h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Oh - and might I suggest that we try to stick to the original subject line for this thread by replying to the posting immediately *before* a hidden posting? I mean, it's not as if we actually *are* replying to the posting in question, since we can't see it (yet)

Titania Sweden is at least 50 years ahead in civilisation. Personally I believe it is a consequence of her neutrality throughout the last century.

[GD]

* desperately trying to work out a more coherent viewpoint on predeterminism etc, and sadly failing miserably at the moment *

Z, the exhibition was the Late Seascapes at Manchester Art Gallery so I don't think we've been to the same one. This had several pieces that had been brought over from the US for the exhibition. Very good but very busy.
http://www.manchestergalleries.org.uk/html/mag/mag_exhib_detail.jsp?id=435&uri=/html/mag/mag_exhib.jsp

I have always thought that Calvin's predestination theory rteflected what he would do if he was God. He clearly liked being part of the 'elect' and condemning others to hell for disagreeing with him. It also let him ignore other viewpoints as coming from people who were damned anyway and without consequence.

Oops. Guess you just figured out I'm not too fond of Calvin.
He is the type of person who could have participated in genocide without any qualms. Wonder if Osama Ben Laden is actually John Calvin?

Karma is logical, efficient and imminently fair. A much better philosophy.

[Ben]
*meaning to post, but obviously not meant to*

Phil - yes my Dad told me about that exhibition - I went to the simalar one in Birmingham, I love Turners work but some people find that they are just pictures and don't really have a hidden point. I'd say yes, but they're darn good pictures. His later work was more expressive.

Karma - well that doesn't allow for forgivness - but yes it does make sense, - everything must be paid for even if you beg for forgiveness, not that most Christians ever practice forgiveness in my experience.

[lil]

[GDZ]

please.
If you dislike Calvin then you will probably like Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg. Gets a bit Gothic horror towards the end but has a good dig at the "Elect". Also, considering the time of year, Holy Willie's Prayer is also a good jibe at such things.

[Egon]

Nothing much to conttribute right now...

Fate and predestiny don't concern me whatever and why should they? Does it matter if I have free will or if I am predetermined to do so and so? Not at all. What happens happens.

It seems to me that however Marv frames the question to avoid explicit reference to religious faith, that he can't get away from having some form of faith based framework that the question of predeterminism hangs upon. There always seems to be some unspoken reference to it in the background.

Now this fact leaves me somewhat hobbled in the discussion, as I don't understand faith / spirituality at any level. I'm afraid I simply cannot conceptualise it. Therefore I find that I can't properly understand the original question of predeterminism v free will as I don't have the frameworks in place to understand it. Thus I don't have a clue.

Either that or I'm just a thick bastard

I agree with Hypatia. Predetermination gives those who already feel superior a justification for persecution of people of other faiths. I'm sure John Calvin felt there was no way *he* and his followers were going to Hell. And I think karma isn't something that happens in future or past lifetimes--it is in the here and now. If you are mean to other people, you will lose friends. If you fail to use birth control, you will get a disease or become pregnant. If you ride a snowmobile in an area of unstable snow you will, sooner or later, die in an avalanche (which happened last week to some idiot here).

[{Courtesy}]

Oi all you Mac users that said that they were better machines? I've just had two in a row crash on me. I'm now an asylum seeker in the PC side of the cluster.

I have to admit the two concepts don't concern me,as I don't belive in a higher god or a power. Sometimes I'd like to but theres too much scientist in me to do so.

That reminds me. What sort of mac file has the extension "hqx"?

I'm not religious either, but I find belief and faith interesting subjects.

I stand corrected.

I do not speak for all the Salonistas of the Atelier. I did not mean to intimate that in my posting to Oetzi's PS. Just thought I'd go bang my head against the wall for a bit.

Feels so good when you stop...

B4thebruisewelpsup

desperately trying to work out a more coherent WAY OF logging in and posting,have managed to get my views on topic "destiny" on my journal
would recomend digi users acess page in plain as although goo is messy as times,i like it though my page does look nice in dna iven if i say so myself.