Shii Posted:

One cannot be good, no matter how hard one tries. To put such a degree of emphasis on good works with the expectation that one will “get into heaven” as a result is not doctrinally sound within the vast majority of Christian denominations.

Who said anything about Christian denominations?

I don’t think doing good deeds will get anyone into heaven either, but for somewhat different reasons Log in to see images!

Duncecap Posted:

Pascal’s wager was satire.

Does that make it one of the oldest, if not the original Poe?

Duncecap Posted:

Write this on a slip of paper:

“Here is a thought”

Then read the piece of paper: Is it a thought? Does it exist without a mind to hold it?

That’s ink and paper, nothing more. When your mind perceives what’s on the paper, interprets the shapes it sees into letters, bumembles those letters into words and those words into a meaning, then it becomes a thought. But then it’s in a mind, not on paper.

Duncecap Posted:

A much better example from modern times: The computer. It can take a thought, replicate it, and send it to other computers, and even to paper.

Does the computer hold a mind, and if so, then from whence is the mind?

A computer can be used to store electronic versions of things that we use to represent our thoughts (letters, pictures, sound etc). The computer need not think, only copy electric signals. Once again the representation is only that.

SoronTheBeast Posted:

In every recorded case were this happened, the leader drew on gods for his authority.

Mmm, could well be. It’s been an effective tool for convincing people to do things for a long time.