tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post5635459310621128943..comments2023-11-02T07:25:45.884-05:00Comments on Mormanity - a blog for those interested in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Goldilocks Planet: What Makes Earth So Special?Jeff Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776493593387402607noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-87266158017424724632009-03-12T16:30:00.000-05:002009-03-12T16:30:00.000-05:00And with what Pops said, then how do you define ch...And with what Pops said, then how do you define chance? Where does the definition come from? Who arrived at the conclusion that all is chance? Coincidence? Timely affair? Just happened to be so? Is chance even scientific?Rob Higginbothamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14002908733806585017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-85138833071162792242009-03-11T20:30:00.000-05:002009-03-11T20:30:00.000-05:00Okay, Ujlapana, I'll bite. What's the difference ...Okay, Ujlapana, I'll bite. What's the difference between a Mormon tenant and an atheist tenant? I think they both pay their rent when it's due, so that can't be it. [Try "tenet" next time.]<BR/><BR/>Seriously, I don't have any idea why you would say there's chance involved in the existence of God. Where does that come from? The LDS doctrine is that gods have always existed and always will. There wasn't a beginning, so chance isn't involved.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-44047779727220137482009-03-08T19:52:00.000-05:002009-03-08T19:52:00.000-05:00Another interesting and more recent theory about t...Another interesting and more recent theory about the Moon's origin is that a run-away nuclear reaction in the Earth's core split it off from the Earth.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12015621517120698733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-87972211400881678332009-03-08T19:33:00.000-05:002009-03-08T19:33:00.000-05:00Hi Jeff! Interesting post about plate tectonics. ...Hi Jeff! Interesting post about plate tectonics. Thought it was going to lead up to one of the unique properties of water, the fact that it expands when transitioning into a solid (i.e. ice). <BR/><BR/>So another amazing thing about water… Life on this planet would be drastically affected if water behaved like almost all other molecules when phase transitioning to a solid. If the ocean floor was instead covered with underwater glaciers (some possibly miles thick), I wonder if that would also affect plate tectonics, not just sea life.<BR/><BR/>On a side note, I’m also fascinated by the moon and the fact that it’s too big for our planet. Earth’s gravity alone could not capture the moon into an orbit. Astros-physicists’ speculate the moon’s orbit is the result of some celestial body collision with earth. Without the stabilizing affect of the moon’s gravity keeping the earth at a 23.5 degree tilt, the seasons would not exist as we know them. Life would also be drastically affected. <BR/><BR/>Lots of woulda, coulda, shoulda’s that actually happened. ☺<BR/><BR/>-ShawnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-89742682164407242682009-03-07T00:04:00.000-06:002009-03-07T00:04:00.000-06:00One more comment. I think a lot of this line of th...One more comment. I think a lot of this line of thought is essentially the Gaia Hypothesis. And while that is a comforting thought, there is another contrary - the Medea Hypothesis. The idea is that not all of Earth's feedbacks are positive and at earlier times in the earth's history, feedback loops have created conditions of methane poisoning, oxygen poisoning (thankful for that one), multiple hydrogen Sulfide poisonings, and periods where the earth experienced severe Ice Ages. <BR/><BR/>So, while Nature inspires me (and it is meant to!) it also reminds me not to put faith in the environment itself, because it is perfectly capable of destroying itself, by itself.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12015621517120698733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-83604889036948313622009-03-06T22:47:00.000-06:002009-03-06T22:47:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-70984585971703727122009-03-06T15:36:00.000-06:002009-03-06T15:36:00.000-06:00Prop 8...Big Love...I always found it odd that a n...Prop 8...Big Love...I always found it odd that a non-LDS, produces a show about polygamy in Utah, only to dis the Church for being against the marriage...union...whatever it's called between members of the same gender....hmmm....maybe he needs some classical education...Rob Higginbothamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14002908733806585017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-50431780268139122722009-03-06T15:25:00.000-06:002009-03-06T15:25:00.000-06:00Jeff - I may not comment as much as I'd like due t...Jeff - I may not comment as much as I'd like due to my hands becoming more crippled by the day, but I always read your posts. <BR/><BR/>It sure is nice to have posts like these in between the Prop 8 ones to provide some respite from the broohahas... ;o)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-89237855135419048322009-03-06T08:50:00.000-06:002009-03-06T08:50:00.000-06:00Not everyone has the opportunity to get classical ...Not everyone has the opportunity to get classical training in logic as I am sure Alma was more concerned with daily substinence agriculture than the rigors of a classical education. But, it sounds like you have a good idea of what sort of chances are involved in making all the pieces come together.