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Taking Questions on Embedded Age Creation

AveChristusRex

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The geocentric model (what I think you are claiming when you dismiss Copernicus) is FALSE. Disagreeing with that is to reject reality. Running to agreement with the court jester isn't backing your position.
Why do you think the geocentric model is false? Are you aware of what 'Geocentrism' is? The geo-axial binary or modified tychonian systems?

I have a few forum posts on this topic, please read them before defaming the position you are not understanding of:

+ Proof there is No Physical Difference Between Geocentric and Modern Heliocentric Views, and Science chooses Heliocentrism out of Spite of Creationists": This is the question I have!

+ Proof of the Consensus of the Fathers & that Hubble Lied to Defame Creationism: This is the question I have!

+ The Church Fathers on Geocentrism: Geocentric or Heliocentric (what shape is the earth) ?

I have more than that, but id start with that, please open your mind to new ideas, especially ideas that may or may not vindicate creationism. :heart:
 
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AV1611VET

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That comment doesn't have any explanatory power and tells us basically nothing about aspects of human psychology or epistemic structures in that affect a person's neurological structures and their response to .......... the Holy Spirit.

You've never had a mental block during a chess game?

I have.

I think you're getting the cart before the horse there, AV.

Not hardly.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
 
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2PhiloVoid

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You've never had a mental block during a chess game?

I have.
Having faith in Christ isn't an "enclosed game." So, that's one difference you and I have in our epistemic approach to how we read and understand the Bible.

Not that this implies you and I have nothing in common between our respective views on the nature of faith, but we come at what Christianity "is" and how it works with different praxes and paradigms.

I'm just surprised that you even loosely associate 'belief' with making plays in a chess game. I think that's a bad analogy.
Not hardly.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

And, in your Independent Baptist understanding, how does one "spiritually discern" the things of the Spirit of God, AV?

Is it something we each "do" as a person, or is it a process of understanding that has to be illuminated for us by God Himself (through His Spirit)?

I'm just asking because I'm wondering how much and to what extent you and I would have to hash out a discussion about the meaning and application of the first three chapters of 1 Corinthians.
 
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AV1611VET

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Having faith in Christ isn't an "enclosed game." So, that's one difference you and I have in our epistemic approach to how we read and understand the Bible.

I am referring to those who are unregenerate.

They are susceptible to mental blocks and exhibit a high level of misunderstanding of spiritual matters.

Especially in the area of deep theology.
 
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Hans Blaster

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Why do you think the geocentric model is false? Are you aware of what 'Geocentrism' is? The geo-axial binary or modified tychonian systems?

I have a few forum posts on this topic, please read them before defaming the position you are not understanding of:

+ Proof there is No Physical Difference Between Geocentric and Modern Heliocentric Views, and Science chooses Heliocentrism out of Spite of Creationists": This is the question I have!

+ Proof of the Consensus of the Fathers & that Hubble Lied to Defame Creationism: This is the question I have!

+ The Church Fathers on Geocentrism: Geocentric or Heliocentric (what shape is the earth) ?

I have more than that, but id start with that, please open your mind to new ideas, especially ideas that may or may not vindicate creationism. :heart:

Those aren't "new ideas". They are dusty old ideas. Your links provide no data, only quotes from long-dead theologians and churchmen. Almost all before the invention of the telescope. I would suggest you move your thinking into the 18th century. If you have qualified for such an institution, I would suggest a basic "Astronomy 101" class.
 
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BCP1928

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I am referring to those who are unregenerate.

They are susceptible to mental blocks and exhibit a high level of misunderstanding of spiritual matters.

Especially in the area of deep theology.
I suppose I'll have to ask, being an unregenerate person. What in the world is "deep theology?"
 
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AV1611VET

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I suppose I'll have to ask, being an unregenerate person. What in the world is "deep theology?"

One good example that comes to mind is dispensation theology.
 
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2PhiloVoid

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I am referring to those who are unregenerate.

They are susceptible to mental blocks and exhibit a high level of misunderstanding of spiritual matters.
Right. I understand your basic point. But simply identifying that some sort of vague mental blocks are present doesn't explain the various sorts of blocks those are or as to what their causes may be.
Especially in the area of deep theology.

That's fine if you want to say that, but let's not assume it's only Independent Baptists who have insider dibs on 1 Corinthians 2:10.
 
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2PhiloVoid

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One good example that comes to mind is dispensation theology.

That remains to be seen, but I'll keep my copy of Paul N. Benware's book, Understanding End Times Prophecy, at hand just in case you're right.
 
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AV1611VET

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Right. I understand your basic point.

I figured you did.

But simply identifying that some sort of vague mental blocks are present doesn't explain the various sorts of blocks those are as to what their causes may be.

"Vague"?

That's fine if you want to say that, but let's not assume that it's only Independent Baptists who have insider dibs on 1 Corinthians 2:10.

