| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Michael Gray" |
| Date: |
27 Jul 2006 11:33:06 PM |
| Object: |
Newscientist Feedback Column: Monolatry? |
How many deities?
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19125612.500.html
"FOR reasons unknown to us, Sean Williams found himself looking up the
word "monolatry". Wikipedia defines it as the practice of worshipping
only one deity, while acknowledging that there may be more than one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monolatrism. However, Williams was
intrigued to find a link to a yet-to-be-written page on "alatrism". At
the time Williams wrote, "alatrism" was a Googlewhackblatt, producing
that single web page when you search for it. Mentions have multiplied
since then - but of course we pay attention only to one.
We think we can help with that missing definition. "Alatrism" would be
formed from the word "alatry", the practice of not bothering to
worship any deities, regardless of how many there may be (recall
"idolatry" and the prefix "a-" for "no" or "not"). This brings us to
Feedback's Statistical Proof of Alatry.
It goes like this. The only thing we know about deities with any
certainty is that the number of them is a whole number, the idea of a
fractional deity being frankly absurd. So the number of deities in our
universe is an integer, in the range from minus infinity to plus
infinity. (We leave the theologians to interpret a negative number of
deities: this is number theory, and its conclusion should save them
the trouble.)
For it is commonly accepted that we should expect our universe to be
typical of possible universes. So the expected number of deities is in
the middle of the range of possibilities. That is, zero. Quod erat
demonstrandum."
--
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| User: "Lisbeth Andersson" |
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| Title: Re: Newscientist Feedback Column: Monolatry? |
29 Jul 2006 03:17:48 PM |
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Michael Gray <fleetg@newsguy.spam.com> wrote in
news:ep4jc2hgedehbk8a4rsv7fnksu5t2cn4lq@4ax.com:
<...>
It goes like this. The only thing we know about deities with any
certainty is that the number of them is a whole number, the idea
of a fractional deity being frankly absurd.
<...>
Well, yes it is, but when you think about some other absurd stuff that
some people claim about their god(s), one more absurdity doesn't make
much difference.
Lisbeth.
----
The day I don't learn anything new is the day I die.
*What we know is not nearly as interesting as *how we know it.
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
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| User: "Homer J Simpson" |
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| Title: Re: Newscientist Feedback Column: Monolatry? |
29 Jul 2006 04:23:36 PM |
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"Lisbeth Andersson" <lisand@bredband.net> wrote in message
news:Xns980FEC50CD7BElisandbredbandnet@66.150.105.47...
Michael Gray <fleetg@newsguy.spam.com> wrote in
news:ep4jc2hgedehbk8a4rsv7fnksu5t2cn4lq@4ax.com:
<...>
It goes like this. The only thing we know about deities with any
certainty is that the number of them is a whole number, the idea
of a fractional deity being frankly absurd.
<...>
Well, yes it is, but when you think about some other absurd stuff that
some people claim about their god(s), one more absurdity doesn't make
much difference.
Lisbeth.
Actually it makes as much sense as anything else. Perhaps you can have a
time share god.
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| User: "wcb" |
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| Title: Re: Newscientist Feedback Column: Monolatry? |
28 Jul 2006 10:26:48 PM |
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Lisbeth Andersson wrote:
Michael Gray <fleetg@newsguy.spam.com> wrote in
news:ep4jc2hgedehbk8a4rsv7fnksu5t2cn4lq@4ax.com:
<...>
It goes like this. The only thing we know about deities with any
certainty is that the number of them is a whole number, the idea
of a fractional deity being frankly absurd.
<...>
Well, yes it is, but when you think about some other absurd stuff that
some people claim about their god(s), one more absurdity doesn't make
much difference.
Well, maybe not, the Christian god seem to be
made of particles with partial charges.
God = 1/3, Jesus = 1/3, Holy Ghost = 1/3.
--
During the reign of Tiberius (A.D. 14-37), the news of
Pan's death came to one Thamus, a sailor on his way to
Italy by way of the island of Paxi. A divine voice hailed
him across the salt water, "Thamus, are you there?
When you reach Palodes, take care to proclaim that
the great god Pan is dead."
Cheerful Charlie
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| User: "Michael Gray" |
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| Title: Re: Newscientist Feedback Column: Monolatry? |
30 Jul 2006 02:48:50 AM |
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On Fri, 28 Jul 2006 22:26:48 -0500, wcb <wbarwell@mylinuxisp.com>
wrote:
- Refer: <12co9ou1doasb30@corp.supernews.com>
Lisbeth Andersson wrote:
Michael Gray <fleetg@newsguy.spam.com> wrote in
news:ep4jc2hgedehbk8a4rsv7fnksu5t2cn4lq@4ax.com:
<...>
It goes like this. The only thing we know about deities with any
certainty is that the number of them is a whole number, the idea
of a fractional deity being frankly absurd.
<...>
Well, yes it is, but when you think about some other absurd stuff that
some people claim about their god(s), one more absurdity doesn't make
much difference.
Well, maybe not, the Christian god seem to be
made of particles with partial charges.
God = 1/3, Jesus = 1/3, Holy Ghost = 1/3.
And imaginary Satan = -3/3
--
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| User: "Michael Gray" |
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| Title: Re: Newscientist Feedback Column: Monolatry? |
29 Jul 2006 07:05:38 PM |
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On 29 Jul 2006 20:17:48 GMT, Lisbeth Andersson <lisand@bredband.net>
wrote:
- Refer: <Xns980FEC50CD7BElisandbredbandnet@66.150.105.47>
Michael Gray <fleetg@newsguy.spam.com> wrote in
news:ep4jc2hgedehbk8a4rsv7fnksu5t2cn4lq@4ax.com:
<...>
It goes like this. The only thing we know about deities with any
certainty is that the number of them is a whole number, the idea
of a fractional deity being frankly absurd.
<...>
Well, yes it is, but when you think about some other absurd stuff that
some people claim about their god(s), one more absurdity doesn't make
much difference.
A bit like complaining about the Tweety-bird being able to open a cage
with his beak, while never questioning his absurd mastery of spoken
English!
--
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