Let me put it this way... anyone who know about math can simply understand what I'm putting here... Seven you don't have to read the following it is a waste of your time and effort.
J1 = Possibility of Joseph Smith telling truth.
N (J1) = Possibility of Joseph Smith not telling truth.
J2 = Possibility of Joseph Smith2 (that's another Joseph) telling truth.
M = Possibility of Mohammed telling truth.
X = Possibility of all so called prophets is lying (if we can prove X = True then atheist are right).
Y = Possibility of at least one of the so called prophet is telling truth (if we can prove Y = True then theist are right).
We have the following facts:
1) (J1 OR N (J1) = True) (Joseph Smith may be or may be not telling truth).
2) (J1 AND N (J2) = False) (Jospeh Smith can't be telling truth and lying at the same time).
3) X = N (Y) (Obviously).
4) X = N (J1) AND N (M) AND ...... N (J#) (X is the possibility of everyone is lying).
5) J1 OR J2 OR M OR ..... OR J# OR X = True (Someone is telling truth or everybody is lying).
Now
If (J1 = True)
=>
Using (1) we can prove (N (J1) = False)
Using (1) we can prove (M = False)
Using (3) we can prove (X = False)
Using (3) we can prove (Y = True)
(WE CAN PROVE SOMETHING WE DON'T ALREADY KNOW).
If (J2 = False)
=>
Using (1) we can prove N(J1) = True.
M = Unknown.
J2= Unknown.
X = Unknown.
Y= Unknown.
So if we know that Joseph Smith is lying we can take one result from that HE IS NOT TELLING TRUTH, NOTHING MORE.
Unless we can prove Joseph Smith IS telling truth we can't conclude anything... Joseph Smith lying give us ZERO information about all other prophets and has ABSOLUTELY no logical relation with Mohammed telling truth or any other prophet whatsoever.
Logic rarely applies to our inferences by the way.. what we call "logic" in speech is very different than the actual "formal logic" you just used...
you reminded me of my theory of knowledge class..
I've gotten caught on that so many times now. I grew up speaking Polish in public, which is fantastic to have that language of your own. But it's really awkward when you think noone understands and it turns out someone does. Throws me off big time. One time I got ambushed like that in the sauna, last place I'd expect.
I heard of something like that happening to some Irish lads in New York. They're in a bar, and they spot a group of attractive women. They start talking about them, fairly crudely, in Irish. One of the girls comes over to the bar, orders a round, and tells them all to get lost... in Irish.
@Alen:Those descriptions are spiritually speaking.
@DPFL: Common, you know that's not true. You're shooting yourself in the foot by saying that. If knowledge in Arabic was essential than how is the Qur'an meant for all of humanity? I'm not saying knowledge in Arabic won't help, but it certainly isn't essential. I barely know any Arabic and what little I do know are mostly curse words.
True that. Not only for Quran, but for any other book written in a particular language you need to have the knowledge of that language to completely understand the book's meaning.
The ones who see the reality and deny it (blind), the ones who hear the rightness and deny it (deaf) and the ones who perceive the truth and deny it (dumb).
The ones who see the reality and deny it (blind), the ones who hear the rightness and deny it (deaf) and the ones who perceive the truth and deny it (dumb).
@Alen:Those descriptions are spiritually speaking.
@DPFL: Common, you know that's not true. You're shooting yourself in the foot by saying that. If knowledge in Arabic was essential than how is the Qur'an meant for all of humanity? I'm not saying knowledge in Arabic won't help, but it certainly isn't essential. I barely know any Arabic and what little I do know are mostly curse words.