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Author Topic:   3 Theories Of Everything by Ellis Potter
Phat
Member
Posts: 18651
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 4.3


Message 31 of 99 (879354)
07-15-2020 10:21 AM
Reply to: Message 30 by PaulK
07-15-2020 10:15 AM


Re: ringoisms and jingoisms
As far as the Trimurti goes, I think it differs in the whole image thing.
wiki writes:
... a single three-headed body...
Which is why Christians were always encouraged to see God as an un-imaged concept.(One would never know it by all of the statues of Jesus, (a white Jesus at that!) but this is one reason Protestants dont trust Catholics. The Orthodox try and get around it all through the use of icons, which they claim are "windows to heaven"...but I never really understood it all. I know that for me personally, it helps when I pray to not have any physical image in my mind as to the God I believe I am talking with...though jar would likely argue that by giving God attributes(friendly to Phat, loving, quick to forgive, etc etc...)I have essentially created Him in my own mind. I disagree, but can see the point.

"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain "
***
We must realize that the Reformation world view leads in the direction of government freedom. But the humanist world view with inevitable certainty leads in the direction of statism. This is so because humanists, having no god, must put something at the center, and it is inevitably society, government, or the state.- Francis A. Schaeffer
The whole war between the atheist and the theist comes down to this: the atheist believes a 'what' created the universe; the theist believes a 'who' created the universe.
- Criss Jami, Killosophy

This message is a reply to:
 Message 30 by PaulK, posted 07-15-2020 10:15 AM PaulK has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 32 by PaulK, posted 07-15-2020 10:28 AM Phat has replied

  
PaulK
Member
Posts: 17919
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 6.7


Message 32 of 99 (879356)
07-15-2020 10:28 AM
Reply to: Message 31 by Phat
07-15-2020 10:21 AM


Re: ringoisms and jingoisms
quote:
As far as the Trimurti goes, I think it differs in the whole image thing.
But that image is as good a representation as you can get of what Potter is saying - diversity and unity together.
The usual Christian view downplays diversity, which is contrary to Potter’s ideas - Potter places diversity on the same level as unity. And a lack of images does nothing to counter that.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 31 by Phat, posted 07-15-2020 10:21 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 33 by Phat, posted 07-15-2020 10:32 AM PaulK has replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18651
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 4.3


Message 33 of 99 (879357)
07-15-2020 10:32 AM
Reply to: Message 32 by PaulK
07-15-2020 10:28 AM


Re: ringoisms and jingoisms
Potter places diversity on the same level as unity. And a lack of images does nothing to counter that.
Christians have never been able to clearly explain the concept of the Trinity, but the idea of God being unified(Monotheistic) yet also diversified(Father and Son) cant really be explained any better...dont you think?

"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain "
***
We must realize that the Reformation world view leads in the direction of government freedom. But the humanist world view with inevitable certainty leads in the direction of statism. This is so because humanists, having no god, must put something at the center, and it is inevitably society, government, or the state.- Francis A. Schaeffer
The whole war between the atheist and the theist comes down to this: the atheist believes a 'what' created the universe; the theist believes a 'who' created the universe.
- Criss Jami, Killosophy

This message is a reply to:
 Message 32 by PaulK, posted 07-15-2020 10:28 AM PaulK has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 34 by PaulK, posted 07-15-2020 10:35 AM Phat has replied

  
PaulK
Member
Posts: 17919
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 6.7


(2)
Message 34 of 99 (879358)
07-15-2020 10:35 AM
Reply to: Message 33 by Phat
07-15-2020 10:32 AM


Re: ringoisms and jingoisms
quote:
Christians have never been able to clearly explain the concept of the Trinity, but the idea of God being unified(Monotheistic) yet also diversified(Father and Son) cant really be explained any better...dont you think?
I think that doubling down on the contradiction makes a dubious concept even worse.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 33 by Phat, posted 07-15-2020 10:32 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 35 by Phat, posted 07-15-2020 2:37 PM PaulK has replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18651
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 4.3


Message 35 of 99 (879382)
07-15-2020 2:37 PM
Reply to: Message 34 by PaulK
07-15-2020 10:35 AM


Re: ringoisms and jingoisms
OK, Paul fair enough.
Lets start out by asking what the specific contradiction is?

