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Catholic Church "Miracles"

Started by Paolo, December 07, 2020, 12:58:43 PM

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aitm

Quote from: Paolo on March 13, 2021, 02:51:46 AM
I misspoke. I should have said ''how do you justify that an intact tongue is nonsense''?
Don’t think I said an “intact” tongue is nonsense, I do not jump from A to Z and claim it is a sign from a god. Of all the things a god could do, and the best he can offer is an intact tongue that is relatively unknown of? Not impressed with such a pitiful performance.
A humans desire to live is exceeded only by their willingness to die for another. Even god cannot equal this magnificent sacrifice. No god has the right to judge them.-first tenant of the Panotheust

Paolo

Oh noes...I think I’m dead....

SGOS

#362
SGOS: No.  They are both true.

Quote from: Paolo on March 18, 2021, 02:15:58 AM
How so?
You seem to think your two statements way back are opposites and contradictory, but I won't bother explaining it to you, because I'm getting tired of this.  If you believe they are opposites, explain to yourself why you think they are.  You are also free to amuse yourself by explaining why one of the statements of your concern is not true if you wish. You can formulate your own beliefs on your own.  Maybe you will get it right or maybe not.  That's what happens sometimes, but at least you can own it.


Hydra009

#363
Quote from: Paolo on March 12, 2021, 09:55:33 AM
That is an interesting discussion. Wasn't it Carl Sagan who said that ''absence of evidence is not evidence of absence''? But wasn't he who also said that ''extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence''?

So was he, in your opinion, contradicting himself?
How is the Sagan standard (aka the basic burden of proof and the heart of skepticism) allegedly contradicted by the statement that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence? (Sagan is criticizing the fallacious argument from ignorance - "I've never been to Australia, therefore Australia does not exist")

If for example, I were to claim that I went out walking and saw a dragon, should you accept my claim at face value?  If you said that you were out at about the same time and place and didn't see a dragon, and I retorted that just because you didn't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist, would that convince you that dragons are real and that I saw one?

SGOS

Quote from: Hydra009 on March 18, 2021, 02:49:50 PM
How is the Sagan standard (aka the basic burden of proof and the heart of skepticism) allegedly contradicted by the statement that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence? (Sagan is criticizing the fallacious argument from ignorance - "I've never been to Australia, therefore Australia does not exist")

If for example, I were to claim that I went out walking and saw a dragon, should you accept my claim that at face value?  If you said that you were out at about the same time and place and didn't see a dragon, and I retorted that just because you didn't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist, would that convince you that dragons are real and that I saw one?
I think he is saying that...

"absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"
and
''extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence''

are mutually exclusive, which would make one of them false and a contradiction. 

The problem is they are both true, not mutually exclusive, not opposites, and related only through half of a thought.  I think he would like to believe the absence of evidence justifies believing a pickled tongue belongs to St Francis.  Ideally, it would be the "extraordinary evidence" he seeks to justify Catholic claims about the tongue.

Hydra009

QuoteI think he would like to believe the absence of evidence justifies believing a pickled tongue belongs to St Francis.  Ideally, it would be the "extraordinary evidence" he seeks to justify Catholic claims about the tongue.
If that's the case, what's he doing wasting his time chatting us up about it??  I don't know jack about St Francis or tongue preservation or the process of biological decay.

Take it to the press, take it to scientific organizations, take it to the James Randi foundation.  If genuine, it would make headlines, baffle scientists, and win a ton of money.  After winning fame and fortune, then he can talk to us at his leisure.  If verified, I'd have no choice but to side with the experts and concede at the very least to a medical anomaly.  Bring more in, and I'd have to change my perspective even further, especially if these anomalies are closely associated with only one religion.

Fame and fortune and crow-eating from skeptics await.  What's the holdup?

SGOS


Paolo

Quote from: SGOS on March 18, 2021, 03:39:03 PM
I think he is saying that...

"absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"
and
''extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence''

are mutually exclusive, which would make one of them false and a contradiction. 

