RE: Testing a Hypothesis about the Supernatural
April 11, 2018 at 10:26 am
(This post was last modified: April 11, 2018 at 10:35 am by The Grand Nudger.)
Are you telling us that people can't see apparitions, only the vases they knock over? It seems like ghost believers might disagree.
I think you might be conflating the notion of the hiddenness of god with an inability for the supernatural to be detected by the natural. The supernatural only exists as a conceptual set or category because we implicitly and explictly claim that the supernatural can be detected...even by "natural" tools. The failure of the supernatural is and has always been that these claims turn out to be rank bullshit.
That the devil doesn't appear at the cross road to buy your soul when he;s supposed to.
That the ghosts of the previous residents don't dance across the rafters on the anniversary of their death..like they;re supposed to.
That the cantrip doesn't cure cancer...like it's supposed to.
The the grape juice and cracker is still grape juice and a cracker..when it's -not- supposed to be.
That the prophecy never materializes in the present.
That the island doesn;t appear out of the mist every seven years.
....etc.
If the supernatural was somehow undetectable these would not be problems...but..otoh..there wouldn't be any claim to begin with. In any case, allow me to suggest that you don;t have to go to bat defending the failures of ghost photography and esp in order to defend your silly hidden god.
I think you might be conflating the notion of the hiddenness of god with an inability for the supernatural to be detected by the natural. The supernatural only exists as a conceptual set or category because we implicitly and explictly claim that the supernatural can be detected...even by "natural" tools. The failure of the supernatural is and has always been that these claims turn out to be rank bullshit.
That the devil doesn't appear at the cross road to buy your soul when he;s supposed to.
That the ghosts of the previous residents don't dance across the rafters on the anniversary of their death..like they;re supposed to.
That the cantrip doesn't cure cancer...like it's supposed to.
The the grape juice and cracker is still grape juice and a cracker..when it's -not- supposed to be.
That the prophecy never materializes in the present.
That the island doesn;t appear out of the mist every seven years.
....etc.
If the supernatural was somehow undetectable these would not be problems...but..otoh..there wouldn't be any claim to begin with. In any case, allow me to suggest that you don;t have to go to bat defending the failures of ghost photography and esp in order to defend your silly hidden god.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