"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain "
***
We must realize that the Reformation world view leads in the direction of government freedom. But the humanist world view with inevitable certainty leads in the direction of statism. This is so because humanists, having no god, must put something at the center, and it is inevitably society, government, or the state.- Francis A. Schaeffer
The whole war between the atheist and the theist comes down to this: the atheist believes a 'what' created the universe; the theist believes a 'who' created the universe.
- Criss Jami, Killosophy

This message is a reply to:
 Message 34 by PaulK, posted 07-15-2020 10:35 AM PaulK has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 36 by PaulK, posted 07-15-2020 2:44 PM Phat has replied

  
PaulK
Member
Posts: 17919
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 6.7


Message 36 of 99 (879383)
07-15-2020 2:44 PM
Reply to: Message 35 by Phat
07-15-2020 2:37 PM


Re: ringoisms and jingoisms
The contradiction should be obvious. You can’t have something that is completely separate and completely unified. Taking it to that level as Potter does is such an obvious contradiction I can’t take it seriously.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 35 by Phat, posted 07-15-2020 2:37 PM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 37 by Phat, posted 07-15-2020 8:37 PM PaulK has replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18651
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 4.3


Message 37 of 99 (879407)
07-15-2020 8:37 PM
Reply to: Message 36 by PaulK
07-15-2020 2:44 PM


Re: ringoisms and jingoisms
You can’t have something that is completely separate and completely unified.
Why not? One obvious example that comes to mind is the family unit. Ideally complete and unified. Also fully separate. I see no contradiction here.

"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain "
***
We must realize that the Reformation world view leads in the direction of government freedom. But the humanist world view with inevitable certainty leads in the direction of statism. This is so because humanists, having no god, must put something at the center, and it is inevitably society, government, or the state.- Francis A. Schaeffer
The whole war between the atheist and the theist comes down to this: the atheist believes a 'what' created the universe; the theist believes a 'who' created the universe.
- Criss Jami, Killosophy

This message is a reply to:
 Message 36 by PaulK, posted 07-15-2020 2:44 PM PaulK has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 38 by PaulK, posted 07-16-2020 12:21 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
PaulK
Member
Posts: 17919
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 6.7


(1)
Message 38 of 99 (879412)
07-16-2020 12:21 AM
Reply to: Message 37 by Phat
07-15-2020 8:37 PM


Re: ringoisms and jingoisms
quote:
Why not?
Because they are opposites. It’s like being absolutely identical and completely different.
quote:
One obvious example that comes to mind is the family unit
Which is neither completely separate nor completely unified. I’m not talking about mere aspects of both, but of totality. The family unit is not a hive-mind with a single will, in a single body and never will be.
And for any way in which they are unified they are not separate. Those are opposites.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 37 by Phat, posted 07-15-2020 8:37 PM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18651
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 4.3


Message 39 of 99 (879485)
07-17-2020 12:07 AM


Trinitarian Rabbit Trail Can Continue Elsewhere
PaulK---regarding our rabbit trail into the sanity (or insanity) of Potters third circle, Trinitarianism, lets continue this at an older topic where the Trinity was more fully covered:
Message 397
We can continue our discussion of Potters book specifically in this topic.
Here is Potters Table Of Contents:
The First Circle--(Monism)
  • The New Age Movement
  • Experiencing Oneness
  • The Cycle Of Life
  • Meditation and Language
  • The Nothing of Zen
    The Second Circle--Dualism
    (I notice that Potter does not elaborate too much on dualism. For the record, I wouldn't either! )
    The Third Circle--Trinitarianism
  • The Problem of Opposites
  • Humpty Dumpty
  • Falling in Love on a Bridge
  • Defying Gravity
  • Change,Time, and Eternity
  • Me and We
  • You Gotta Serve Somebody
  • Look,Daddy,Look!
  • A Black Hole in the Heart
  • The Solution
  • To Put it Simply
    45 Questions
  • Themes for discussion
    with responses by Ellis Potter
    ******************************
    Overall, I think this was a useful book for me. Critics may say that it only reinforced my World View, and I can only answer by saying yes, yes it did.
    If anyone has any questions regarding any of the chapters in the book or any of Potters 45 questions, which I can also list in a few posts, we can go there. Otherwise, thanks for participating and perhaps some of you can start your own Book Nook topic and discuss your favorite reads this summer.
    Edited by Phat, : No reason given.
    Edited by Phat, : No reason given.
    Edited by Phat, : No reason given.

