What's the philosophical rationale for an individual right to bear arms? Apart from that the US constitution says it. I have two rationales against it...
There's been a lot of people political back and forth, but this is a philosophy forum. What does philosophy have to say about gun control? Plato, in t...
Thanks for this thread, really interesting. Thanks for T Clark for pointing it out to me. I'm currently slogging thru the Republic, so it's a fitting ...
Let me see if I understand you correctly. You objected to me using the word God to describe a range of possible meanings (because I lack certainty on ...
Hmm... I never knew that. Though it doesn't take away from Thorongil's point about using the term God or Theism in other than typically used ways. The...
Getting deeper into Plato's Republic and in reading all your comments, I'm beginning to see how I should ground everything in the Monad, the First Cau...
Since this comment was towards me, I'd like to say I took no offense. I was factually wrong and Thorongil corrected me. We could all try to be more ci...
I'm not a liberal Christian, though my priests are at my family's espicopal church. So I'm well acquainted. Bishop John Spong used to a be rector ther...
Okay, you might be right on Tillich too. I've read several of his books and sermons. Honestly I don't know why he's still Christian. Especially with a...
We are using theism in different senses. Tillich blatantly rejects "theism". Yes in a sense is still s theist but that's not exactly fair. I'm sorry y...
Yeah part of my argument is that if there some sort of meaning then it's unlikely that this meaning to be the biggest jerk you can be. Cultivating vir...
Fair enough, but there is a range of all of them what they mean. I fall somewhere in that range and I don't feel the need to spell out exactly where I...
What term should I use? I hate the overuse of the word too. How about Monad (that's one my favorite? I'll try that out on here and see how it goes. It...
I'll grant that you can't talk about why does God allow suffering without addressing does God exist. So let's switch topics within this thread. Why I ...
Javra, Hello! Thanks for the welcome. I'm using the title of Platonist myself but the forum has helped me realize I don't exactly fit in that category...
Spinoza would disagree. At least I think he would. I would definitely disagree. I'm not entirely consistent in what I mean by God. For me, God is a ra...
This topic deserves its own thread. I'm new here so I'm not sure of group norms. I've made four threads in five days. Too many or go ahead a post anot...
Hmmm... maybe you're right. I do remember thinking I was more or less happy until Buddhism taught me how much I was suffering. :) I don't know about h...
Yes the way the phrase "mysterious ways" is used commonly is complete BS. God doesn't use one earthly misfortune to bring about an earthly blessing la...
This was a fantastic response. Very well written. There's a lot there to ponder. I especially liked "world without suffering would have no purpose" Th...
True, He does. (I agree with you that it is probably Aquinas) I don't know we can know exactly why or how God permits suffering. However I think if we...
You pointed out my obvious error. I'm really discussing the problem of suffering. Suffering is not necessarily evil. In fact I would say they aren't t...
I'm curious as to what that vision is. I really liked TimeLine's description of an authentic admission caused by a realistic view of oneself that lead...
It's okay! I like the Zen teaching that religion is fingers (the religion) point at the moon (Truth). It's not about the finger or religion. We've tou...
I did more digging. Few things in Judaism are simple. A typical Torah study group can very academic even. The faith puts a high value on intellectual ...
Yes. The Rabbis say so you can be a gentile and if you follow the 7 laws you can be considered righteous and you are allowed to participate in limited...
Yeah, are the Jews the chosen people? Did the Absolute choose to reveal Himself to Abraham and the rest of the world was kept guessing? God orders lot...
I was noahide for a while. A gentile follower of Judaism. Still has a big place in my heart. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Laws_of_Noah I go w...
God takes sides?! If he does take sides there are only two possibilities. Either he takes the side of the virtuous which means actually practicing vir...
Jewish laws are both! The Pharisees/Priests and now Rabbis create "fences" around the true Law that is given by God. For example the Torah says do not...
What does "in" mean? (That's rhetorical) The Kabbalists, which inform a lot of Judaism, say there is a divine spark (the Yud) in creation. They say th...
Yes. Hassidic Jews are Panentheists. God sustains all creation with His loving kindness. Now Spinoza is almost a pantheist. He says existence is all m...
I think you are thinking of ancient Judaism or of the Sadducees who didn't believe in an afterlife. Hassidic Jews do, they believe in " a world to com...
You make more good points. As terrible as that would be from God's perspective Abel is raised in heaven and not truly dead, in a sense Cain only offen...
This is a good question. So yes, God is infinitely merciful (Spinoza) and in fact human mercy is a finite of expression of His infinite mercy. So if t...
Oranssi Have you read the Song of Songs (aka Song of Solomon)? It's in the Bible! So mystics have long talked about union with God in romantic and sex...
Blind acceptance is dangerous for sure. Going on your own judgments and questioning is also dangerous. But you are right, we have no choice because re...
Hachem, To repeat what some others have said if you want more interaction on your posts, you need to make it relatable. I'm new here so I went back to...
Yes, I see what you mean. "Human authority about God or in judging God" (grammar corrected for clarity). So I'm evaluating human ideas about God. I ha...
Responding to the OP, The ontological proof works well for the God of philosophy or of the Quran. There is no other beside Him, the almighty, all merc...
This is more what I had assumed Augustine had thought. I was taught theology by Lutherans so they emphasized a continuity of Paul, Augustine and Luthe...
Helpful responses, thanks. Owning the experience is right or acknowledging the failure. It's a bit of a change of mindset to really take ownership of ...
Where does Augustine address this? I'm only familiar with Luther's Bondage of the Will. I've read The Trinity and The Two Cities but it's been a long ...
Thanks for this explanation. I just finished book 2 of the Republic so this is a spoiler, haha! I was wondering where Plato was going with the guardia...
I don't really know if I can define mysticism. It's such a loaded term. Prayer? Meditation? Contemplation? All of those are loaded too. Your depiction...
I'd like to ask a follow up question. What to Plato is reason? What do you think us reason and is it different from being rational? I was a philosophy...
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