The problem is they are both true, not mutually exclusive, not opposites, and related only through half of a thought.  I think he would like to believe the absence of evidence justifies believing a pickled tongue belongs to St Francis.  Ideally, it would be the "extraordinary evidence" he seeks to justify Catholic claims about the tongue.

No, it is much more simple than that. The first represents total abandonment of skepticism; the second demands total devotion to it. At least at first glance, that's my interpretation.

And this is another question entirely. It has nothing to do with the question posed in the op.
Oh noes...I think I’m dead....

Hydra009

Quote from: Paolo on March 18, 2021, 11:00:10 PM
No, it is much more simple than that. The first represents total abandonment of skepticism; the second demands total devotion to it. At least at first glance, that's my interpretation.
That's a very incorrect interpretation.  The first is a counter to the argument from ignorance (a fallacy and essentially pseudoskepticism), while the second is an affirmation of skepticism and the burden of proof.  In both cases, his stance is against dogmatism.

Hydra009

Also, it's really hard to get an accurate understanding of someone's stance from a measly couple soundbites.  I recommend you check out a clip or three from Sagan's Cosmos tv show.  It won't take long and will yield an excellent primer on scientific skepticism in a very clear and consice way.

Paolo

#370
Quote from: Simon Moon on December 10, 2020, 03:31:07 PM
That is not how this logic, evidence, and rationality thing works.

It is not up to skeptics to 'disprove' any such claim, it is up to those making the claim to provide their case (demonstrable and falsifiable evidence, and reasoned argument) for their claim.

Until those making the claim that this 'relic' is indeed: tongue tissue, ancient, was dug up after a body decomposed, belonged  to 'St Anthony', and, the only way it could have survived intact for so long is a 'miracle', I have no justification to accept the claim.

NEXT...

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN A SKEPTIC OR ATHEIST COULD NOT HAVE ADDRESSED OR REFUTED THE CLAIM! AN ARTICLE COULD HAVE EXISTED FOR ALL YOU KNOW. THIS WAS SIMPLY A QUESTION, NOT A 'TRAP'!!!

I am sorry I was misunderstood.
Oh noes...I think I’m dead....

OrangeDon

"has anybody ever 'disproved' the intact tongue of St. Anthony back in Italy? Has any atheist/skeptic ever tried to?"
Sorry, I am still FAR too busy disproving Zeus these days.  When I'm done with him, I plan to disprove Jesus, and then, Middle Earth.
Nobody told me how much work it would be to DISprove things that have never been proven.  Oh well... the life on an atheist.   :D  :D  :D

SGOS

Quote from: OrangeDon on April 22, 2021, 12:38:56 PM
Oh well... the life on an atheist.   :D  :D  :D
We too have our cross to bear.

Hydra009

Quote from: OrangeDon on April 22, 2021, 12:38:56 PM"has anybody ever 'disproved' the intact tongue of St. Anthony back in Italy? Has any atheist/skeptic ever tried to?"
Sorry, I am still FAR too busy disproving Zeus these days.  When I'm done with him, I plan to disprove Jesus, and then, Middle Earth.
Nobody told me how much work it would be to DISprove things that have never been proven.
I know what you mean.  When a giant trove of non-confirmation hits my non-agency, it takes forever for my non-colleagues to process it.  At this rate, we'll never prove a negative.  :P

Paolo

Quote from: OrangeDon on April 22, 2021, 12:38:56 PM
"has anybody ever 'disproved' the intact tongue of St. Anthony back in Italy? Has any atheist/skeptic ever tried to?"
Sorry, I am still FAR too busy disproving Zeus these days.  When I'm done with him, I plan to disprove Jesus, and then, Middle Earth.
Nobody told me how much work it would be to DISprove things that have never been proven.  Oh well... the life on an atheist.   :D  :D  :D

Maybe ''debunk'' would be better than ''disprove''. Hence why I put it in quotation marks. Apparently not subtle enough for the brainwashed.

When silly atheists are confronted with hard questions, their only retort is to argue semantics. Pathetic, really.
Oh noes...I think I’m dead....