating empiricism with...
According to Professor Johnson's lectures on Epictetus, the Stoics thought everything in the universe was material. They believed in two elements: passive...
John I want to follow up because the intent of my statement may not be clear. You asked if there is a logical reason to believe in God. What I have said below...
This may have been mentioned before, but I found this interesting. In Matthieu Ricard's book, Happiness - A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill,...
The answer to the question--can we believe in God based on logic alone? Perhaps, perhaps not. As a Christian familiar with the Bible I find no place in that...
Whether or not God exists is logically neutral, the debate has quite famously raged for centuries without budging in either direction. Science is at a loss to...
That which is self-caused, cannot be made to happen. And Virtue being its own reward, does not have an end outside of itself and thus cannot be made complaint...
... ***** I think it is irrational to believe anything for which one has no supporting reason. So I don't think all beliefs must be either rational or...
... thought everything in the universe was material. They believed in two elements: passive matter (hyle) and active god (theos) which totally interpenetrate...
... ***** True, by definition. (Or perhaps we should say "can only be made to happen by itself".) ... ***** That which has no end outside itself need not be...
... Logic is applied to a set of beliefs. I don't think there is any set of beliefs to which logic cannot be applied. But logic only tells us what can be...
Kevin: Thanks for the follow-up. There have been so many detailed responses and exchanges that it's hard to find the time to read them all thoroughly. After...
And thanks to John for bringing up an interesting topic. This particular exchange was very pleasing due to it's near complete lack of acrimony, grand-standing...
John wrote: Â "Since logic is a refined science with formal rules. It seems that people who choose to believe in supernatural beings do so on faith and do not...
Kevin: I don't think I can add much to your premise. I'm sure it would be an interesting discussion but I'm hesitant to start another big debate right now...
... people who choose to believe in supernatural beings do so on faith and do not follow the modern science of logic to reach their conclusion. No one can say...
... And these assumptions are usually traceable back to values. 'I believe so & so because I feel that...' When we come to agreements (even agreeing to ...
Hello John, At the risk of talking beside the point, because I have not been ... so on faith and do not follow the modern science of logic to reach their ...
... The problem I find is that what people tend to do is ask the faithful for 'proofs' (oh yeah, if god is real get him to heal my mother, stop war, turn this...
Hi Keith, It's an honor to have you weigh in on this topic. I thoroughly enjoyed your Stoic Serenity book and continue to review it every few weeks to...
John writes: __________ Â Based on many of the conversation threads on this forum, I would say that some of the difference in opinion is caused by semantics...
... _Discourses_, I. 29.1-3; trans. Dobbin: The essence of good and evil consists in the condition of our character. And externals are the means by which our...
St Paul may have known Epictetus. He was traditionally tried and condemned by Nero. A Roman citizen was not held in prison pending his trial, at least when he...
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