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

>> know my abilities are limited to certain areas, and there are discussions which I read with interest, but to which I can contribute little.>>
That's exactly my experience, Noggin - especially when it comes to anything mathematical, or the kind of deep technically philosophical thing you and Toxxin sometimes indulge in!

Firstly: When we talk about the possibility of leaving the universe, are we talking about *our* universe, or some hypothetical law-less universe?

Secondly: I'm not sure that no contradiction is involved. In the absence of any laws would there still be any logic? (There'd be no "known" logic, of course, which asks an interesting question itself)

Noggin

Noggin. I'm talking about leaving our space. Same thing, I guess. It is as I defined it earlier: everywhere that can be reached from here by travelling through space for however far in whatever direction. In other words, it would be a region of space that is not attached to our space by, erm, space.

In the absence of any laws of nature, mathematics would in some sense exist. Hence so would logic (and set theory, for completeness).

toxx

Art. Well, the late Mike Royko, who was a columnist for the Chicago Times talked in 1997, about going to buy a painting with his wife. He explained that there are people whose response to visual art is the same as that of a tone deaf person to - that is, Bach and Eminem, Bobby Darin and Evanescence are the same. He was like that about visual art. So am I.
So, to me, as I have (and must) have no response to visual art, yet, I am aware that such a thing exists, and other people relate to it, I can say that art must be in the finished work!

Yes, I like it too, especially the lawyer bit.

Once on a local soap opera, a lesbian writer had supposedly hetero 13 year old girls talking about their friend's 'clit ring', while sitting in a mixed group. She wrote it to titillate her friends, I think, and with not much regard for credibility or the audience of all ages and genders who make up the TV audience!

Is it possible to leave our universe? Define universe! I was told at school, thatr universe meant "all there is" - so no. (Not that I am 100% sure, but I'd say, no.)

I think that second paragraph got scrambled toxx.

If a universe is constrained by logic, could it be genuinely lawless in its behaviour?

I know the "form of words" sounds like it could be possible, but I'm still not convinced by the picture.

Noggin

Della, are you talking about Modern Art or Art?

Did anyone hear on Radio 4, an American explain why Christianity is superior to Islam?

Alji

>> time for being a christian, as you clearly arent one.<<
Well, I am so thankful that *you* are not the judge of who qualifies! As I have said to Roadkill, I am ashamed of responding to your vicious provocation, and now I am shocked (but not surprised) that provoking me to anger *is* in fact your aim!
I am not a pagan in any way (I am sure Jez, Heathen Sceptic and other pagans would not be too happy to welcome me to their side! After many years of thinking and praying about it, I have come to the belief that reincarnation is, and should be, a part of Christianity. Many people on the Christian side aren't happy with that - but the real surprise to me is the number of non-Christians who don't want it to be!
Reincarnation answers so many of the problems put forward by, say, Matholwch. Some don't *want* an answer, hence they redefine Christian reincarnations as whatever they feel like.
It's like evolution. It's perfectly okay for Christians to believe in evolution. The majority of them happily do. Hard out atheists spend heaps of time telling us we mustn't, so that Christians will conform to the stereotype they have in their heads.
Okay, BB, I apologise for doing my nut at you, but you must admit (you have admitted) that's what you want(ed)! Examine your *own* conscince instead of trying to attack mine all the time.

I don't like to see my brethren doing that, viciously attacking someone for words that have been put in their mouths.

Hi, Alji! I mean Art - tho' I don't include things like installations of 24 beer crates on a gallery floor. That may be making a statement, but that's not what I think of as art. (Visual art, painting, sculpture, mosaic etc, that's what I mean.)
>>Did anyone hear on Radio 4, an American explain why Christianity is superior to Islam?>>
Wish I had - it would have been most interesting. His/her ultimate purpose would have been political, I assume.

Me too. I can't wait for the day that Dubya says that he's attacking Iran because it is simply unacceptable for religion to rule a nation. God Bless America.

Della

>>I am not a pagan in any way (I am sure Jez, Heathen Sceptic and other pagans would not be too happy to welcome me to their side!<<

Please - don't presume to tell me what I will or will not do, or what I do or do not think. Or what would make me happy or unhappy. I have long since ceased to discuss, let alone argue with any of the Christians about the seemingly infinite varieties of the faith they practise.

However, I would be interested to know how reincarnation fits in with the words or deeds of Jesus as recorded in the Bible.

Thank you.

Jez - heathen and witch.

Noggin. I'm not saying it could be 'lawless' but that there need be no laws of nature. It will still be the case that nothing can be where it isn't, or bigger than it is. That's just logic kicking in.

toxx

Hey, Noggin. What's the issue with my second paragraph?

toxx

Jez. This is a bit of a trick but if there were to be a second coming of Jesus, as promised in the bible, wouldn't that be a reincarnation?

toxx

Toxx
I don't think it would, because it'd be the same incarnation, so it'd just be the equivalent of bringing the big J back from the dead.
Odd how the Bible glorifies that, actually.

The big JC. Buddy Christ. Dogma is a fantastic film.