What is the probability that if God exists then it's the Christian God, and not some other God?

That's where it falls apart for me -- it's so far from axiomatic that that's what I need proved.

Bob says that's proved in _The Existence of God_, another Swinburne book.

He's working on the question about what theologians do.

ETA: (don't take my language too seriously, I mean it's proved insofar as you believe Swinburne's proof)

I'm more interested in the potential consciousness of tables than whether Jesus rose from the grave.

Bob says that's proved in _The Existence of God_, another Swinburne book.

Aha! Crazy like a fox, looking to boost book sales with controversy.

First, let me say this claim doesn't strike philosophers as oddly as it might strike other people.

This confirms to me that philosopher must test for crackpottery before they admit new members to their guild.

Also, I am thinking, you can start any proof with "Assume for a moment that the Underpants Gnomes have rearranged your dining room furniture without your knowing it..."

But, that's a huge assumption to make! Why on earth would I assume that? You've got to start with assumptions that people will accept, you know? There's "framing the debate", and then there is totally pulling stuff out of your butt and making like it's true just because you put it into the subordinate clause of an introductory sentence.

Bob says that's proved in _The Existence of God_, another Swinburne book.

I say that the existence of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is proved in my book, _The Existence of the Flying Spaghetti Monster_.

Although I suppose my case is hurt somewhat by the fact that I have not (yet) written such a book....

given what we know about God's character--namely, that he is all-loving and all-powerful (how do we know that? Read Swinburne's other books)--, how likely is it that he would want to make himself known to humanity in a way that is compatible with faith but not coercive of it? Swinburne again guesses that the answer is about 50%.

Okay, see, this would be the key part that makes it an interesting discussion, and the Netscape article a baffling piece of crap.

I'm more interested in the potential consciousness of tables than whether Jesus rose from the grave.

Yes! And what kind of tables can have consciousness? Actuarial? HTML?

don't take my language too seriously, I mean it's proved insofar as you believe Swinburne's proof

This is why I find philosophy utterly fascinating and alien. It's an entire way of thinking that I just can't wrap my mind around.

In physics, one common problem starts out "assume a spherical horse" .

I love the spherical dead horse problem. Because I usually started laughing whenever it was introduced.