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[QUOTE=Xyzzy;369266][COLOR="White"].[/COLOR][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE]Q: How do Pastafarians believe our world was created?
A: We believe the Flying Spaghetti Monster created the world much as it exists today, but for reasons unknown made it appear that the universe is billions of years old (instead of thousands) and that life evolved into its current state (rather than created in its current form). Every time a researcher carries out an experiment that appears to confirm one of these “scientific theories” supporting an old earth and evolution we can be sure that the FSM is there, modifying the data with his Noodly Appendage. We don’t know why He does this but we believe He does, that is our Faith.[/QUOTE]

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[QUOTE=retina;369101]Perhaps you can ask him.[/QUOTE]

What if she does not like being addressed as male?

[QUOTE=kladner;369344]What if she does not like being addressed as male?[/QUOTE]Well if god is such a sensitive and fragile little crybaby then we are all doomed.

[QUOTE=retina;369373]Well if god is such a sensitive and fragile little crybaby then we are all doomed.[/QUOTE]

As if we aren't already? :smile:

The Universe did NOT evolve from nothing. Thar would have been
a total contradiction, since NCFN (a basic law of reality).

The Universe was not created by a being. That would contradict
LOC&E (a basic law of reality).

Hence the regression into the infinite past is suggested.

Two issues come to fore: is the infinite regression contradictory or
possible? Can it actually be proven true?

The answers are:

NO, the infinite regression is not contradictory, and
YES, the infinite past is possible and in fact provable.

The arguments as I've so far refined them are to be found
in the cosmology monograph, attachment cosmo3.txt.

(This post responds to Xyzzy's funny textbook entry ^^).

What is the sound of one hand clapping?

I sorry, I didn't know you didn't have two.
I would have altered logic to try to make you right.
I wouldn't have succeeded, but trying is good too.

[QUOTE=davar55;369963]I sorry, I didn't know you didn't have two.
I would have altered logic to try to make you right.
I wouldn't have succeeded, but trying is good too.[/QUOTE]

ROFLMFAO...

You claim to know all, but you can't even (or choose not to) answer this simple koan presented to entry students.

To read the last page, the answer is either (or both) "Silence" or "Nothingness".

I, personally, find you continuously a distraction, and/or a waste of carbon.

[QUOTE=chalsall;369964]

To read the last page, the answer is either (or both) "Silence" or "Nothingness".

[/QUOTE]

I can think of plenty of other answers:

The hand makes a sound as it passes through the atmosphere, that is imperceptible to your ears yet exists despite that.

The question is meaningless because it is a pop culture rendition of the actual koan which was: Two hands clap and there is a sound, what is the sound of one hand? Therefore one hand's sound is obviously separate from clapping.

The question is meaningless to most people not because it has meaning and they miss it, but because it only describes one way of viewing the world that may or may not be meaningful to everyone. Even if I were to accept that Zen Buddhism was a path to enlightenment (which I don't) it certainly can't be seen as the only path to enlightenment (whatever that is) nor can it be the path for a majority of the people.

I'm an anti-metaphysics guy so [YOUTUBE]L8Q1nLwYK6E[/YOUTUBE] has more meaning to me than any meditated upon answer.

[QUOTE=chalsall;369962]What is the sound of one hand clapping?[/QUOTE]

Solutions to koans to be looked up in the back are not.

Thelessnever, I answer you follows as:


The left hand claps as a grassshopper hops, vertically, with strength,
but not using its mind fully.

The right hand claps as tulips sway, horizontally, with tenderness,
but letting its mind fly away.

Separately, they dance to music. Together, they make music.


I never claim to know all.

My carbon footprint is minimal, I prefer to waste tungsten.

I hope this doesn't continue to be a waste of time.