Philosophy Now Forum

Lacewing wrote:

Gary Childress wrote: What sorts of "mystical coincidences" have you experienced?

Hi Gary.
This forum does not appear to be a place that would appreciate and support the sharing of such experiences, so I probably won't with any detail. I've gotten the impression that there are people here who just want to snatch up what they can to use against others... to tear others down... and it's really kind of a pathetic display of wasted potential... but it has it's entertainment value for a little while.

That your detractors take what you post and try to use it against someone, is their problem.

When you engage them and respond, then it becomes your problem.

Post your experiences, there is nothing that your detractors can do directly to hurt you, only their words, and you control how much those words hurt you. Engage those you choose to engage and ignore the rest. Some of us have shared personal experiences, and are interested in the experiences of others, without being negative about it.

thedoc wrote: Some of us have shared personal experiences, and are interested in the experiences of others, without being negative about it.

That's good to hear. Thanks doc!

It seems to me that hearing about any philosophical realm that any person is (respectfully) speaking from can expand one's own philosophical understanding of humankind beyond oneself (whether or not one agrees). It takes courage and love (I think) to realize how much more there is, and to try to accept all of it with a light heart. I struggle with that myself -- as some things seem too stupid and ugly to accept -- but that's part of a very informative process. I'd rather expand my view than stay in a bubble insisting on certain "correct" boundaries. I find it magnificent and awe-inspiring how many philosophical possibilities/perspectives there are -- all going on at once!! Imagine the energy of that.

Obvious Leo wrote:...an utterance emanating from the polluted mind of Bob Evenson.

The spokesman of the extremely conservative Spiritual Counterfeits Project didn't seem to think I had a polluted mind, and he of all people would surely have been able to make that decision. How do you explain it? Let me give you the answer: he was divinely inspired to write that letter, a letter about a paper that everybody else in his organization would have viciously condemned and attacked if they had even bothered to read it, a paper that only he has ever admitted to understanding, and a letter that had absolutely no chance of ever being written by anybody else on the face of the Earth.

bobevenson wrote:The spokesman of the extremely conservative Spiritual Counterfeits Project didn't seem to think I had a polluted mind,

No doubt you have much else in common, Bob, but I suggest that you should seek more credible supporters if you ever want your movement to gain some traction with the rest of the tinfoil hat brigade.

Obvious Leo wrote:

bobevenson wrote:The spokesman of the extremely conservative Spiritual Counterfeits Project didn't seem to think I had a polluted mind,

No doubt you have much else in common.

A prophet doesn't have anything in common with anybody.

bobevenson wrote: A prophet doesn't have anything in common with anybody.

Wouldn't that make them kinda useless? Are they just supposed to stand on a rock and tell people what to do (supposedly) according to a god, without having any understanding or commonality with people, themselves? Detached, grand messengers... that people unquestioningly respect and bow and cower to? Does that sound realistic?

Lacewing wrote:

bobevenson wrote: A prophet doesn't have anything in common with anybody.

Wouldn't that make them kinda useless?

Was John on the isle of Patmos kinda useless? It's been 1,919 years since he wrote the book
of Revelation in 96 AD, and I guarantee you he didn't have anything in common with anybody except God.

For someone to be prophet, there would have to be a god. So, nothing.

In fact, if they were to perform petty miracles, like turning water into wine, I would be even more convinced that they are running a scam. If, however, he would solve the problem of world hunger or bring about world peace, or ensure that not a single child across the world dies, or shows us how to make a motor run on air, or things of such nature which would be actually good for mankind, then maybe, I might reconsider. As far as producing fish out of thin air or turning water into wine are concerned, I am sure Chris Angel or Dynamo could do it if they set their mind to it. Dynamo has already produced fish out of thin air. Too bad he does not claim to be a prophet.

sthitapragya wrote:In fact, if they were to perform petty miracles, like turning water into wine,

Let's not be overly hasty now, mate, lest we cut off our nose to spite the face, so to speak. Surely if a bloke can turn my swimming pool into a half decent Pinot Noir he deserves at least a probationary promotion into the pantheon? Perhaps an honorary fellow of the ancient order of lesser deities?

Obvious Leo wrote:

sthitapragya wrote:In fact, if they were to perform petty miracles, like turning water into wine,

Let's not be overly hasty now, mate, lest we cut off our nose to spite the face, so to speak. Surely if a bloke can turn my swimming pool into a half decent Pinot Noir he deserves at least a probationary promotion into the pantheon? Perhaps an honorary fellow of the ancient order of lesser deities?

Oh, all right, provided I get a piece of the swimming pool pie, why not? Deity it is.

sthitapragya wrote: Oh, all right, provided I get a piece of the swimming pool pie, why not? Deity it is.

I had you pegged immediately as a man I could do business with.

bobevenson wrote:

Obvious Leo wrote:...an utterance emanating from the polluted mind of Bob Evenson.

The spokesman of the extremely conservative Spiritual Counterfeits Project didn't seem to think I had a polluted mind, and he of all people would surely have been able to make that decision. How do you explain it? Let me give you the answer: he was divinely inspired to write that letter, a letter about a paper that everybody else in his organization would have viciously condemned and attacked if they had even bothered to read it, a paper that only he has ever admitted to understanding, and a letter that had absolutely no chance of ever being written by anybody else on the face of the Earth.

He also said, and I quote, "So what?".

Obvious Leo wrote:I had you pegged immediately as a man I could do business with.

As a member of the Pinot Noir Wine Growers Association I vehemently obvious such behaviour.

Arising_uk wrote:

bobevenson wrote:

Obvious Leo wrote:...an utterance emanating from the polluted mind of Bob Evenson.

The spokesman of the extremely conservative Spiritual Counterfeits Project didn't seem to think I had a polluted mind, and he of all people would surely have been able to make that decision. How do you explain it? Let me give you the answer: he was divinely inspired to write that letter, a letter about a paper that everybody else in his organization would have viciously condemned and attacked if they had even bothered to read it, a paper that only he has ever admitted to understanding, and a letter that had absolutely no chance of ever being written by anybody else on the face of the Earth.

He also said, and I quote, "So what?".

Prior to that, he said "Your argument is fascinating, tightly-reasoned, for sure. But I have to wonder, is it true?" He was admitting that salvation itself might be in the game of Ouzo, that the Second Coming of Christ might be named Tor, and that the Holy Trinity might include the Ouzo Cross. Yes, I would say he was quite impressed with "The Ouzo Prophecy."