Possible

[Tree of Life]

What do we mean when we say that something is possible?

I've been meditating on this one lately, and it seems to me that when we speak of possibility we're only expressing our ignorance of the future.

When we say "x is possible" we are saying: "I don't know what's going to happen, but it seems to me that x could happen."

But strictly speaking, whether God has ordained all that will come to pass or the universe is a long chain of immutable cause and effect, nothing is possible.

Yes?

 

[Tree of Life]

And yet...

Anything is possible. Or near anything. Because our ignorance of the future is so complete.

 

[True Scotsman]

What do we mean when we say that something is possible?

I've been meditating on this one lately, and it seems to me that when we speak of possibility we're only expressing our ignorance of the future.

When we say "x is possible" we are saying: "I don't know what's going to happen, but it seems to me that x could happen."

But strictly speaking, whether God has ordained all that will come to pass or the universe is a long chain of immutable cause and effect, nothing is possible.

Yes?

I would say that if there is at least some evidence for something and it does not contradict any facts of reality, then it is possible. A woman giving birth to sextuplets is possible. A woman giving birth to a Tyrannosaurus Rex is impossible.

 

[Tree of Life]

I would say that if there is at least some evidence for something and it does not contradict any facts of reality, then it is possible. A woman giving birth to sextuplets is possible. A woman giving birth to a Tyrannosaurus Rex is impossible.

Let's say that the whole of human history plays out and a woman never gives birth to sextuplets. Was it still possible?

 

[bhsmte]

What do we mean when we say that something is possible?

I've been meditating on this one lately, and it seems to me that when we speak of possibility we're only expressing our ignorance of the future.

When we say "x is possible" we are saying: "I don't know what's going to happen, but it seems to me that x could happen."

But strictly speaking, whether God has ordained all that will come to pass or the universe is a long chain of immutable cause and effect, nothing is possible.

Yes?

You lost me.

 

[Davian]

What do we mean when we say that something is possible?

I've been meditating on this one lately, and it seems to me that when we speak of possibility we're only expressing our ignorance of the future.

When we say "x is possible" we are saying: "I don't know what's going to happen, but it seems to me that x could happen."

But strictly speaking, whether God has ordained all that will come to pass or the universe is a long chain of immutable cause and effect, nothing is possible.

Yes?

Are gods possible? What are "gods"?

 

[Tree of Life]

Are gods possible? What are "gods"?

As a Christian I would say that no god other than the Lord is possible.

If I were an agnostic or atheist I would have to say that gods are possible depending on how the concept is defined. Since you asked the question did you have a definition in mind?

 

[GoldenBoy89]

It's important to know the difference between what is possible and what is probable.

If something is possible, that only means we know it can happen, not if it did or will happen or when. All we know is, it's possible.

Probable means that not only is it possible but it probably or more than likely will happen.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

As a Christian I would say that no god other than the Lord is possible.

If I were an agnostic or atheist I would have to say that gods are possible depending on how the concept is defined. Since you asked the question did you have a definition in mind?

As an atheist, I would (and do) say that gods are possible. But I find it highly improbable that any one religion knows anything about them.

 

[bhsmte]

As a Christian I would say that no god other than the Lord is possible.

If I were an agnostic or atheist I would have to say that gods are possible depending on how the concept is defined. Since you asked the question did you have a definition in mind?

As an atheist towards the Christian God, I would admit that a God could exist. I find the likelihood of the Christian (personal God) to be extremely unlikely and would give a greater likelihood a universal non-personal God is possible.

How about you? Do you think it is possible the Christian God does not exist?

 

[Davian]

As a Christian I would say that no god other than the Lord is possible.

If I were an agnostic or atheist I would have to say that gods are possible depending on how the concept is defined. Since you asked the question did you have a definition in mind?

"A character in a book".

I have yet to see any other definition of a god that, in any way, could be demonstrated to be possible.

 

[Tree of Life]

"A character in a book".

I have yet to see any other definition of a god that, in any way, could be demonstrated to be possible.

Would this make you a theist then?

What's so impossible about the God of the Bible?

 

[TheBear]

Is life after death possible?

Is a supernatural entity possible?

 

[terryjohn]

I would say that if there is at least some evidence for something and it does not contradict any facts of reality, then it is possible. A woman giving birth to sextuplets is possible. A woman giving birth to a Tyrannosaurus Rex is impossible.

so we shouldnt believe in the miracles of christ? Things are possible if we know it or not.

 

[Tree of Life]

Is life after death possible?

According to the resurrection, yes.

Is a supernatural entity possible?

I'm not sure what "supernatural" means.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

What's so impossible about the God of the Bible?

I personally find it highly improbable the the creator of the universe would choose such an inefficient and ambiguous method to communicate a message as important as the one Christians believe he communicated to us, as the bible.

Clearly, it is the work of men and nothing more.

 

[Davian]

Would this make you a theist then?

More of an igtheist.

What's so impossible about the God of the Bible?

You will need to first tell me which God you are referring to. A panetheistic Christian God that *is* universe? A theistic evolutionist God that is indistinguishable from natural processes? A literalist God that created the universe 6 to 10 thousand years ago? God is Mind? God is Love? And a myriad of variations on those themes.

I am not saying they are impossible. I am asking, are any of them possible, in a way that is demonstrable?

 

[JGG]

What do we mean when we say that something is possible?

I've been meditating on this one lately, and it seems to me that when we speak of possibility we're only expressing our ignorance of the future.

When we say "x is possible" we are saying: "I don't know what's going to happen, but it seems to me that x could happen."

But strictly speaking, whether God has ordained all that will come to pass or the universe is a long chain of immutable cause and effect, nothing is possible.

Yes?

If I understand you correctly, no. I don't know about you, but I'm a hockey fan. Occasionally, I will not be able to watch a game I really want to see, but I'm busy. So, I TeVo it. When I go back and watch it later, the game is long over. I still mentally think of whether it is possible or likely that my team will catch up or win, even though the ending has played out. For me, possibility still exists. I find possibility goes with ignorance.

However, did you mean to trample on freewill?

 

[quatona]

What do we mean when we say that something is possible?

I've been meditating on this one lately, and it seems to me that when we speak of possibility we're only expressing our ignorance of the future.

When we say "x is possible" we are saying: "I don't know what's going to happen, but it seems to me that x could happen."

Indeed, "possible" is not a trait of a thing or event (and that´s where stuff like modal logic often fails) - it is a description of the relation between what we know and an imagined thing or event. In this particular case it merely says: "I can´t rule it out."

But strictly speaking, whether God has ordained all that will come to pass or the universe is a long chain of immutable cause and effect, nothing is possible.

Indeed, using the term "possible" as if it were a trait of an object or event leads to nonsense.

 

[Colter]

What do we mean when we say that something is possible?

I've been meditating on this one lately, and it seems to me that when we speak of possibility we're only expressing our ignorance of the future.

When we say "x is possible" we are saying: "I don't know what's going to happen, but it seems to me that x could happen."

But strictly speaking, whether God has ordained all that will come to pass or the universe is a long chain of immutable cause and effect, nothing is possible.

Yes?

It is not possible for God to do the ungodlike thing. But it is possible for man to do the ungodlike thing within the limits that God has given him to do it. But no, not everything that is imaginable is possible, but paradoxically not everything that is possible within the infinite is even imaginable by the finite.