    "A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain "
    ***
    We must realize that the Reformation world view leads in the direction of government freedom. But the humanist world view with inevitable certainty leads in the direction of statism. This is so because humanists, having no god, must put something at the center, and it is inevitably society, government, or the state.- Francis A. Schaeffer
    The whole war between the atheist and the theist comes down to this: the atheist believes a 'what' created the universe; the theist believes a 'who' created the universe.
    - Criss Jami, Killosophy

  • Replies to this message:
     Message 40 by PaulK, posted 07-17-2020 10:26 AM Phat has replied

      
    PaulK
    Member
    Posts: 17919
    Joined: 01-10-2003
    Member Rating: 6.7


    Message 40 of 99 (879505)
    07-17-2020 10:26 AM
    Reply to: Message 39 by Phat
    07-17-2020 12:07 AM


    Re: Trinitarian Rabbit Trail Can Continue Elsewhere
    It’s hard to ask anything about a book I haven’t read.
    And if you don’t want to talk about it more I think this topic is a bit of a waste.

    This message is a reply to:
     Message 39 by Phat, posted 07-17-2020 12:07 AM Phat has replied

    Replies to this message:
     Message 41 by Phat, posted 07-17-2020 11:09 AM PaulK has replied

      
    Phat
    Member
    Posts: 18651
    From: Denver,Colorado USA
    Joined: 12-30-2003
    Member Rating: 4.3


    Message 41 of 99 (879517)
    07-17-2020 11:09 AM
    Reply to: Message 40 by PaulK
    07-17-2020 10:26 AM


    Re: Trinitarian Rabbit Trail Can Continue Elsewhere
    Oh I'll talk....trust me on that! I find it hard to shut up! I just wanted our specific Third Circle Trinity argument to be elsewhere so as not to detract from the book.
    In the 45 Questions Chapter, Potter has some good ones. Care to hear them?

    "A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain "
    ***
    We must realize that the Reformation world view leads in the direction of government freedom. But the humanist world view with inevitable certainty leads in the direction of statism. This is so because humanists, having no god, must put something at the center, and it is inevitably society, government, or the state.- Francis A. Schaeffer
    The whole war between the atheist and the theist comes down to this: the atheist believes a 'what' created the universe; the theist believes a 'who' created the universe.
    - Criss Jami, Killosophy

    This message is a reply to:
     Message 40 by PaulK, posted 07-17-2020 10:26 AM PaulK has replied

    Replies to this message:
     Message 42 by PaulK, posted 07-17-2020 11:13 AM Phat has replied

      
    PaulK
    Member
    Posts: 17919
    Joined: 01-10-2003
    Member Rating: 6.7


    Message 42 of 99 (879519)
    07-17-2020 11:13 AM
    Reply to: Message 41 by Phat
    07-17-2020 11:09 AM


    Re: Trinitarian Rabbit Trail Can Continue Elsewhere
    If you think it would be worthwhile to look at them, why not? This is the thread for discussing the book.

    This message is a reply to:
     Message 41 by Phat, posted 07-17-2020 11:09 AM Phat has replied

    Replies to this message:
     Message 43 by Phat, posted 07-17-2020 1:32 PM PaulK has not replied

      
    Phat
    Member
    Posts: 18651
    From: Denver,Colorado USA
    Joined: 12-30-2003
    Member Rating: 4.3


    Message 43 of 99 (879536)
    07-17-2020 1:32 PM
    Reply to: Message 42 by PaulK
    07-17-2020 11:13 AM


    45 Questions--First 5
    1) Do you truly believe it's possible to simplify so vast and complex a subject as the cosmos into one of your theoretical circles?
    2)What is the Monist's view of spiritual evolution?
    3)How do people of monistic religions see marriage?
    4) How do people of monistic religions explain increases or changes in the human population?
    5)You suggested that there is no genuine right and wrong in Monism. Doesn't the idea of karma,however, implicitly recognize the concepts of right and wrong, and therefore a general moral structure?
    **********************************************
    One thing that I respect about Potter is that he never cancels out the beliefs of the first circle simply because he is now a Christian.
    Edited by Phat, : No reason given.

