Thursday, September 22, 2011
Two "Million" Initiatives
Last minute news: I want to use every means to inform prayerful people about two separate initiatves in two widely separated places that I believe are linked by Divine spiritual Providence. One is an initiative to pray one million Rosaries by Filippinos and the other to have one million Europeans present a Pro-life legal initiative to European entities. Please pray for the success of both works of mercy. To read more, see www.zenit.org. 8/31/11 for the article on Filipinos ready to pray one million rosaries. 9/14 for the news about Pro-lifers attempt to use the Lisbon Treaty. PRAY.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
GOODBYE
In January 2002 my family started a web magazine titled "Aretheos.com". A few years ago it was downsized to the present blog site. It does not seem appropriate to pursue this occasional site at this time. We hope you pray and follow the Church's teachings.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Stephen Hawking's Mistake (Part Two)
Not believing in anything truly non-material (spiritual) Hawking says that there is "no heaven for broken computers" and that he is not "afraid of the dark".
We are just autonomous (self-operating) computers according to this view.
Look at your computer. You're operating it - the computer is not self-aware.
Oh, our self-awareness is just the critical mass of the self-referential qualities of our brain's software? Right, and the universe popped itself into existence.
Back in the 1980's I used to make the intellectual mistake of trying to point out the immaterial side of our minds by using images as an example. I would say that if anyone, even employing the finest techniques, were to dissect our brain they would not find an image. That analysis was flawed. If you dissect a photograph or a monitor you will not find an image either. The image requires the entire "system".
But that leads us to this realization: Close your eyes and bring up an image. Who is looking at it? Now go another step. Recall an abstract axiom of geometry. Who is comprehending the idea? Or even finer: who is bringing up or who is recalling?
Look at yourself looking at your computer, Mr. Hawking. Cause and effect ad infinitum is nonsense. If there is an infinite series of universes or an infinite regression of self-reference then neither the universe nor self-awareness would come into being.
God took the clay (shaped the earth) and gave us the breath of life, an immortal soul. As in the previous post the word "God" is Aristotle's humble "uncaused cause". Human logic cannot go beyond that position.
Of course, if the uncaused cause caused a universe with creatures capable of asking these questions, capable of communication, might there be revelation? I see you and know you exist but I won't know you until you reveal yourself.
We are just autonomous (self-operating) computers according to this view.
Look at your computer. You're operating it - the computer is not self-aware.
Oh, our self-awareness is just the critical mass of the self-referential qualities of our brain's software? Right, and the universe popped itself into existence.
Back in the 1980's I used to make the intellectual mistake of trying to point out the immaterial side of our minds by using images as an example. I would say that if anyone, even employing the finest techniques, were to dissect our brain they would not find an image. That analysis was flawed. If you dissect a photograph or a monitor you will not find an image either. The image requires the entire "system".
But that leads us to this realization: Close your eyes and bring up an image. Who is looking at it? Now go another step. Recall an abstract axiom of geometry. Who is comprehending the idea? Or even finer: who is bringing up or who is recalling?
Look at yourself looking at your computer, Mr. Hawking. Cause and effect ad infinitum is nonsense. If there is an infinite series of universes or an infinite regression of self-reference then neither the universe nor self-awareness would come into being.
God took the clay (shaped the earth) and gave us the breath of life, an immortal soul. As in the previous post the word "God" is Aristotle's humble "uncaused cause". Human logic cannot go beyond that position.
Of course, if the uncaused cause caused a universe with creatures capable of asking these questions, capable of communication, might there be revelation? I see you and know you exist but I won't know you until you reveal yourself.
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