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I am sure the poor Neurosurgen is desperate to make money off a book he knows may damage his reputation. I mean who can live on what they pay neurosugeons in the US?
The salary of a surgeon is not really comparable to a number 1 selling book. Not only is the latter much higher but it comes in a much much shorter space of time too. So it is not just the quantity of money but the speed at which one can earn it.
Also the man had just survived a very serious illness. His earning potential after that could be curtailed, or his desire to work anymore at all. So another income from something as easy as a book would be very welcome.
So not only are you comparing apples and oranges here, you are simply ignoring the possible motivations.
That is hardly the most important point in my post though. You conveniently cut the rest out that he IS making a lot of money from making claims that are not only not substantiated in a lot of cases, but are directly contradicted in others. This is money from lies and I can well understand how that attracts ire.
The skeptics are not "closing their ears" here as you falsely paint it. They opened their ears, listened, and found holes and direct falsehoods in what was being said. But it is easier for someone like you to pretend their ears are closed rather than accept they found those holes and errors. In essence that means it is YOU closing your ears. They read the claims, found the errors in it, and you ignored those and just pretended they never said any of it. You are the one guilty of what you falsely accuse others of. Well done.
What about things you're skeptical about? What say you don't believe in the Loch Ness Monster? Do you have a nasty disposition because deep down, you're scared that you're wrong about Nessie?
One's eternal destiny is not affected by the Loch Ness Monster. It matters not whether the LN monster exists.
However, when it comes to whether God and the supernatural exist the stakes are higher........much higher.
One's eternal destiny is not affected by the Loch Ness Monster. It matters not whether the LN monster exists.
Tell that to convicted criminal and fraud Kent Hovind. It is important to him. He thinks discovering the Loch Ness Monster will help prove Creationism. Mainly because he thinks dinosaurs and Humans existed at the same time in the past and that therefore there must be some still alive somewhere on the planet.
So he openly says in his debates and videos that not only does Loch Ness exist but we should go look for it to prove creationism. Great stuff.
The salary of a surgeon is not really comparable to a number 1 selling book. Not only is the latter much higher but it comes in a much much shorter space of time too. So it is not just the quantity of money but the speed at which one can earn it.
Also the man had just survived a very serious illness. His earning potential after that could be curtailed, or his desire to work anymore at all. So another income from something as easy as a book would be very welcome.
So not only are you comparing apples and oranges here, you are simply ignoring the possible motivations.
That is hardly the most important point in my post though. You conveniently cut the rest out that he IS making a lot of money from making claims that are not only not substantiated in a lot of cases, but are directly contradicted in others. This is money from lies and I can well understand how that attracts ire.
The skeptics are not "closing their ears" here as you falsely paint it. They opened their ears, listened, and found holes and direct falsehoods in what was being said. But it is easier for someone like you to pretend their ears are closed rather than accept they found those holes and errors. In essence that means it is YOU closing your ears. They read the claims, found the errors in it, and you ignored those and just pretended they never said any of it. You are the one guilty of what you falsely accuse others of. Well done.
It think the rub is that the guy was an atheist before he had his experience. He had his proof and now is a theist.
At worst the fellow is deluded. Being deluded does not make one a liar, it only makes one wrong.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nozzferrahhtoo
Tell that to convicted criminal and fraud Kent Hovind. It is important to him. He thinks discovering the Loch Ness Monster will help prove Creationism. Mainly because he thinks dinosaurs and Humans existed at the same time in the past and that therefore there must be some still alive somewhere on the planet.
So he openly says in his debates and videos that not only does Loch Ness exist but we should go look for it to prove creationism. Great stuff.
I am not sure why you made this post. What has creationism to do with one's eternal destiny? As a Christian I could care less about the LN monster and creationism.
Perhaps you need to see your opponents as angry so you can dismiss their arguments automatically, without having to actually think about them and thus expose your faith to the possibility that it's irrational?
I don't think so. I say that because I don't have skin in this game. I'm not religious and if anything believe the skeptics could be correct, I'm just not as certain as they are. This wasn't the first time I have noticed the angry tone. It objectively exists.
Goodness! You found people with a nasty disposition on a newspaper comment thread? Crazy! Next those unpleasant people will invade youtube comments and our polite internet will be gone. Gone, I tell you!
Goodness! You found people with a nasty disposition on a newspaper comment thread? Crazy! Next those unpleasant people will invade youtube comments and our polite internet will be gone. Gone, I tell you!
Selection bias. Blog posts attract trolls and people with TIFS (Total Internet F___wad Syndrome). You have to read blog comments the same way you read consumer reviews ... people with something negative to say are much more motivated to post than people with something positive to say.
I agree.
Quote:
I'm inclined to be respectful of other people's opinions if they show even the slightest modicum of respect for mine, and I am always open for new evidence, even if its contrary to my views. As are a lot of atheists. We're not all Richard Dawkins clones, not by a long shot.
Admirable and parallels my own approach.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikelee81
I'm amazed (not really but for the sake of argument) that a neurosurgeon that works wonders with his hand with his MIND would overlook the well known FACT that the mind is NOT controlled by the Brain. If certain elements of the Brain cease to function, the MIND continues to work.. sometimes elsewhere in the brain function.
The MIND is not PHYSICAL/MATERIAL but it is PROOF of the metaphysical. >> there is something (the Mind) (commonly called consciousness) that is controlling the material.. just as a mind/operator operates a machine.. something as simple as a forklift.
The real YOU.. call it the Spirit/Soul whatever is ETERNAL.
Obviously as a Spiritualist, I accept this point of view, but it is not universally believed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nozzferrahhtoo
That is hardly the most important point in my post though. You conveniently cut the rest out that he IS making a lot of money from making claims that are not only not substantiated in a lot of cases, but are directly contradicted in others. This is money from lies and I can well understand how that attracts ire.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr5150
It think the rub is that the guy was an atheist before he had his experience. He had his proof and now is a theist.
At worst the fellow is deluded. Being deluded does not make one a liar, it only makes one wrong.
This is an important point and highlights the irresponsible use of the accusation of lying. Lies are falsehoods, yes, but they are deliberate. The liar knows and believes they are false. If the person knows the supposed facts but does not believe them, he can be accused of being wrong (or deluded). He cannot be accused of lying. The monetary motivations are irrelevant to the truth or falsity, in any case. They are indirect ad hominem assaults on the character of the man.
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