Well, certainly calling it "vague" isn't doing much to show me others have dibs on it.

A mental block is just that.

A mental block.

A queen can be poised to checkmate the king in one move, and I can miss it completely -- (and have, many times) -- due to a mental block.

I believe the term for combating [secular] mental blocks is called: conceptual blockbusting.
 
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Yttrium

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Why do you think the geocentric model is false?
For one thing, it would make things really difficult for geosynchronous satellites. They wouldn't be in orbit, so they would fall down.
 
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AveChristusRex

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For one thing, it would make things really difficult for geosynchronous satellites. They wouldn't be in orbit, so they would fall down.
Thank you for actually framing it in a non-insulting form; I think you are citing orbital mechanics or gravitational forces balanced by inertia? If that is what you are saying, then I say that the satellite that you are mentioning's position is maintained by the mechanics of the universe rotating around the earth, in which the satellites are effectively fixed relative to a point on the Earth's surface as a result of forces that maintain their place in the heavens. If need be, I can quote further on this matter, blessings!
 
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Kylie

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The independent sources for Socrates were members of his school or contemporaries
1. Plato, Xenophan (Students)
2. Aristophane (Contemporary)
There is also the Students of Plato
3. Aristotle
Okay then.
There are independent sources for Jesus
1) Gospels: Mark Matthew, Luke John (1. Students)
They were written decades after the events they describe, so they're not contemporaneous accounts. And despite tradition attributing them to Matthew Mark, etc, there is nothing to indicate that they were in fact written by those people. They are anonymous accounts written decades after.
2) Barnabas (2. Contemporary)
The Gospel of Barnabas is likely a late medieval text. Hardly contemporary. barnarom
3) Paul talked to Peter...
You mean "The Acts of Peter and Paul"? Pseudo-biographical text that was written in the fifth century.
...James...
And Paul's ideas fundamentally disagreed with James'.
Which of the Pauline epistles has Paul meeting John?
and Barnabas (3 Student of students)
Acts was written around the year 80-90, hardly contemporaneous to events that occurred around the year 30.
Jesus is as well documented by indepedent sources as Socrates, perhaps more so.
And yet the only thing the majority of scholars can say about Jesus is that he was baptised and that he was crucified.
There are also sources attesting to John the Baptist and the Crucifixion (Josephus Tacitus)
There is debate about the authenticity of the works of Josephus, but in any case, "The Antiquities of the Jews was written around the year 93 or 94, and the James it talks of died around the year 62. Hardly contemporaneous. Josephus also contradicts several of the New Testament accounts, so if we are to accept Josephus as a valid source, it casts doubt on what it written in the New Testament.

Tacitus' "Annals" was written even later. His work is just describing what the Christians of the time believed. Tacitus was in no position to know for himself what had happened, as he was born 25 years after the death of Jesus.
 
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Kylie

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You're right. There have been quite a number of disagreements and conflicts among Christians. I won't deny that. If we look at World History, I've found that many if not most of the disagreements began when with Luther and the Printing Press, and I say this even knowing that there are countless skeptics out there who will instantly reach for their Bart Ehrman sources, or one of countless other skeptical/atheist authors, to strongly aver otherwise.

The truth is, Jesus didn't give us a comprehensive explanation about the world by which to live. Rather, He gave us only that which He knew we needed to know to walk with Him. Unfortunately, some people have wanted to make more out what either Jesus or the earliest Christians said than what was actually said ...................................... and some want to make much less out of it.

On the whole though, however, I don't see much disagreement among Christians about the "bare essentials."
Bare essentials like whether you need to be baptised or not? On whether it is faith or faith and works that get you into heaven?
I see your point. But how much of what we human beings engage in is as relatively simple as "measuring a tree" or looking toward the East to see when and where the Sun rises each morning?

Besides, although measurement is involved in science, that in itself isn't all that science is. In fact, the whole concept and practice of "measurement" has diverse distinctions within it that have to be recognized before we even attempt to measure even a tree, and this can one item that impedes any absolute finality about "consensus." The fact that we can recognize conceptual diversity in topics is one reason I love Philosophy and analysis; it's also a reason why we should all avoid conflation and reductionism:


But who knows? Maybe you're a physics major, and as a lowly philosopher, all I'm doing is preaching to the choir.
My point is that when we are dealing with objective fact, there is just a single right conclusion, and any conclusion that differs is flawed and that flaw can be pointed out and corrected for.
Sometimes, scientists and theorists do "oversell" their scientific theories and scientific results and forget that science is in the business of "provisional truth." This fact is, even if its an all too brief summation, captures the basic criticism that Lee Smolin and folks like Sabine Hossenfelder have said about the way Theoretical Physics has headed in presenting its "findings."
Can you provide a specific example of something in science being presented as a fact when it has not been established as such?
I'm sure today, many of the most salient points in these books can be read, seen or heard via the internet in other forms for free. Besides, it's not like they're the only Theoretical Physicists in town. ............... and I'm going to guess that you, like me, already have an assortment of books on physics, math and whatever else.

