Re: Agnosticism and the Fear of Atheism (was re: Vital Essence)

From: Robert Owen (rowen@technologist.com)
Date: Tue Jan 25 2000 - 02:03:22 MST


E Shaun Russell wrote:

> Robert Owen wrote:
>
> >
> >Just time for a brief response. I would never say "I believe the Sun
> >will rise tomorrow." I would prefer "I EXPECT" the sun to rise tomorrow"
> >which is a very different proposition. Or, to probe a little deeper, I
> >might say "IF the sun doesn't rise tomorrow, THEN our formulations
> >of the Mechanics of Planetary Motion, or the Psychophysiology of
> >Human Perception, or both, are either incomplete or gravely flawed.
>
> Then you would be incredibly wrong. Any ten year old could tell you that
> the sun does *not* rise; had you said this a millenium ago (when people
> commonly *believed* it to be true) your 'expectation' would have been
> assumed correct.

Now I'm going to put aside your gauche impertinence and captiousness
to point out to you that the quoted paragraph is a reply to a post by
Lee Daniel Crocker of Mon, 24 Jan 2000 13:06:55 -0800 (PST)in which Lee
said:
          "I suspect that you believe the sun will rise tomorrow."

That is what we say, isn't it? You evidently disdain this conventional
metaphorical description and express the physical situation in a much more
sophisticated manner. I'm sure you luxuriate in a fantasy about how others
are impressed with your acumen.

What impresses me are your coarse manners and the extent to which your
self-importance is based on a pompous assumption that you have somehow
managed to transform trivial platitudes into profundities.

I apologize to the list for this exasperated statement, but I simply cannot
tolerate the sheer loutishness and incivility exhibited here by this supercilious
young man.

There isn't the slightest possibility of any consideration of your subsequent
remarks, Shaun, unless you resolve to present yourself in a reasonably
acculturated manner, meaning, as a gentleman.

======================
Robert M. Owen
Director
The Orion Institute
57 W. Morgan Street
Brevard, NC 28712-3659 USA
=======================



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