asaris

I wasn't trying to say that you think God is stupid -- I'm sure you would agree that, if God existed, he would be fairly intelligent. (Actually, I'm not sure, but whatever.) All I meant to say is that the word 'simple' means several different things, and just because 'simplicity' is ascribed to God doesn't entail that descriptions of God are therefore simple. The doctrine of divine simplicity is fairly technical.

There can't be multiple gods -- that's a direct consequence of the ontological argument. (If it was possible for there to be multiple gods, it would be possible for me to conceive of one of them being more powerful than the others. But God is the being than which none greater is possible. Ergo, ...) I'm saying that, despite their differences, all Christian denominations worship the same God. I'm willing to say that, in some sense, Judaism and Islam also worship the same God. But at some point, the properties ascribed to the supreme being become different enough that you don't want to say you're talking about the same being.

Two examples of this. Take the quest for the historical Arthur. Most people admit that the historical Arthur isn't going to share alot of properties with the mythical Arthur. But certainly the historical being has to share a certain amount of properties with the mythical being, otherwise it doesn't make sense to speak of them as both being the same Arthur. Or, take the example of someone who posts here named Asaris. You guys probably have differing ideas of what my properties are -- you also probably agree to some extent about what my properties are. But if someone said that Asaris was a tennis coach at Holland Christian H.S. in the mid-70s, while they wouldn't be wrong, they'd be talking about a different Asaris. (Yes, someone with my name was a tennis coach in the mid-70s). But just because two of you disagree about what properties I have doesn't mean you're talking about two different Asaris's.

No, bad inference. I strongly suspect you going back in time and killing your grandfather is possible. I'm almost positive the Lord of the Rings is. Not a good counter-argument.

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"Die Deutschen meinen, daß die Kraft sich in Härte und Grausamkeit offenbaren müsse, sie unterwerfen sich dann gerne und mit Bewunderung:[...]. Daß es Kraft giebt in der Milde und Stille, das glauben sie nicht leicht."

"The Germans believe that power must reveal itself in hardness and cruelty and then submit themselves gladly and with admiration[...]. They do not believe readily that there is power in meekness and calm."

-- Friedrich Nietzsche