(January 20, 2023 at 1:08 pm)Objectivist Wrote: Yes, Belaqua, I understand this, but that something is generally accepted does not make it true. I explained where this whole necessary-contingent dichotomy comes from.
I confess that I don't see yet how you're able to dismiss the necessary/contingent distinction. In itself it isn't anything demanding religion.
"This cat is a mammal" is a necessary truth, because by definition all cats are mammals. "This cat is a reptile" would be nonsense.
"This cat is black" is a contingent truth, because it could be another color and still be a cat.
Now how this gets applied to theology of course may be debated, but the distinction itself seems pretty unassailable.