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Old 03-13-2010, 05:14 PM   #71
Ben Thornton
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vector View Post
"The only distinct meaning of the word 'natural' is STATED, FIXED or SETTLED; since what is natural as much requires and presupposes an intelligent agent to render it so, i.e., to effect it continually or at stated times, as what is supernatural or miraculous does to effect it for once."- Butler: "Analogy of Revealed Religion".
Thanks for that.

He seems to be saying that the only difference between the natural and the supernatural is that we see natural things repeated in a consistent way, while the supernatural is a one-off or inconsistent occurrence.

I wonder if, in context, he was suggesting that because God was required to explain the natural, the supernatural shouldn't be seen as far fetched.

What Darwin does is show how intelligent agency is not required for the repeated, consistent (i.e. lawful) case [this is "Darwin's Dangerous Idea"!] - which undermines the credibility of the supernatural case, because it is the only case where intervention by the divine is still required.

Perhaps I'm reading it wrong, but it seems an appropriate quote to include to me - as one that he undermines rather than one that he is approving.
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