Philosopher Jay W. Richards has begun what promises to be a very careful review of Alvin Plantinga's new book (on science and religion), Where the Conflict Really Lies. Look here. - Dr. V
On Plantinga's new book
Philosopher Jay W. Richards has begun what promises to be a very careful review of Alvin Plantinga's new book (on science and religion), Where the Conflict Really Lies. Look here. - Dr. V
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I read Jay Richards initial review and look forward to his subsequent comments. Plantinga's book is primarily directed to atheists (especially naturalists), but has lessons for apologetics as well. Most religious people respect science and all use its findings. Many scientists are religious, some very much so. Both science and religion, however, have limitations which should be mutually respected.
In my free ebook on comparative mysticism, "the greatest achievement in life," is a quote by Albert Einstein: "...most beautiful and profound emotion we can experience is the sensation of the mystical. It is the sower of all true science. To know that what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and most radiant beauty - which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their primitive form - this knowledge, this feeling, is the center of all religion."
E=mc², Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity, is probably the best known scientific equation. I revised it to help better understand the relationship between divine Essence (Love, Grace, Spirit), matter (mass/energy: visible/dark) and consciousness (f(x) raised to its greatest power). Unlike the speed of light, which is a constant, there are no exact measurements for consciousness. In this hypothetical formula, basic consciousness may be of insects, to the second power of animals and to the third power the rational mind of humans. The fourth power is suprarational consciousness of mystics, when they intuit the divine essence in perceived matter. This was a convenient analogy, but there cannot be a divine formula.
Hi Ron,
It's nice to hear from you once again. Our last conversation on this blog occurred back in June-July 2010 (here), and I still think that mysticism is not the way to go (for the same reasons I set out back in 2010).
I'm looking forward to Jay Richards' subsequent comments, too.
Best regards.
Hi Hendrick,
Yes, I remember our last discussion http://philosophyfoosball.blogspot.com/2010/06/paths-up-mountain.html
You are right...to a great extent. The path of mysticism is not right for many people. Unfortunately, too few of them understand it.
Each of us is born with the divine essence (not in sin) but we learn how not to be mystics.
Ron,
I am going to continue to disagree because of the reasons I've set out at length previously. It seems to me that the evidence and good reasoning therefrom point to Jesus -- God in the flesh -- dying on the cross (for our sins) and to Him resurrecting subsequently, to defeat death and provide a sign for us to believe that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I think that because God's coming to earth in Jesus was not done in a corner (i.e., it was done publicly), this provides grounds external to our mystical experiences to discern whether our mystical experiences are truly from God or not. If the mystical experience points us to Jesus, i.e., to realizing that Jesus is the God of the universe who lived among us, died, and resurrected, then the mystical experience is from God; if not, not.
As I mentioned last year, I encourage you to reconsider the evidence for Jesus. Maybe ask Him to come into your heart and mind to be Lord of your mystical experiences?
Best regards only.
Jay W. Richards' second installment of his review of Plantinga's book can be found here.
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