A: Everything was designed.
B: Okay, how do we know that?
A: Everything shows evidence of design.
B: What evidence?
A: (...)
B: And how do we know that's evidence of design?
A: Because everything was designed.
...and so forth.
First I again want to thank you and PatrickHenry and the others for you kind words for my mother. She is actually recovering! On Sunday we were contemplating a funeral. But now all her stats are withing normal ranges (and probably better than mine!:^) Just for informational purposes, and not just to tweak anyone, I have discovered that about a dozen different churches and people in many different states have been praying for her. Even though she does not attend the church I do, in my church alone, four of my pastors have come to visit her and read her a verse of Scripture and pray with and for her. We of course assume that she can hear although she cannot presently respond. We do know though, that the One to Whom we pray does hear and respond. I have a sense of peace whatever the outcome that I have to tell you is unusual to me. You may think it just a chemical reaction in my brain, but I want to thank you for your well wishes anyway:^).
I haven't been able to give your responses after my answer to #10 the attention that they deserve. I do apologize. You all are making great, informative commentary.
Let me say this;
We know and all agree that there is design in the universe. The question is, is there a way to detect it? Is there a criterion that can be rigorously applied that can detect design, and can be verified by those instances where we know design exists?
The medical tests my mother has had during her hospitalization are an example of the use of such criterion
I personally believe everything is designed. But this thread is my first attempt to try to apply Dembski's criterion of specified complexity to actual examples, so ably (and fiendishly:^) supplied by the general. It's a filter. It cannot detect everything, just like one of my mother's medical tests. But if design actually exists, and we know that it does, is there some way to reliably detect it's presence?
General, when I have opportunity I will try to elucidate some of the reasons for my response in #10. I'm glad you chose that example, however. With your permission I would like to request air support because this thread deserves more attention than I am able to give at the moment. This is a battle of truth, and I want to be open and receptive to wherever truth leads.
betty, could you please do me a favor and ping one of your selected lists here. I have done the best I can so far in taking up the general's challenge and I need some reinforcements:^)
Cordially,