Richard Carrier - philosopher and historian

[retepvosnul]

Why would you do that ?

[proudfootz]

retep -

I have the feeling 122nerd wouldn't know what to do with either a woman or a book.

Not that there's anything wrong with that!

[retepvosnul]

How do hot women look at books ????

[proudfootz]

I suspect it's another one of those right-wing closet-cases with a crush on me.

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful!

[retepvosnul]

Perhaps. It did stuck me as odd. Generally women and hot women would look at book in generally the same way. Men looking at women looking at books could show a variation in how they look depending on if the woman looking at the book is of the "hot" variety.

[KT45]

I just saw Richard in a team debate where he was with Dan barker and he really impressed me. I'll pick up the book!

[mpicanco]

Had to go with 2 stars on this one.. I'm a huge fan of Carrier, but this has got to be the worst video made by a seemingly intelligent person I've ever seen. It is almost 2 minutes to say: "I like this philosophy book."

[YHBN]

dumb ass fuck son of bitches... if there is no god, fuck face, how did this universe appear?

[truthchannel]

Thats exactly the type of logic that makes people turn to Atheism mate. Guess what, the universe didn't just appear. There is a process called nature, and unlike religion, science doesn't claim to know all the answers. If on the other hand you don't enjoy thinking for yourself, welcome to religion!

[YHBN]

ooo so it's nature... YOU'RE AN IDIOT! if you wanna start something there must be "something" before. It's you that open the tv to watch it. there was MAYBE a big-bang. But who made the big-bang? It didn't just happen like that. if I summarize your stupid comment, you're telling me everything was created by itself... WAKE UP!

[EyeLean5280]

Okay,

So what came before God?

[YHBN]

stupid question. if you want me to answer it its simple: nothing came before God. Know the definition of "God" he is the creator and the almighty. How can you ask a question like that? I mean if you think there was something before god then it's impossible. cuz if its really what you think then there wuill be no god. and no universe.

[EyeLean5280]

Your attitude is uncharitable to say the very least.

It's not a stupid question. Theologians with minds and faiths far greater than yours have asked this question and they haven't all come up with the same answer, either.

Remember that Christ said how you treat the "least" of God's kingdom is how you are treating Him.

So you just called Jesus "stupid."

[EyeLean5280]

BTW, the intelligent Christian answer goes along the lines of:

God exists outside of time as well as space. In the Kingdom of Heaven, there is no "before" or "after", there is only the everlasting Now.

God created Time along with the Universe and we must exist within the dimension of time, which is why we have trouble dealing with the infinitude of God's nature. We cannot comprehend a being with no beginning but that is a sign of our limitations, not God's.

[YHBN]

So Eyelean5280 you believe in God?

[Swa6543]

So this God Created the Universe? but he himself did,nt need to be created? so then you've made yourself an infinite regression! Congratulations. This is what amazes me about the ridiculous claims of religion! These are nothing but arrogant assumptions of what preceeded the big bang

[EyeLean5280]

Why do you ask?

Just curious.

[Swa6543]

There is no reason to think there HAD to be a god to magically create the universe! Your shoe-horning in this God?/first cause explanation that's not an explanation of anything. So where did your God come from?? Don't come on here and fling insults and make absolute claims that have NO EVIDENCE!

[YHBN]

where did God come from? then where did nature and universe come from? EyeLean5280 answered me way better than that.

[Swa6543]

Well yeah, EyeLean5280 answered it better for you- Because he is making this absolute assertion that this God existed out of time in 'The kingdom of Heaven' and created theuniverse! Based on What?? Scriptures from the Bible??? -ABSURD!!

[EyeLean5280]

Swa6543 -

"EyeLean" is a re-spelling of Eileen, a woman's name, and indeed, I ought to be referred to as "she."

Next, I made no claims of any kind. I spelled out "the intelligent Christian answer" to help YHBN whith his/her metaphysical debates, since blurting out stuff like "stupid question" makes a person sound so childish. (As does blurting out ABSURD in all-caps.)

As to where it came from, probably C.S. Lewis. Certainly not the Bible.

[Swa6543]

Why could'nt the universe always have existed in some form or another? To me, that makes a lot more sense than asserting some 'magical' intervention! What happened before the big bang? I cetainly do not know, maybe someday humanity will know the answer to that question. Why not leave that to science and not 'Make up' an answer?

[EyeLean5280]

Yes, perhaps science will someday find a more prosaic explanation for the ultimate origins of energy and matter. Then we will see the majority of Christains accepting it (as they now accept evolution).

For now, I don't see the harm in postulating whatever sort of pre-bang scenario for the creation of the universe. We have imaginiations for the very purpose of decorating the gaps in our knowledge.

Why not be gracious, and let others dream different dreams from yours?

[proudfootz]

Since science has such a good track record explaining things, I think if we ever do find an answer that's where it will be coming from.

[EyeLean5280]

No doubt.

In my deistic moments, I like to think that God gave up on talking to holy men long ago and now communes primarily with scientists and artists.

[DiddleyBoh]

Fine, if they don't insist on teaching my kids that their "dreams" accurately reflect reality. Or that science is "only a theory."

[EyeLean5280]

Couldn't agree more, Diddley.

Creationism and its evil twin, Intelligent Design, have no place in a science cirriculum.

World Religions class? Fine.

[DiddleyBoh]

Fine, if they don't insist on teaching my kids that their "dreams" accurately reflect reality. Or that science is "only a theory."

[illusionist1977]

I want to get this book

[proudfootz]

It's a good one!

[superfisto]

Carrier for the win.

[Mjhavok]

I own this book. I haven't read it yet but have read some of his blog and essays online.

[icecorescientist]

religion makes good folk do bad things.

good blog!

[JDRedstone]

I read his blog from time to time too. His writings are a bit technical as far as philosophy goes, but I really enjoy them =)