[peacegirl]

Originally Posted by ChristinaM

I have no problem at all with admitting that you're more conversant when it comes to determinism than I am and probably about lots of other philosophical concepts too. I think that I've posted in about 4 Philosophy threads in my life and they were all lightweight ones. I like to think about it but not talk about it. I'm only speaking about myself obviously and not anyone else in the thread.

What you don't seem to understand is that the knowledge that lies behind the door of determinism is history making. That's why I am so focused on his first discovery.

I understand the problem with the eyes. It appears I don't know enough about physics or optics to answer intelligently, but that's also unfair because this finding did not come from the study of physics or astronomy. That does not mean he automatically must be wrong.

Originally Posted by ChristinaM

We've been through this one too. No matter how many times I told you that the sky was purple you wouldn't believe me because when you look up the evidence of your own senses would tell you that I was obviously wrong. I could say it a thousand times and swear that it was revealed to me by god on high and you still wouldn't believe me, right? We're both observing as best we can and reporting what we see but wouldn't you be more likely to believe everyone else in the world and what you see with your own eyes instead of just me? Maybe I'm just colorblind. That's how it is with you and scientists when it comes to vision. You're telling them that the sky is purple and they're never going to believe it. Even most Christians are willing to admit that the Bible isn't literally true but find truth in it despite its inconsistencies and mythologies.

The only way they're going to believe what Lessans is claiming is through more empirical testing. You're right in that I would most likely take the side of the majority, but sometimes the majority is wrong, and I believe this is one of those times.

Originally Posted by Christina

But I have earned the right to talk about this discovery, subjects that I am familiar with. I did not ask for this responsibility, but I have it, so I need to do what I can to bring this knowledge to light.

Originally Posted by ChristinaM

Why do you feel like you have this responsibility and can't put it down? I don't like poking at people's personal lives so is it rude to ask why you feel that you must while your kids, siblings and other relatives don't?

It's a very difficult mission, and they are not in the position to do what I have done. To compile these books has taken me over 10 years. Luckily, I had the time to do it. When I look back I'm amazed at my determination to get it done. Each of us is given a job to do in life, and this was mine. What can I say? I was also the one that had spent the most time asking questions of my father, which is why I was better prepared to write this book. I only have one sister and she's in business for herself. My brother died in 1987, so I was the only one that could do this. As far as my children, they are one generation removed. They have their busy lives, but they are looking forward to reading the book when it comes out and getting more involved.

I don't know how to answer you. What does give an inch mean? Surrender? Tell people he was wrong? Say I'm not sure if he is right? That's what people want to hear but I can't say that, or I would be lying.

Originally Posted by ChristinaM

Don't you see that you're asking that very thing of everyone here? Do you expect them to surrender? Tell the world that everything that they and the scientific community know is wrong without any evidence? If they did that they would be lying.

I don't expect that. I only asked people not to dismiss his observations regarding the eyes as if it means nothing. Keep an open mind. Isn't that what science is about? My father didn't just assert things and make stuff up. He was a deep thinker and his observations should be carefully investigated, which has not occurred in over 50 years.

Originally Posted by ChristinaM

"I'm not sure" is one of my favorite phrases in the English language so don't go picking on it. Knowing what you don't know and figuring out what you'll have to learn in order to know it is a very useful skill. I would be willing to bet that if your dad were alive today and saw the tremendous backlash against his ideas about vision he would have rethought them using current levels of knowledge and found another path through a softer science to get to the next chapter.

Maybe he would have. Maybe scientists are so self-righteous that the thought that someone outside of their field could come up with something new is too difficult to accept. Maybe he should have addressed this differently, but the good news is that the truth always wins, one way or another. I have confidence in this.

Chapter Four, Words, Not Reality

p. 112 Those who will consider the possibility that you might have a
discovery reveal their confusion by trying to nullify any value to it with
this comment as was made to me, “What difference does it make what
we call them as a group, this isn’t going to change what we are. Whether
we call them 5 senses, or 4 senses and a pair of eyes is certainly not
going to change them in any way.” However, if man doesn’t really
have five senses, isn’t it obvious that just as long as we think otherwise
we will be prevented from discovering those things that depend on this
knowledge for their discovery? Consequently, it does make a
difference what we call them. Just as my first discovery was not that
man’s will is not free but the knowledge revealed by opening that door
for a thorough investigation, so likewise my second discovery is not
that man does not have five senses but what significant knowledge lies
hidden behind this door. Many years later we have an additional
problem which is more difficult to overcome because this fallacious
observation has graduated dogmatically into what is considered
genuine knowledge, for it is actually taught in school as an absolute
fact, and our professors, doctors, etc. would be ready to take up arms,
so to speak, against anyone who would dare oppose what they have
come to believe is the truth without even hearing, or wanting to hear
any evidence to the contrary. I am very aware that if I am not careful
the resentment of these people will nail me to a cross, and they would
do it in the name of justice and truth.

Funny! You certainly have done a lot of fundraising. You're the expert here, I'm not. I would value your opinion in this area. I'm really not that hard to get along with.

Originally Posted by ChristinaM

Fundraising is kind of subject matter dependent and I really only know how to do it for human services and housing and high drama emotional and politically charged moments of opportunity with guilty politicians. I'm not sure what Kickstarter is but people seem to be able to raise money for all sorts of odd things there.

Working in human services and housing and dealing with guilty politicians is a big area to cover. You sound very self-effacing, almost like the parent who says, I am just a mother. I hope you give yourself credit for what you are able to do. I couldn't do what you do.