However, if you want me to assist in gathering free sources that you an access, I'd be glad to help.
Please feel free to send a link to a PDF or other source where I can read these.
 
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Kylie

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As we're fond of saying: context, context, context.
But does that actually work?

I could present a particular passage in the Bible and different believers could reach different conclusions about it. Doesn't seem like your suggestion is reliable at all!
 
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Kylie

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1. Because the Bible calls them "fools," and sincere people, who really seek after God, find Him.
Ah, here we go with the logical fallacies. Here we have the No True Scotsman fallacy.

"If you really did sincerely seek God, you would have found him. Since you didn't, you must not have been truly sincere!"

You're also starting from the idea that God exists in order to reach a conclusion that God exists. It's called Begging the question.
2. Because God is going to hold them accountable for not believing in Him. That means He isn't going to buy into their "I looked for You, but You weren't there" excuse.
Once again you are begging the question.
3. Because certain principles and warnings apply to those who spend their lives in pursuit of endeavors that lead away from God, and refuse to listen to those who warn them they're spending too much time (and treasure) elsewhere.
So the Bible says that not everyone will believe, and because the Bible was right about that, it must be right about everything?
 
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Kylie

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Serious question:

If God exists, and you stand before Him on Judgement Day, what would you attribute your lack of belief to?

Would you blame Him, or yourself?
I would blame the lack of testable and verifiable evidence.
And you make a good point.

One I've made here before about me.

You only see me railing against that part of science that is used against the Bible.

"Off camera," it's different.

True story:

The first time I sat on the porch swing with my wife -- (before we got married) -- all I did was point to the sky and show her the different constellations.

At Thanksgiving, I ask her if she's planning to have galliforms for dinner, and she knows right well what I'm talking about (turkey).

So I know exactly where you're coming from in this respect.
Isn't that a little like saying you like science because you dressed as Albert Einstein for Halloween when you were a kid?

If you actually knew anything about science, then you'd know that science isn't a body of knowledge, it's a process of finding out information about the world. If you say science is wrong when it disagrees with the Bible, then you are claiming that the process of science is flawed. And if so, you can't then agree with it when it doesn't disagree with your beliefs.
 
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AveChristusRex

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So the Bible says that not everyone will believe, and because the Bible was right about that, it must be right about everything?
Everyone, in the end, will believe when they are standing before God
 
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AveChristusRex

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Those aren't "new ideas". They are dusty old ideas. Your links provide no data, only quotes from long-dead theologians and churchmen. Almost all before the invention of the telescope. I would suggest you move your thinking into the 18th century. If you have qualified for such an institution, I would suggest a basic "Astronomy 101" class.
You are being nothing but rude; I would suggest framing this in a non-derogatory way rather than proving the age-old assumption that skeptics are naturally rude and inept socialites. To respond, to call my ideas "dusty" and "old" is to defame your own scientists. And to say I know nothing about astronomy is rich. As it appears you didn't read; here are a few non "dusty old" scientists after the invention of the telescope: Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time makes it very clear that scientific studies on geo- or helio- are a self-fulfilling prophecy: "…all this evidence that the universe looks the same whichever direction we look in might seem to suggest there is something special about our place in the universe. In particular, it might seem that if we observe all other galaxies to be moving away from us, then we must be at the center of the universe. There is, however, an alternate explanation: the universe might look the same in every direction as seen from any other galaxy, too. This, as we have seen, was Friedmann’s second assumption. We have no scientific evidence for, or against, this assumption. We believe it only on grounds of modesty: it would be most remarkable if the universe looked the same in every direction around us, but not around other points in the universe."

