Why does the world exist? By Jim Holt

[greylorn]

Roger
I am an avid reader and took your suggestion and am now half way through Holt’s book. I will discuss it with you (if you still want to) as soon as I am finished. So far I find the material very interesting and have many bookmarks and notes. Since you are relatively new to this forum, I thought I’d better respond so you aren’t discouraged.

I also bought Greylorn’s book and will read that next. I am familiar with his basic theory; I critiqued his web site. a couple of years ago and am anxious to discover how he blew it up into a 386 page book.

Yppop

YP,
Thanks for buying the book. Ka-ching! Another $1.37 easy profit. Seriously, I appreciate a guy who is willing to explore ideas.

BTW, I expanded it into 489 pages, not just a paltry 386. The alternative theological ideas led to alternative perspectives about physics, exactly in accordance with the Church’s earlier claims that physics can be derived from theology, theoretically at least. You might not like that section, since it conflicts with your own thoughts about physics, In effect, we’ve both taken long shots at the same target. Connecting theology and physics is a distant target, so I figure, the more snipers, the greater chance for a hit. I wish there were others.

Most readers won’t want to take the book that far, but you must. I want your feedback.

Some pages had to be devoted to Charlie D. I could not let Darwinism alone, and Michael Behe deserves the best theoretical underpinnings I can provide for his brilliant books supporting Intelligent Design. The book not only challenges theology, Darwinism, modern cosmology, and some aspects of physics, but provides an alternative to them. Getting that done in fewer than 500 pages was not easy.

Your support for the book was important. You not only helped me tidy up some bad writing, but you also corrected an egregious physics error. You’ll find your real name on the Title Page, where I listed acknowledgements. Thank you!

 

[yppop]

YP,
Thanks for buying the book. Ka-ching! Another $1.37 easy profit. Seriously, I appreciate a guy who is willing to explore ideas.

BTW, I expanded it into 489 pages, not just a paltry 386. The alternative theological ideas led to alternative perspectives about physics, exactly in accordance with the Church’s earlier claims that physics can be derived from theology, theoretically at least. You might not like that section, since it conflicts with your own thoughts about physics, In effect, we’ve both taken long shots at the same target. Connecting theology and physics is a distant target, so I figure, the more snipers, the greater chance for a hit. I wish there were others.

Most readers won’t want to take the book that far, but you must. I want your feedback.

Some pages had to be devoted to Charlie D. I could not let Darwinism alone, and Michael Behe deserves the best theoretical underpinnings I can provide for his brilliant books supporting Intelligent Design. The book not only challenges theology, Darwinism, modern cosmology, and some aspects of physics, but provides an alternative to them. Getting that done in fewer than 500 pages was not easy.

Your support for the book was important. You not only helped me tidy up some bad writing, but you also corrected an egregious physics error. You’ll find your real name on the Title Page, where I listed acknowledgements. Thank you!

Hey
Quit bothering me I’m reading an interesting book called “Digital Universe - Analog Soul”.
It arrived today, minutes after finishing Holt’s book. I’m surpised at the quality printing, first class paper and print. I will get to you by private message one of these days after I get into it a bit farther. Like the humor and the stream of consciousness writing.

Congratulations on a visually nice book. I’m at page 40 and I also congratulate you on your smooth writng style. I once was a fan of Phillip Wylie so I enjoy the sarcastic humor
even when I should be irritated by it. You touch the darkness in my otherwise saintly soul.
On the other hand I have always had a soft spot for characters and you are surely that. Ever read “The Confederacy of Dunces”? I think you’d enjoy the main character, Ignatius Reilly.

Anyway thanks for the brief mention on the frontispiece (I assume I am the Fred) and thanks for not using my full name. I certainly want to minimize my association with what I am sure is going to be a heretical book.

Yppop

Be sure you pay your fair share of taxes on that flood of royalties.

 

[greylorn]

Hey
Quit bothering me I’m reading an interesting book called “Digital Universe - Analog Soul”.
It arrived today, minutes after finishing Holt’s book. I’m surpised at the quality printing, first class paper and print. I will get to you by private message one of these days after I get into it a bit farther. Like the humor and the stream of consciousness writing.

Congratulations on a visually nice book. I’m at page 40 and I also congratulate you on your smooth writng style. I once was a fan of Phillip Wylie so I enjoy the sarcastic humor
even when I should be irritated by it. You touch the darkness in my otherwise saintly soul.
On the other hand I have always had a soft spot for characters and you are surely that. Ever read “The Confederacy of Dunces”? I think you’d enjoy the main character, Ignatius Reilly.

Anyway thanks for the brief mention on the frontispiece (I assume I am the Fred) and thanks for not using my full name. I certainly want to minimize my association with what I am sure is going to be a heretical book.

