Re: Evolution means people weren't planned.

On Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:21:56 GMT, "Charles Lindsey"
<chl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

In <i4m7s3lqfbner9pmrosbbqoa9ureod8t4i@xxxxxxx> Alec Brady <alec.brady@xxxxxxxxxx> writes:

On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:02:02 GMT, "Charles Lindsey"
<chl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

But the Special Theory of Relativity is cunningly designed so that A and
B can have no causal relationship between them;

I wouldn't say it's *designed* so that there's no causal relationship;
rather, it forces us to *conclude* that there's no causal
relationship.

Insofar as it is a "Theory", it was cunningly designed that way by Albert
Einstein.

No, the only cunning design was the claim that the speed of light is
the same in all frames of reference. The *consequence* of this is that
B has to be inside A's light-cone if there's to be a causal
relationship between them.

Insofar as it represents actual Reality (which it likely does),
it was cunningly designed that way by God :-).

Reality was so designed; but not the Theory, surely?

But there is no need for a 'God's-eye-view'. God can observe the unfolding
of events in whichever frame of reference he chooses (and can choose
different frames for observing different parts of his universe).

Suppose two observers have different descriptions of reality - you
might use the famous twin 'paradox'[1] in which the two observers
start from and arrive at the same points at the same moments, but by
different paths. The one who goes straight there experiences it taking
longer than the one who goes by a more roundabout route[2].

Does God have to choose one of those experiences? Does the travelling
twin have to say "God is not with me, he's with my brother"? If not,
then God is in *both* frames of reference, and therefore independent
of the flow of time.

I am sure God has both off them under his surveillance and care, whether
he travels with either or both of them. But if the twin who went via Alpha
Centauri broke his leg whilst passing that star, then God would/could not
inform his brother of that happening until he was almost home.

How do you arrive at that - somewhat unorthodox - conclusion? Are you
saying that the bit of God that's with Arthur can't communicate with
the bit that's with Bill?

But for a more realistic example, I am sure God is not far away from our
time frame, so that he can answer our prayers (in whatever manner he sees
fit) promptly.

I don't know what the phrase "not far away from our time frame" means.
Can you help me out?

But we know that there exist galaxies so far away that the light from them
has only just reached us 15 billion years later. Presumably those galaxies
have matured considerably by "now" (for some reasonable definition of
"now").

I think there's a perfectly reasonable definition of 'now' - in fact,
the first section (after the introduction) of "On the Electrodynamics
of Moving Bodies" is headed "Definition of Simultaneity".

Some of those galaxies are likely similar to our own, and so
intelligent life may well have evolved within them. I am sure God is also
answering their prayers as promptly (from their POV) as he answers ours,
so he is effectively within their frame of reference from their POV.
Sadly, it will be 15 billion years before you will be able to verify my
hypothesis :-( .

Which is why we have to base our conclusions on the best-supported
theory.
.

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