Moreover, Paul Davies, editor of Nature magazine, commented on George Ellis's work, stating: "These redshifts are due, of course, to matter flying away from us under the impetus of the Big Bang. But redshifts can also arise from the gravitational attraction of mass. If the Earth were at the center of the universe, the attraction of the surrounding mass of stars would also produce redshifts wherever we looked! The argument advanced by George Ellis in this article is more complex than this, but his basic thrust is to put man back into a favored position in the cosmos. His new theory seems quite consistent with our astronomical observations, even though it clashes with the thought that we are godless and making it on our own." Here are a few more points to show that you cannot disprove geocentrism based on observations:
  • From George Ellis, a famous cosmologist in Scientific American, “Thinking Globally, Acting Universally,” October 1995: "People need to be aware that there is a range of models that could explain the observations,” Ellis argues. “For instance, I can construct you a spherically symmetrical universe with Earth at its center, and you cannot disprove it based on observations.” Ellis has published a paper on this. “You can only exclude it on philosophical grounds. In my view there is absolutely nothing wrong in that. What I want to bring into the open is the fact that we are using philosophical criteria in choosing our models. A lot of cosmology tries to hide that.”
  • From Einstein and Infeld, The Evolution of Physics, p.212 (p.248 in original 1938 ed.); Note: CS = coordinate system: "No absolute uniform motion exists in classical physics. If two c.s. are moving uniformly, relative to each other, then there is no sense in saying, "This c.s. is at rest and the other is moving". But if two c.s. are moving nonuniformly, relative to each other, then there is very good reason for saying, "This body moves and the other is at rest (or moves uniformly) ". Absolute motion has here a very definite meaning. There is, at this point, a wide gulf between common sense and classical physics. The difficulties mentioned, that of an inertial system and that of absolute motion, are strictly connected with each other. Absolute motion is madepossible only by the idea of an inertial system, for whichthe laws of nature are valid. It may seem as though there is no way out of these difficulties, as though no physical theory can avoid them. Their root lies in the validity of the laws of nature for a special class of c.s. only, the inertial. The possibility of solving these difficulties depends on the answer to the following question. Can we formulate physical laws so that they are valid for all c.s., not only those moving uniformly, but also those moving quite arbitrarily, relative to each other? If this can be done, our difficulties will be over. We shall then be able to apply the laws of nature to any c.s. The struggle, so violent in the early days of science, between the views of Ptolemy and Copernicus would then be quite meaningless. Either c.s. could be used with equal justification. The two sentences, u the sun is at rest and the earth moves", or "the sun moves and the earth is at rest", would simply mean two different conventions concerning two different c.s."
  • Max Born said in his famous book, “Einstein’s Theory of Relativity”, Dover Publications,1962, pgs 344 & 345: "…Thus we may return to Ptolemy’s point of view of a ‘motionless earth’…One has to show that the transformed metric can be regarded as produced according to Einstein’s field equations, by distant rotating masses. This has been done by Thirring. He calculated a field due to a rotating, hollow, thick-walled sphere and proved that inside the cavity it behaved as though there were centrifugal and other inertial forces usually attributed to absolute space. Thus from Einstein’s point of view, Ptolemy and Corpenicus are equally right."
  • Sir Fred Hoyle, Astronomy and Cosmology – A Modern Course, (San Francisco: W. H. Freeman & Co.), p. 416,1975: "We know that the difference between a heliocentric theory and a geocentric theory is one of relative motion only, and that such a difference has no physical significance."
So no, you cannot disprove geocentrism based on observations. You are mistaken on that topic, and I think it is interesting that philosophy dictates what model we use and what model we call absurd, regardless of the fact that we cannot prove either of them definitively over the other. We are taught that Isotropy and Homogeneity create the Cosmological Principle, which calls on Copernicus for support: "Observed isotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB), combined with the Copernican principle..." The Copernican principle, according to the Wikipedia article, is: "named after Nicolaus Copernicus, [and] states the Earth is not in a central, specially favoured position. More recently, the principle is generalised to the simple statement that humans are not privileged observers. In this sense, it is equivalent to the mediocrity principle, with significant implications in the philosophy of science. This is circular logic, and thus, how can one say that scientific study on the matter is not pushed to one side over the other, regardless of the equality of both models? For more sources/papers proving that there is no physical difference between geocentric and modern heliocentric views:
  1. Barbour and Bertotti, 1977. Il Nuovo Cimento B, 38:1.
  2. Brown, G. B., 1955. Proceedings of the Phys. Soc. B, 68:672.
  3. Thirring, H., 1916. Phys. Z. 19:33.
  4. Lense, J. & Thirring, H., 1918, Ibid. 22:29.
  5. Gerber, P., 1898. Zeitschr. f. Math. u. Physik, 43:93.
  6. Møller, C., 1952. The Theory of Relativity, (Oxford: Clarendon Press), pp. 318-321.
  7. Moon, P. & Spencer, D. E., 1959. Philos. of Science, 26:125.
  8. Rosser, W. G. V., 1964. An Intro. to the Theory of Relativity, (London: Butterworths), p. 460.
For rotation see: P. F. Browne, 1977. “Relativity of Rotation,” Jrnl. of Physics A: Math. & Gen. Relativity, 10:727. So, it is as if I asked you to take "Astronomy 202" rather than trying to quote the 'dogmatic' scientific statements of Scientific American. Prayers for you!
 
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QvQ

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The Gospel of Barnabas is likely a late medieval text. Hardly contemporary
The Epistle of Barnabas

Galatians mentions Paul meeting Peter and James. John was there at that time.

There are many documents that Church has but are not published widely.
The documents are available to reaserch.
I suggest you read the Bible and other Chrisitan documents for information about what is contained in the non-Canonical documents.
 
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