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[–]PeaceSeeker0 points
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It is entirely coherent.
It is not, for the reasons I stated and many others. There are many things whose existence is self-evident which plainly cannot be reduced to matter, and so upholding an ideology that claims unfalsifiably that all things are reducible to matter is untenable.
We're made of matter and energy, we follow its rules. Until we see evidence that a person can defy the rules of matter and energy, I see no reason to believe otherwise.
It is not a matter of defying matter; insofar as we are material we obey immaterial principles that pertain to matter. Insofar as we are immaterial (our spirit) we obey immaterial principles that pertain to the immaterial. These very "rules of matter" you cite are by their nature immaterial. So is Truth itself.
It's already been proven that for the most part, they do.
No, it has not. Characteristics have been associated with genetics because characteristics are corporeal. Behaviour has not been and cannot be associated with genetics because behaviour is linked to the free will, whose existence is also self-evident and which cannot be reduced to material as I've already explained.
We're already hunting down the individual genes that determine traits
Traits != Behaviour.
Genetic influence is probabilistic, so we would expect that outliers would form in large populations
Now calculate the probability of entire villages changing their behaviour entirely after baptism and catechesis. This isn't a matter of outliers; it is a causal connection between grace and the power of the free will over behaviour.
Behaviour has not been and cannot be associated with genetics
It already has, and to a statistically significant degree. Take birds as an example. Their temperament, practices, rituals, etc. are all controlled by their genes.
Insofar as we are immaterial (our spirit) we obey immaterial principles that pertain to the immaterial.
The key point being "insofar." How far is it? Not very. The wiggle-room within which free will could exist is the realm of quantum physics, as it is inherently very wild and unpredictable. When you go from the quantum level to the neuronal level, that wild-factor is, while real, not nearly as significant as the deterministic behaviors.
Now calculate the probability of entire villages changing their behaviour entirely after baptism and catechesis.
After 4 generations of no outside pressure by the Vatican, minimal change will have occurred. This already happened with Islam. Africans went from writing voodoo symbols on their voodoo charms, to writing Koranic verses on those same voodoo charms. All that changed was the coat of paint, because the underlying element (Africans) was still the same.
[–]PeaceSeeker0 points
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Take birds as an example. Their temperament, practices, rituals, etc. are all controlled by their genes.
I am not talking about animals with irrational souls; I am talking about humans with rational souls who therefore possess free will. It is an ontological difference. What you are saying is correct when applied to irrational creatures because they do not possess free will. It is false when applied to rational creatures (human beings, made in the image and likeness of God).
When you go from the quantum level to the neuronal level, that wild-factor is, while real, not nearly as significant as the deterministic behaviors.
It is entirely significant because it is the essence of human behaviour itself.
All that changed was the coat of paint, because the underlying element (Africans) was still the same.
No ontological change takes place when converting to Islam. Guiding principles do differ, which may influence decisions somewhat, but there is no grace involved, and therefore no elevation of the nature whatsoever. As for Christian Africans, you are correct that they would revert to their old ways if the faith was lost, which might result if "pressure from the Vatican" was withdrawn, since sin would predominate due to concupiscence, which would deprive the Africans of the sanctifying grace received at Baptism, and without priests to hear confessions that sanctifying grace could not be restored.
The same thing has happened in the West, revealing just how low the nature of Europeans is also when without grace.
Behavior is a trait.
No, it is the sum total of all decisions, and decisions are the actions that follow deliberation, and deliberation is a conscious act of the free will unique to rational souls.
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[–] PeaceSeeker ago (edited ago)
It is not, for the reasons I stated and many others. There are many things whose existence is self-evident which plainly cannot be reduced to matter, and so upholding an ideology that claims unfalsifiably that all things are reducible to matter is untenable.
It is not a matter of defying matter; insofar as we are material we obey immaterial principles that pertain to matter. Insofar as we are immaterial (our spirit) we obey immaterial principles that pertain to the immaterial. These very "rules of matter" you cite are by their nature immaterial. So is Truth itself.
No, it has not. Characteristics have been associated with genetics because characteristics are corporeal. Behaviour has not been and cannot be associated with genetics because behaviour is linked to the free will, whose existence is also self-evident and which cannot be reduced to material as I've already explained.
Traits != Behaviour.
Now calculate the probability of entire villages changing their behaviour entirely after baptism and catechesis. This isn't a matter of outliers; it is a causal connection between grace and the power of the free will over behaviour.
[–] Inquisitioner 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
It already has, and to a statistically significant degree. Take birds as an example. Their temperament, practices, rituals, etc. are all controlled by their genes.
The key point being "insofar." How far is it? Not very. The wiggle-room within which free will could exist is the realm of quantum physics, as it is inherently very wild and unpredictable. When you go from the quantum level to the neuronal level, that wild-factor is, while real, not nearly as significant as the deterministic behaviors.
After 4 generations of no outside pressure by the Vatican, minimal change will have occurred. This already happened with Islam. Africans went from writing voodoo symbols on their voodoo charms, to writing Koranic verses on those same voodoo charms. All that changed was the coat of paint, because the underlying element (Africans) was still the same.
Behavior is a trait.
[–] PeaceSeeker ago (edited ago)
I am not talking about animals with irrational souls; I am talking about humans with rational souls who therefore possess free will. It is an ontological difference. What you are saying is correct when applied to irrational creatures because they do not possess free will. It is false when applied to rational creatures (human beings, made in the image and likeness of God).
It is entirely significant because it is the essence of human behaviour itself.
No ontological change takes place when converting to Islam. Guiding principles do differ, which may influence decisions somewhat, but there is no grace involved, and therefore no elevation of the nature whatsoever. As for Christian Africans, you are correct that they would revert to their old ways if the faith was lost, which might result if "pressure from the Vatican" was withdrawn, since sin would predominate due to concupiscence, which would deprive the Africans of the sanctifying grace received at Baptism, and without priests to hear confessions that sanctifying grace could not be restored.
The same thing has happened in the West, revealing just how low the nature of Europeans is also when without grace.
No, it is the sum total of all decisions, and decisions are the actions that follow deliberation, and deliberation is a conscious act of the free will unique to rational souls.