'Splain this one Atheists...

[Seth]

They called it "Irreversible". They were wrong. Classic misdiagnosis.

Next story?

One must of course consider the context of the statement "irreversible" as meaning "irreversible by modern human medical science." I'd not judge your rebuttal to meet any critically robust standard of scientific investigation or proof.

[piscator]

They said "Irreversible". They were wrong.

Just because they still can't figure it out doesn't mean they were right in the first place.

[Seth]

They said "Irreversible". They were wrong.

Were they? Upon what critically robust scientific evidence do you draw this conclusion? You are merely speculating, based on a single data point, that they misdiagnosed. What if they didn't misdiagnose?

Just because they still can't figure it out doesn't mean they were right in the first place.

True, but nor does it mean that any other mechanism can be rationally excluded from consideration.

[piscator]

They said "Irreversible brain damage". It reversed. I don't need any more goddamned evidence they were wrong.

[JimC]

Seth, no one here is saying that they can 100% prove that it was not a miracle. However, why would they have to? As long as there are plenty of natural explanations for a phenomenon, then introducing a putative supernatural explanation without supporting evidence is not even wrong, it's simply pointless.

The situation of a severed human limb re-growing would be a very different matter. However, despite fervent prayers, it has never, ever happened...

[Seth]

They said "Irreversible brain damage". It reversed. I don't need any more goddamned evidence they were wrong.

Of course you don't, you're a religious believer making a statement of faith.

The question of course remains. Why did it reverse and what was the mechanism of reversal? Was it the product of misdiagnosis, "natural" processes, or intelligent intervention by some unknown intelligent agency?

So start 'splainin' Lucy.

[Seth]

Seth, no one here is saying that they can 100% prove that it was not a miracle.

Of course they aren't, and can't, that's the whole point. But what would be a miracle is if they would just admit that they don't know what happened rather than trying to fallaciously insist that it cannot be a "miracle" produced by some unknown intelligent agency we might label "God."

However, why would they have to?

To be intellectually and ethically consistent of course. Sauce, goose, gander.

As long as there are plenty of natural explanations for a phenomenon, then introducing a putative supernatural explanation without supporting evidence is not even wrong, it's simply pointless.

What natural explanations are you suggesting in this case? Moreover, why do you think that a "miracle" explanation is ipso facto a "supernatural" explanation?

The situation of a severed human limb re-growing would be a very different matter. However, despite fervent prayers, it has never, ever happened...

Which proves exactly what, pray tell?

[JimC]

It proves that real miracles are simply wishful thinking, wrongly attributing the action of a putative supernatural being to natural phenomena; it simply never occurs when there are no natural causes available, as in the case of human limb regeneration...

[piscator]

They said "Irreversible brain damage". It reversed. I don't need any more goddamned evidence they were wrong.

Of course you don't, you're a religious believer making a statement of faith.

I see you're bowing down to my god this very second. It's good that you renounce faith in the God of Abraham to worship my TRUE god.

[pErvinalia]

He's trolling. Just ignore him, everyone.

Everyone with a functioning brain knows that it's not irrational to refuse to accept evidence that doesn't meet one's own personal standards of truth and/or proof particularly when it falls short of the only method we know for advancing knowledge of the natural world - the scientific method. Anything else is just trolling by the troll. He's just trying to get under your skins.

[piscator]

Every post he makes he must, perforce, bow down at my altar and express his profound Faith in the "Enter" key. Every time he does this, he renounces God in his heart, and causes a kitten to die.

[pErvinalia]

Apparently he's too far gone in his trolling to see how ridiculous his arguments are when we thrown them back on him. It's a lost cause. By his argumentative standard, he should be branded a buffalo fucker and an irrational apostate to the true pantheon of Gods containing the "Enter Key" god and the "Invisible Teapot who is sometimes an invisible unicorn" god.

[Hermit]

He's trolling. Just ignore him, everyone.

Says the member who replies to his crap the most often.

[pErvinalia]

Not any more. I've had him on ignore for a couple of weeks. I only reply to select idiocies, or his social stuff.

[Hermit]

You need to be more selective. In this thread alone you have replied to his idiocies 19 times over the past six days.