Actually, I am being really unreasonable. However I would like to ask those who have experienced Angel Feathers to....

[DioneTheDiabolist]

...answer a few questions that I have.

1). What does it feel like when you see that feather?

2). What are your thoughts when this happens?

And

3). What would you say are the long term (if any) effects that you would attribute to these encounters.

I understand that this belief has been the subject of some ridicule here. I have no intention of ridiculing anyone. This thread has been inspired by a previous AIBU thread, but is not a thread about a thread. I am not a journalist. I am not seeking results to use in an academic submission or publication. What I am seeking is knowledge and understanding in the hope that I can use it to help others.

IABU for the following reasons:
I only posted in AIBU for the traffic. If MN rule that I have breached guidelines, can it be moved and not deleted.

And I ask the skeptics not to put people off answering honestly. If you think it necessary, I can start another thread for all your thoughts to be discussed. Perhaps the scientifically minded of you could look at this as an information gathering excersise.

Just a comment on the origins of science and how it is still incomplete.

Oh FFS. "Science doesn't currently understand how to merge the electrostrong and electroweak forces, and our understanding of gravity is incomplete, therefore white feathers are signs of angels?" You'll have to do a lot better than that.

A truly wise person recognises how much they don't know

Yep.

And a not very wise one assumes they do even when a) they have absolutely no evidence that they are and b) rather a lot of evidence that they're not.

(IMO)

A truly wise person recognises how much they don't know.

(IMO)

Absolutely. And is happy to wait for the gaps to be researched, tested and understood, rather than filling them up with the paranormal, supernatural and pseudoscience.

Nothing wrong with gaps in knowledge.

Friday I didn't know this was some sort of test. Do I have to do detention for my non scientific comments?

This is a thread about belief and thoughts and feelings. I don't think the OP was looking for scientific proof. Just anecdotes.

It all comes down to the same, tired argument.

Theist: I have evidence that god is real
Skeptic: Really? What is it?
Theist: Well, it's personal to me. Experiential.
Skeptic: So not really evidence then? I'll wait till there is some before I accept your claim
Theist: How very closed minded of you. A wise man knows how much he doesn't know....

Blah.

curlew And for me God lives in the gaps and outside them and everywhere really...

Hettie Why are you blathering on then?

Hang on, sublime, you were the one who started talking about Bayesian Probability and Unified Theories and things!

Surely you have to expect to be questioned about your science if you bring in stuff like that?

curlew Question away. I am not a Scientist though. Don't expect me to perform as in an exam.

I have read a fair bit, scientific stuff included. I understand Bayesian Probability. Science is interesting to me. I like how I can link it to my beliefs. I ponder upon it. The cutting edge stuff fascinates me. The pseudo science scares me, some terrible things done in the name of science. All in all fascinating.

Hettie Why are you blathering on then?

Well... because you directed a lot of questions towards me, and then intimated that we're not wise because we don't agree with your point of view.

Pseudoscience, btw, is manifestly NOT science. That's the point.

There are also some very interesting analogies in Science that can be made with the Bible, but you have to know your Bible.

All of life is supernatural?

Er.......?

I do know the Bible, possibly better than you.

Try us.

Hettie

and then intimated that we're not wise because we don't agree with your point of view.

Not personal. Who is truly wise? Where is all the perfect Science?

Hettie Oh. Interesting. Do you not believe it? No spiritual experience?

No such thing as "perfect" science.

I doubt there's any "truly" wise people around.

No. I don't believe the Bible. I think it's an historically interesting set of books written by extremely primitive people trying to make sense of a world they didn't understand.

No. I've never had a "spiritual experience". I've had experiences that others might consider spiritual if they had one, but not me.

Seriously. There are interesting analogies in science that can be made with the Bible. Like?

OK, sublime. What does "Science does not correct Prior Assumptions." mean?

Is believing that white feathers have been moved by angels a very new idea? I have had a google but can find no reference to it being anything but a very new 'belief'. What about other cultures? Is it just a British thing?

There are interesting analogies in science that can be made with the Bible. Like?

Inheritance. The way inheritance works in the OT and then in the NT, where we are joint heirs with Christ. Bloodlines, genetics and epigenetics.

But this is off the subject I have no particular beliefs concerning Angel feathers. I don't disbelieve either.

OK, sublime. What does "Science does not correct Prior Assumptions." mean?

An example. The assumption that the 'repeatable result' is not just part of a larger pattern, maybe more a wavelength, where at some point the result will not be observed and in fact the opposite may occur.

Do you mean where Jesus, whose father is supposedly god also inherits from Joseph, Mary's cuckolded husband?

Woo = believing something to be true even though there is no substantiated evidence to support it.

Quantum mechanics = a mathematical description of the way light interacts with matter. Quantum mechanics makes many testable predictions of the way in which small collections of particles behave at low temperature all of which have been experimentally verified reproducibly. Hence there is a vast body of evidence to support it.

Have absolutely no idea what you're on about, sublime.

Can you elaborate? Chapters & verses?

Back The OT was superseded by the NT Back, with the arrival of Jesus.