I just read this fascinating book called God’s Debris, by Scott Adams. Really interesting. I think a lot of people here would greatly enjoy it. the following quote is a description:
Andrews McMeel Publishing and Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert comic strips and #1 best-selling author of Dilbert humor books, have agreed to publish Mr. Adams’ new project called God’s Debris: A Thought Experiment. God’s Debris is Scott’s first non-Dilbert, non-humor effort. The author describes the book as “a thought experiment wrapped in a story. It’s designed to make your brain spin around inside your skull.” Some content of the book is nonfiction because the opinions and philosophies of the characters might have lasting impact on the reader. Others believe it is fiction because the characters don’t exist.
Imagine that you meet a very old man who – you eventually realize – knows literally everything. Imagine that he explains for you the great mysteries of life: quantum physics, evolution, God, gravity, light, psychic phenomenon, and probability – in a way so simple, so novel and so compelling that it all fits together and makes perfect sense. What does it feel like to suddenly understand everything? God’s Debris isn’t the final answer to the Big Questions. But it might be the most compelling vision of reality you will ever read. The thought experiment is this: Try to figure out what’s wrong with the old man’s explanation of reality. Share the book with your smart friends then discuss it later while enjoying a beverage.
anyway, i thought we could do just that, all read it, and then discuss it, because it offers some interesting positions on a lot of topics we discuss fervently. the following url is a link to a complete, free PDF version of the book. its about 130 pages, but its an easy read, i finished in about an hour, an hour and a half. its light, its interesting, its entertaining. i suggest everyone take a look
Well, that’s a novel idea (sorry, no pun intended). I’m up for it, if anyone else is. It may take a little while to get to it, but I’ve already downloaded it.
i’m in. I love a good discusion. I am downloading it right now
I’ll definitely have to czech it out… 8-)
Yeah, I read it about a year ago. It was interesting, though I disagreed with the primary premise of it (or one of them). Conversation could be interesting, I’ll check in occasionally.
Oh, by the way, it’s worth noting that Adams himself said, in the introduction to his book, that he also doesn’t agree with the book’s conclusions; so apparently the author saw something wrong with it too ;).
I have read about 1/2 of it… very thought provoking! :-o I don’t agree with a lot of what he has said so far… here is what I have to say about Free Will and God’s omnipotence(note he might have addressed but I wanted to throw this out to see what you guys opinion on it):
It is not impossible for God to know the future and we still having a free will… Imagine it as watching a film for the second time… You know how the plot works out but you don’t have any control over it… You may wish that the characters would do something different but you know they won’t because they have already preformed action that you have commited to memory…
GG
Not a bad way of thinking of it, GG. My own is slightly different; I propose that, if one chooses not to know what’s going on, than it’s the same as actually not knowing. Were God to deliberately not “see the future,” as it were, then our Free Will would not be obstructed.
That’s not a good explanation of it, but it’s 10:00 and I’m tired, so give me a break ;) :P.
one atheist’s take on “free will” and “god’s omnipotence” (thats right, i have my own ideas about beliefs i dont hold, why shouldnt i?)
IF i beieved in God, i would reconcile the free will with god’s omnipotence (and thus, ability to see the future) by seeing it this way: the future is not a set path. God, in his omnipotence, can perceive of every possible outcome, every possible path that the future might take. at every moment, he knows every possible futre, how it got there, etc. people have free will though, and choose their own path. God simply knows where every choice man makes can lead. he knows every choice that people could make at every given moment. it is up to the person to make a choice, and follow a particular future path, which god knows.
Kinda like the line from Groundhog Day: “What if God isn’t all powerful? What if He’s just been around long enough that he knows everything?” 8-)
Just finished the sequel to God’s Debris, entitled “The Religion War”. And all i can say is !!! i loved it. outstanding. Adams has really posed some interesting questions, in a fascinating and entertaining way. even more interesting, he makes clear that the ideas are not his own (not entirely, at least, they may be partially). what can i say about religion war?
Religion War:God’s Debris::Kill Bill Vol. 2:Kill Bill Vol. 1. you can read it alone, but i suggest you read both. both are outstanding. and both are pertinent to having an interesting discussion. so i suggest after you read God’s Debris, if you are interested in a discussion about any of the topics, read The Religion War. unfortunately, it is not a free ebook. it will cost you, but not much, and its worth it. i highly reccomend it.
