> Suppose (though experiment) that you did [have paranormal powers].
> And suppose you were
> not able to demonstrate those powers scientifically. That is -- they
> would
> remain "private knowledge" and no claim made about them could be
> demonstrated objectively.
>
> It seems to me that you would then be in very much the same situation
> as me (and other Christians) who have encountered God.
>
> This is not meant to be argumentative; just illustrative of what we've
>
> been
> struggling to communicate to you and Will over the last few weeks.
>
but paranormal powers are not the same as a supernatural god, are they?
Furthermore, if I had absolutely no control over those powers, and they
were entirely capricious and unrepeatable, I would probably start
thinking that I lost my mind... That's always a possibility, you know?
;-)
ciao,
Massimo
--******************************************************************Massimo Pigliucci, Assistant Professor of Ecology and EvolutionSociety for the Study of Evolution "Dobzhansky" AwardeeDept. of Botany, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-1100phone 423-974-6221 fax 0978Lab page http://fp.bio.utk.edu/pglScience & Society http://fp.bio.utk.edu/sandsDarwin Day http://fp.bio.utk.edu/darwinRationalists of East Tennessee http://www.korrnet.org/reality
"I used to think that the brain was the most wonderful organ in mybody. Then I realized who was telling me this." -- Emo Phillips******************************************************************