Yppop

Be sure you pay your fair share of taxes on that flood of royalties.

YP,

You are indeed The Fred. Don’t worry about heresies. I promise to tell God only about the physics correction, and will never mention the dozen or so strange ideas that you insisted upon having included. You are off the hook.

Of course I protected your name. To do otherwise would be irresponsible. Having read a ways, you are probably not surprised that only one reviewer chose to reveal his/her identity. I’m surprised that he did.

Thanks for noticing the quality. I want the book to outlive me.

An advantage of self-publishing is that an author has complete control over quality as well as content. I did engage the services of an editor, believe it or not. Her job included telling me when I wrote something especially stupid, or when I drooled into the keyboard and bored her to tears. She also told me when I wrote something good, both times. Literary freedom is a precious thing. I’ve paid a serious price for it, so I value it highly.

It is an honor to have touched even a part of your soul, for which you may soon have a new name. Later, I hope to connect with other aspects of it. Do let us know if that happens, if appropriate.

What are dark places of any kind, but those into which we’ve yet to shine an exploratory light?

I’ve not even heard of Confederacy of Dunces, so I’ll put it on my list.

I always pay the taxes that I owe. The IRS has investigated me twice and made certain of that. Fair share? These days, that seems to be more of a political issue than one of “fairness.”. Do I pay my fair share for Barack Obama and his wife’s vacations, New York dates, lavish parties, and golf outings? Do I contribute enough to transporting his expensive, purebred dog flown to their vacation places via a separate taxpayer-paid jet because Muslims do not allow “unclean” dogs to travel with them? Probably not. We all have our failings.

But don’t worry about that. Most of those bills are being paid with money borrowed from the Chinese. I left some offspring behind, and they produced some grandkids who will be happy to pay for the vacations and doggy rides, plus interest.

 

[greylorn]

It’s a series of interviews. You have to read each one as each one is a summary of different viewpoints.

I’d recommend the Kindle. You should be able to get some sort of internet connection that would be suitable unless you’re out in the wilds of Kansas or somehere equably remote.

Bummer. The “series of interviews” format is great for people who want to get paid for writing a book, without saying anything.

Material from my first book was excerpted in that fashion, by a jerk (Douglas Hofstadter, Pulitzer Prize winner) who distorted my ideas to suit his atheistic beliefs.

I’ve read other such books, and at the behest of a friend am trying to wade through an 1129 page boat anchor allegedly edited by Roger Penrose, It is amazing how much garbage can be generated by Ph.Ds with a desperate need to publish, that gets published by people who seemingly cannot detect cognitive dissonance but are happy to pander to friends with advanced degrees. .

I’m not interested in reading compendiums of opinions. I can get that on Fox News, CNN, or the Weather Channel, or by stopping in at a neighborhood bar and buying drinks for the nearest old drunk. I’m only interested in ideas.

Kindle is out of the question. I spend most of the day in front of a video screen. Do I want to buy another stupid product that requires me to learn their arbitrary protocols in order to download a book? No!!! I’m too old. I detest software protocols. Modern software sucks. For serious reading, I want a book printed on paper with margins into which I can write my comments.

BTW I write software for a living. It runs under DOS, and my clients get a real User’s Guide, printed on paper.

 

[oval]

Forums are interesting…places’s where people like me the dumb can sit down with the smart. I want you guys to know that I can speed read lots of your stuff now…I’m getting different.

I downloaded the double split experiment last week and have this new equipment at my leisurely thinking access…This s my ne hobby for sure…that means trouble for whatever is conventional.

Why is the issue of the book. I’m happy with my strange answer because why. My brother told me that an amateur could never make a contribution to science. He is a world class scientist, made a marked discovery. I believe him…he’s right, but not right relative to me. Thats the problem basically.

The real problem is why again…why do I refuse to read books. Ive done all my own idea’s and have another vocabulary and I have to translate the fancy stuff…so what I’m thinking is that by the time you experts get to awareness and the time-wave-determinism- gravity-all that I will be paying close attention, quietly…saying nothing…but I will be here(god willing) and the it is possible, only remotely now…that I may have a very special question that cannot be answered…yet oval may know the answer…so carry on, and don’t think n o one is watching and paying attention, appreciation as they say, have a nice day to be sure…I’m going into a different mindset with this new challenge and I have equipment to use, a tool box…my special tool box. confidence is important …maybe the thread team of experts can email this Mr Holts an answer to his why question, I’m not sure, it may be determined i don’t know .i don’t now.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

The answers to the “first cause” cannot be found in religion, science, or any other belief system that fancies the notion that the “first cause” is singular.

I’ve always wonderd, have you read Thomas Aquinas, Augustine, Aristotle? Have you read any of the defenders of Thomas? Should we take your remark to mean that you reject the existence of God? If not, would you care to clarify the remark?