Dr George Grebens, a.k.a. Artintel,
If you are an Orthodox Christian, which many people likely presume you to be since you are posting on this site, it would be customary for you to use the honorific \"Father\" or \"Fr\" when addressing or referring to a monk. Not doing so betrays a significant disrespect for the institution of monasticism. You don't have to think highly of me to do so, as it is not about deference to me (certainly not!), but rather to monasticism in general. Although, I feel confident at this point that you do not think highly of me. I’m not offended by your slight, but others may be, and you’re not setting a good example for others new to the faith.
Actually, there are many flaws in your response to being “caught”. You accuse me of a “cynical (reductionist) perspective”. Admittedly, I do tend towards cynicism, but that’s just due to my military experience, and it is not a philosophical school I ascribe to, but rather a transitory attitude. I, and I am sure others, will fail to see how questioning how a Russian Literature degree automatically grants one scientific prowess constitutes a “cynical (reductionist) perspective”.
Is it the idea that if you don’t have a degree in the subject, you can’t be an expert in it? That’s silly. I have not held out that idea. One can be an expert in many fields (even science!) without holding a degree. However, there are certain professions that require a degree, and consider those who attempt to practice their profession without said degree with remarkably low-esteem. Consider physicians. Would you trust a physician that did not have a degree? I should hope not! The medical degree works as a sort of “quality control” mechanism ensuring that the practitioner has a certain basis of both broad and specific knowledge to utilize. Trying to practice medicine without such a degree is “quackery”. Certain aspects of science, however, are more open to amateurism.
But, do you indeed have a Masters degree in science? Or, perhaps a Bachelor of Science? Please tell us.
You say I have passed judgment on your books. How could I? I have not read them. I simply made note that your self-aggrandizing attempt to covertly advertise your own books by pretending that you are someone other than Doctor George V. Grebens himself is ultimately dishonest - and likely a bit suspect, I would think.
As your background is in science fiction, I would certainly hope that you’ve taken some science classes. But it is curious that whenever you are asked to clarify exactly what hard science degrees (or experience) you have, you either:
a. belittle and ridicule the one asking;
b. obsfucate the issue with verbal misdirection and pseudo-scientific jargon (which professional scientists recognize as gibberish);
c. flat out refuse to answer; or
d. any combination, or all, of the above.
I am not going to discuss various schools of thought within (or without!) the scientific community. I am not implying that I am a scientist. Therefore, I do not have a viable frame of reference with which to discuss that.
I'm not posting in order to discuss science. I am posting in order to discuss you.
Your own published views in support of British-Israelism (which falls under the condemnation of the heresy of Phyletism, by the way), and the attempt at creating a scientific basis for such views, have already well established that you like to
dabble in science. However, the mainstream scientific community thoroughly rejects those ideas because the “evidence” for it does not withstand testing and critique. Therefore, most professional scientists consider it, basically, ridiculous. It is not really much of a logical step to conclude that the average person is probably going to side with the great many certifiably degreed scientists, rather than a “lone wolf” amateur who tends to get rather rude when questioned.
You say that I haven’t answered Nadersaid’s question. That’s very astute of you. No, I have not answered his question, nor do I feel that my opinion on this matter would be helpful to anyone.
I popped into this conversation to clarify something about your attempted misrepresentation of yourself.
You say that my comments have the agenda to “kill the non-modernist interpretation any way one can”, yet you have no idea what my interpretation is. My, that’s odd. Are you adding psychic to your repertoire?
But, back to the current set of books you’re currently covertly advertising on Orthodox Circle. I’m not currently criticizing anything you have to say in them. Again, I’ve not read them – I cannot critique a work I’ve not read.
What I can critique, however, is your misrepresentation of yourself. You are none other than Dr George Grebens, who’s PhD is in Russian Literature (specifically the science fiction of Ivan Efremov). Therefore, referring to your own works as if they were done by someone else, is more than a little odd. Plus, there’s the implication of using the title “Doctor” as if it would somehow enhance your views on science. I’m sure you’re aware that similarly using your legal title of “Doctor” to, for example, practice medicine would be a criminal offense throughout most, if not all, States in the US. You’re a Doctor to be certain, but you’re not
that kind of Doctor. I remind you, you’re highest expertise is in Russian Literature. At best, you have no more verifiable expertise in science than any other undergraduate in science, and possibly less.
Now, before you think I’ve contradicted myself, please read what I wrote carefully. I did not say that you did not have any expertise in science – I said that you have no
verifiable expertise. You have never clarified (to my knowledge anyway) what science degree, or degrees, you may hold. You’ve never even mentioned what science courses you may have taken in University. From the information you’ve provided you are an amateur scientist who has no business using his academic title in a scientific context, and who has a tendency to come to remarkably unorthodox, and unfortunately dubious, conclusions.
You are a British-Israelist. You’ve published works on behalf of that cause. Unfortunately, that is a heresy (see Phyletism). By holding the views that you set forth in that matter, you excommunicate yourself from the Orthodox Church. If you’re not actually an Orthodox Christian, that will be of no concern to you, but it is dishonest and probably immoral for you to imply that you’re an Orthodox Christian in good standing when you own self-divulged opinions put you outside the mind of the Church.
I apologize to Nadersaid for Hijacking his thread. I really am sorry about that.
I just did not think it right for me allow Dr Greben’s misrepresentation of himself. As long as everyone knows that Dr Greben’s (a.k.a. artintel’s) doctorate is not in anything scientific, he is an amateur scientist engaging in covert advertising of his own work, and he is, by definition, a heretic who happens to have unusual views on race-relations, then feel free to make use of his writings as you wish.
