To your first point, I ask "Huh?" If you have no Universe how do you have rules?
Yes, I agree, the transcendental issues we're trying to handle here are difficult if not impossible to express coherently (cf. Gödel). The problem is, you're not even trying to avoid contradicting yourself. You say things like
The rules of physics did not exist prior to the Universe being created
and
Creator of the Universe
First of all, you assume there "was" "nothing" and this "nothingness" is incomprehensible and inexpressible in any language. Since there "was nothing" (no time, no space) there was also no "before". Since there were no laws of physics how could a "creator" exist? How could it operate? Your assumptions contradict and cancel each other out and cannot be basis to any coherent cerebration. Instead let's try to assume there WERE laws of physics, only without anything they could apply to.
Creator of the Universe _must_ be a deity by definition
You're lost here. First, define "definition". Then try to define "deity". The latter cannot be done; it's a contradiction in terms. Thus, your above statement is meaningless.
I think you can get an iPhone 3GS for free with contact... So you can meet your criteria but also have an iPhone. Alternatively, if you buy an unlocked phone on Craigslist or whatever, then no worries about the money going to apple.
To your second point, that is absolutely a false dichotomy.
I could go:
Perhaps you are using phrases you don't understand in order to suit your belief system?
The rules of physics did not exist prior to the Universe being created,
Assumption. Also, -> anthropic principle.
so the Creator must have had powers
The question is - where did it (the creator) come from? And please, don't go Aquinas on that. It's tired. And weak.
Atheists by definition believe in no deities.
No. Atheists don't believe in any deities (subtle but different). That's just one (or several) fewer than pseudomonotheistic Judeochristian occultists. Why? Because the whole idea is superfluous, teleological, irrelevant and completely made up to scare old infants into submission!
Slashdot Mirror
Do you even have a credible source to back that up?
http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/
http://www.google.com/search?q=illegal+immigrants+working+us+farms
I think it's hard to claim the USA and UK are falling back when pitted against Germany for that reason.
USA and UK are falling back to slave labor.
echo -e "HEAD / HTTP/1.1\nHost: slashdot.org\n\n" | nc slashdot.org 80
The successful examples of communism have been reduced, through attrition, to North Korea and Cuba.
I'm sorry, but no. In those countries there never was communism. In fact I don't think communism ever existed yet, hence my "let's educate ourselves".
Senior System Engineer/Architect
OK, I'll explain, although you should know the definition of "define".
define
a. To state the precise meaning of (a word or sense of a word, for example).
b. To describe the nature or basic qualities of; explain
Deity "by definition" (and I use this term loosely here) is unknowable, therefore impossible to define in the strict sense of the word. Got it?
You claim that definitions do not exist and that you have no way of knowing what the term "define" means.
I said no such thing. I stated (and I paraphrase) that if you understand what "define" means, you cannot define "deity". Got it?
To your first point, I ask "Huh?" If you have no Universe how do you have rules?
Yes, I agree, the transcendental issues we're trying to handle here are difficult if not impossible to express coherently (cf. Gödel). The problem is, you're not even trying to avoid contradicting yourself. You say things like
The rules of physics did not exist prior to the Universe being created
and
Creator of the Universe
First of all, you assume there "was" "nothing" and this "nothingness" is incomprehensible and inexpressible in any language. Since there "was nothing" (no time, no space) there was also no "before". Since there were no laws of physics how could a "creator" exist? How could it operate? Your assumptions contradict and cancel each other out and cannot be basis to any coherent cerebration. Instead let's try to assume there WERE laws of physics, only without anything they could apply to.
How about bags of helium (he said, in a very high-pitched voice)?
Nope. You can't get helium to Earth's surface. It's lighter than air!
Creator of the Universe _must_ be a deity by definition
You're lost here. First, define "definition". Then try to define "deity". The latter cannot be done; it's a contradiction in terms. Thus, your above statement is meaningless.
Can we all educate ourselves and consequently stop treating "communist" as a pejorative term?
I think you can get an iPhone 3GS for free with contact... So you can meet your criteria but also have an iPhone. Alternatively, if you buy an unlocked phone on Craigslist or whatever, then no worries about the money going to apple.
"App" Store. Dumbass. Fees.
An emotional response that completely overwhelms logic does indicate a mental deficiency of some kind.
You're not really the most logical person, Mr United States of Mexico.
more limited and, likely, locked down than an iPhone
Apple makes the best FUD. And I'm a gourmet.
the list could go on for a very long time.
Epicurus. Russel. Popper.
To your second point, that is absolutely a false dichotomy.
I could go:
Perhaps you are using phrases you don't understand in order to suit your belief system?
The rules of physics did not exist prior to the Universe being created,
Assumption. Also, -> anthropic principle.
so the Creator must have had powers
The question is - where did it (the creator) come from? And please, don't go Aquinas on that. It's tired. And weak.
Atheists by definition believe in no deities.
No. Atheists don't believe in any deities (subtle but different). That's just one (or several) fewer than pseudomonotheistic Judeochristian occultists. Why? Because the whole idea is superfluous, teleological, irrelevant and completely made up to scare old infants into submission!
conclusion the vast majority of Philosophers have, which is that there is probably a creator
Which? Also, bandwagon, also, burden of proof.
faith in atheism
Is not playing soccer a sport?
Anyhow. No butsects in soddom.
Impressive story, but there has to be a money shot, which is why Lot's daughters laid with him. So, no sodomy, but yes incest!
It's 3D printed.
a jury member with actual knowledge of a field?
What? Do you call every car owner an engineer?
I had a motor issue that was too expensive to economically repair
Do you really believe it?
The problem is teenagers who don't have life (because of low IQ to begin with) will indulge in pseudostimulation (drugs, religion). This study stinks.
Apparently Sun IS now releasing a JVM for OS X. Yay!
So we were both wrong.
Some more than others. 2009 called and asked to tell you that. 4/20 to be exact.
How about resurrecting the VBI project?
Helmets usually don't cover one's face
Hey, you just gave me a great idea for protecting the troops agains IEDs... This paint DOES come in brown, right?
And what happens when it's time to release the next version but no new vulnerabilities have been found?
You can go GNOME3 on any software anytime.
If Ellison doesn't see a way to monetize Java environment, why not sell it? Have an auction, put it on Ebay.
the hobbits look like they are of different heights. Sometimes they look waist high, sometimes chest high.
And after they smoke some weed they are high as kites!
What exquisite grammar.