I purposely didn't use the word god, since I know you already nixed that. I wanted to know if you're distinguishing between the god hypothesis and an argument from design in general. I agree that orbital dynamics is interesting.

(October 29, 2014 at 10:19 am)Heywood Wrote: What are the odds the sun and the moon would appear to be the same apparent size at the exact same time intelligent beings would exist to appreciate it?

I used to think it astronomical and maybe it still is....but I now know things about solar system formation that suggest to me that perhaps its not such a long shot after all.

What are the odds reality is like it is right now? How about fucking 100%?

It absolutely is interesting. Maybe something can be learned from it.

(October 29, 2014 at 10:19 am)Heywood Wrote: What are the odds the sun and the moon would appear to be the same apparent size at the exact same time intelligent beings would exist to appreciate it?

What are the odds that of the uncountable objects in our world, there would be at least some coincidences that grab our attention?

If it wasn't the relative apparent size of the moon and sun, it would be something else-- like the surprising color similarites between floobles and fleebles.

(October 29, 2014 at 12:34 pm)Stimbo Wrote: I purposely didn't use the word god, since I know you already nixed that. I wanted to know if you're distinguishing between the god hypothesis and an argument from design in general. I agree that orbital dynamics is interesting.

Well, I used to think that such a feature of our world would be more indicative of design by beings who were not gods.....perhaps a post human type civilization simulating their ancestors.....simulation hypothesis.

Now here is a thought about simulation hypothesis. It would be very very very hard to take our civilization today and model it accurately in computer. Doing so would require programming 7 billion people and 7 billion individual memories all of which need to be consistent with each other. Its just too tedious a task. In my mind simulation hypothesis only works when you start the simulation at a much earlier point....say the big bang. Then let the civilization, the people(simulants) and their memories simply emerge from the simulation. No need for a programmer to program intricate details.

If we are simulants then its likely the simulation we exist in started with the big bang and not some pre-programmed designed earth where the moon and sun purposely have the same apparent size.

If the same apparent size of the sun and moon is indicative of design, the designer is more god like. More akin to a designer in which the words "difficulty" or "tedious" have no meaning....more akin to an all powerful God.

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(October 29, 2014 at 7:35 pm)bennyboy Wrote:

(October 29, 2014 at 10:19 am)Heywood Wrote: What are the odds the sun and the moon would appear to be the same apparent size at the exact same time intelligent beings would exist to appreciate it?

What are the odds that of the uncountable objects in our world, there would be at least some coincidences that grab our attention?

If it wasn't the relative apparent size of the moon and sun, it would be something else-- like the surprising color similarites between floobles and fleebles.

And if it was discovered that on the far side of the moon there was a rock formation that spelled, "Jesus Christ is Lord" you would be saying basically the same thing....that it was merely a coincidence....a chance coming together of rocks among the uncountable number of rocks in our world.

(October 29, 2014 at 7:44 pm)Heywood Wrote:

(October 29, 2014 at 7:35 pm)bennyboy Wrote: What are the odds that of the uncountable objects in our world, there would be at least some coincidences that grab our attention?

If it wasn't the relative apparent size of the moon and sun, it would be something else-- like the surprising color similarites between floobles and fleebles.

And if it was discovered that on the far side of the moon there was a rock formation that spelled, "Jesus Christ is Lord" you would be saying basically the same thing....that it was merely a coincidence....a chance coming together of rocks among the uncountable number of rocks in our world.

Have you given up on critical thinking completely? I'm tempted to explain to you why what you just said is dumb, but something tells me it would be futile.