    "A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain "
    ***
    We must realize that the Reformation world view leads in the direction of government freedom. But the humanist world view with inevitable certainty leads in the direction of statism. This is so because humanists, having no god, must put something at the center, and it is inevitably society, government, or the state.- Francis A. Schaeffer
    The whole war between the atheist and the theist comes down to this: the atheist believes a 'what' created the universe; the theist believes a 'who' created the universe.
    - Criss Jami, Killosophy

    This message is a reply to:
     Message 42 by PaulK, posted 07-17-2020 11:13 AM PaulK has not replied

      
    Phat
    Member
    Posts: 18651
    From: Denver,Colorado USA
    Joined: 12-30-2003
    Member Rating: 4.3


    Message 44 of 99 (879720)
    07-21-2020 12:39 AM


    Some of the best questions and answers from the book.
    I may as well share the questions which I found to be most helpful and revealing to me personally.
    1) Do you truly believe it's possible to simplify so vast and complex a subject as the cosmos into one of your theoretical circles?
    No, it's not. The three circles are grossly reductionistic symbol sets. I hope they will be useful, but they are not adequate. Objective truth in the form of a symbol is not sufficient to express the Truth. Truth is also subjective,which means that explanations involving symbols must be combined with your personal subjective experience to produce reality. You cannot merely think about Jesus and be a Christian any more than you can think about matrimony and have a marriage. The reality of being married is much larger than any kind of symbol.
    Christians sometimes adopt a defensive posture to the good they see in non-Christians. An example would be a statement like: Well, it was nice of those atheists to contribute to a good cause,but--and the but may be followed by--they don't have Jesus, or they are going to hell in the end, or some other statement that has the effect of discounting the goodness of another human being. Have you witnessed this attitude toward non-Christian acts of goodness, and what thoughts do you have about it?
    I have seen that attitude, but less recently than in previous years,I'm glad to say. I think it's out of place in the kingdom of God not to recognize goodness when we see it, and not to believe that all human beings have eternity in their hearts. In a fundamental sense, it's not possible to please God without faith, but I think it's possible to express His image in a variety of ways,in some cases more accurately by the non-Christian than by the Christian. But those expressions of goodness,if not contextualized and completed by Jesus Christ, are not integrated. They are not held together. They are bits and snatches and incomplete. The goodness of the Christian, even if in some cases less than that of the non-Christian, is completed in Christ.
    Edited by Phat, : No reason given.

    "A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain "
    ***
    We must realize that the Reformation world view leads in the direction of government freedom. But the humanist world view with inevitable certainty leads in the direction of statism. This is so because humanists, having no god, must put something at the center, and it is inevitably society, government, or the state.- Francis A. Schaeffer
    The whole war between the atheist and the theist comes down to this: the atheist believes a 'what' created the universe; the theist believes a 'who' created the universe.
    - Criss Jami, Killosophy

    Replies to this message:
     Message 45 by Tangle, posted 07-21-2020 2:16 AM Phat has replied
     Message 46 by PaulK, posted 07-21-2020 2:28 AM Phat has replied

      
    Tangle
    Member
    Posts: 9581
    From: UK
    Joined: 10-07-2011
    Member Rating: 6.5


    Message 45 of 99 (879722)
    07-21-2020 2:16 AM
    Reply to: Message 44 by Phat
    07-21-2020 12:39 AM


    Re: Some of the best questions and answers from the book.
    They're the best in the book?
    It's a continuing source of puzzlement to me how you can read that totally unsubstantiated, almost meaningless tripe that's simply made up on the spot and be impressed by it.

    Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien. I am Mancunian. I am Brum. I am London.I am Finland. Soy Barcelona
    "Life, don't talk to me about life" - Marvin the Paranoid Android
    "Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
    Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
    - Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

    This message is a reply to:
     Message 44 by Phat, posted 07-21-2020 12:39 AM Phat has replied

    Replies to this message:
     Message 47 by Phat, posted 07-21-2020 4:04 AM Tangle has replied

      
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