Posted by Woody on January 25, 19101 at 15:26:13:
In Reply to: Re: Christ OS: natural and supernatural: Second Law? posted by Teresita on January 25, 19101 at 13:34:05:
Teresita wrote: "If you truly are waiting for faith, then why not ask God to bless you with this gift? You will say that you have to believe in God to pray to God, but the converse is often the case: we pray, then we believe. Perhaps God is waiting for your act of faith?"
Ivan, before you casually dismiss T's suggestion as pious mumbo-jumbo, let me make a suggestion.
You obviously like to read and are passionately concerned with the truth. Inasmuch as you don't call yourself an atheist but rather an agnostic, I sense there is a part of you that remains open and, I would add, not too very dogmatic. Perhaps you like what Socrates had to say about wise men and fools?
Anyway, there are many good reads out there today about epistemology, about how we know what we know. If you had discarded a pluralistic epistemology in the past, I invite you to take another look. It is being resurrected and, more appropriately, refurbished.
Better methods are being designed. Better concepts are being articulated. These methods and concepts are better suited for studying mystical experiences, for instance, scientifically.
I won't cite authors or books here but use your search engine and tool around a bit in cyberspace. Give an honest investigation to pluralistic epistemology.
Coming full circle back to T's invitation. A good, open-minded, pluralistic epistemology does affirm and recognize that there is valid data to be gathered from trying just what T suggests!
Well, I won't go on, but maybe you get my drift. I enjoy your contributions and do appreciate your unique perspective. It does add to our big picture which we're trying to develop.
regards,
Woody