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-62982309996681916232009-03-06T05:33:00.000-06:002009-03-06T05:33:00.000-06:00Well, if you have to choose between atheist and Mo...Well, if you have to choose between atheist and Mormon tenants it's either praise Chance for the Earth existing or praise Chance for God existing. Is there a difference? I'll put my money on Chance (bad pun): I see it doing its thing every day.<BR/><BR/>I might say all things testify to the presence of Chance.<BR/> <BR/>Poor Alma...he so badly wanted for some classical training in logic. You could almost say he was like an uneducated farm-boy.Ujlapanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13040772399261340723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-82553016989436479652009-03-06T00:35:00.000-06:002009-03-06T00:35:00.000-06:00Joseph Smith had some interesting comments about h...Joseph Smith had some interesting comments about how the Earth was much smaller than it used to be, so not everything is necessarily in an ideal condition. <BR/><BR/>Nevertheless, the whole geological oxygen cycle is hard to overappreciate. It is frankly one of the biggest problems with trying to terraform Mars. Personally, I think with a bit more time and effort, Venus could be better,but that is another topic for another day. Again the major problem there is water. Venus has absolutely none.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12015621517120698733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-38664380645468068802009-03-05T21:58:00.000-06:002009-03-05T21:58:00.000-06:00Very appropriate comment, Darion. Thanks! And than...Very appropriate comment, Darion. Thanks! And thanks to Jayleen as well. Nice to have a few readers 'round here. <BR/><BR/>I could get a lot more comments, of course by saying something about Prop. 8, Big Love, and the like, but - yawn - the universe is so much more interesting. (Or I could write more interesting material, but then I'd confuse the people who are drawn to whatever it is I dish out here. ;))Jeff Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08776493593387402607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-78940759179933318272009-03-05T14:59:00.000-06:002009-03-05T14:59:00.000-06:00I can't help it, I can't Jeff, so please don't tak...I can't help it, I can't Jeff, so please don't take this the wrong way, but immediately, this came to mind sorry I know it's long. You can oust me if thou wishest.<BR/><BR/>"And then Alma said unto him: believest thou that there is a God?<BR/>38 And he answered, Nay. <BR/>39 Now Alma said unto him: Will ye deny again that there is a God, and also deny the Christ? For behold, I say unto you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come.<BR/>40 And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only.<BR/>41 But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them? Believest thou that these things are true?<BR/>42 Behold, I know that thou believest, but thou art possessed with a lying spirit, and ye have put off the Spirit of God that it may have no place in you; but the devil has power over you, and he doth carry you about, working devices that he may destroy the children of God.<BR/>43 And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words.<BR/> 44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and call things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.<BR/>45 And yet do ye go about, leading away the hearts of this people, testifying unto them there is no God? And yet will ye deny against all these witnesses? And he said: Yea, I will deny, except ye shall show me a sign."Rob Higginbothamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14002908733806585017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139169.post-27850314636881444112009-03-05T14:34:00.000-06:002009-03-05T14:34:00.000-06:00No, no no... it's all just a freak accident. Prais...No, no no... it's all just a freak accident. Praise Random Chance! Remember?<BR/><BR/>Or we're the only ones! God isn't allowed to have any other planets with people, just us!<BR/><BR/>Seriously, I stand in awesome wonder of this planet, from the largest things to the tiny bugs that are so intricately and marvelously engineered.<BR/><BR/>Small ps - you spelled what, waht in your title of the post. We are allowed to misspell words in the comments, but you aren't allowed in the titles.. :opAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com