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I think a lot of people need to believe in something in order to be good. My father said it perfectly (this was the beginning of atheism for me): "I believe in God just in case something happens." This is verbatim. He doesn't believe in God for any other reason than the potential of going into heaven. That's why he is (as he sees it) "good."
That is definitely debatable, but people are bad with or without the influence of religion. Either way, people will be killed, raped, hurt, etc.
Lots of people feel this way. But if you believe in religion as simply an insurance policy, simply that "if I utter the words, then things will be okay," is this true faith? So many people believe religion is insurance, without really believing wholeheartedly in it. If God is there, the "insurance policy" people would be the first to go on my order.
What a crock! Are you seriously trying to say that the universe just appeared for no reason and out of thin air (or not ever thin air since air requires oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, etc.)? What a load of BS.
The true story is that GOD created science and the universe. Furthermore, the fathers of science were Believers and there are also plenty of scientists/physicians who are Believers. Your claims are outrageous. Nobody in their right mind will ever believe you
Except Physics says it's possible for something to come from nothing. The particle accelerator in Europe has detected such sub atomic particles that do, and the mathematical evidence supports it. On the other hand, your religion is nothing more than a story that requires BLIND faith. Just because your mind can't grasp certain concepts in physics, doesn't make them any less real, if anyone is crock, it isn't me.
The majority of scientists, especially those at the top of their field (over 80%,) are either agnostic or atheist, and in physicist at the top of their field, the number of believers is almost nonexistent (less than 5%.)
It is true that famous scientist in the past were religious, but it is also true that they did not know the majority of what we know today, so it is understandable they were religious. It is also true that in many cases, religion also hindered the minds of some of the greatest scientific intellects in history. The most famous example would Issac Newton. He invented calculus in a few months just so that he could explain the orbits of the planets around the sun. However, his calculus only explained the motion between two objects, and failed to explain how a third object could influence the motion/orbits of the other two objects, so he couldn't explain the wobble in planetary orbits. Rather than continue to ask questions and advance science, Newtown decided that any answer would be too complex, therefore God must be the answer. Of course, calculus is more advanced now and we know God has nothing to do with the orbits of the planets around the sun.
God, our intelligent designer, was the creator of those particles; God was wise enough to design the essential building blocks of the universe with the quirky properties they exhibit, in order to ensure that existence is possible. It was God who guided the progression of the universe, and the evolution of life on Earth was also monitored by God.
So then, after working behind the scenes for 14 billion years, why did this god wait until 3000 years ago to tell anybody it existed? People have been kicking around on this planet for a million years, anatomically modern humans for 100,000 years, without benefit of Yahweh. Somewhere in there, a formal priesthood started taking advantage of people's credulity to garner power. The oldest temple we know of is 17,000 years old, and it was an animistic religion.
It was build 11,000 years before the "creation" in Genesis.
That's not the only wart on Christianity's nose. We have well established that human consciousness depends on a functioning human brain. When the old squash rots, that's the end of the line. There is no life after death. People do not float up to live in the sky, they just die. For that matter, Heaven was an aftermarket idea invented by the Muslims and incorporated into Christianity to keep people from converting to a better deal. In the original Christianity you had to sleep until the resurrection.
As soon as they start feeling insecure, the superstitious retreat to talking about some nebulous "god" that can't be demonstrated or contacted. Certainly the god they are talking about is not the one in the Bible, which is just a collection of mostly iron age mythology and folk tales. They just don't have the intellectual honesty to admit that Christianity is a false religion, contradicted by the very world around them.
Science and God are not compatible. The purpose of Science, contrary to what Theist believe, is not to find answers, but rather it's to ask questions. It's only as we explore these questions, that we reach a greater understanding of universe. The whole premise of God says that there exists an unquestionable deity that must have created everything. If you can't question or challenge something, then it's not compatible with science. That is why, as science grows, God shrinks. As the scientifically literate population of world increases, atheist increase in numbers as well. I can only hope that one day, hopefully in my lifetime, the world will be scientifically literate enough that religion ceases to exist.
Even with your given explanation, Science and God still go hand in hand. We can explore the universe God created, and find things that intrigue us, and make us ponder what its all about; we can then explore the details of the mechanisms God designed to make the universe work as it is. Then we gain a better understanding of the universe God created by exploring the questions. It is God who bestowed us with the intelligent mind that is capable of reason, logic, and science; so science can't contradict God.
God is timeless and all-knowing; all of the science seen today appeared in some form or fashion in the religious texts. It may seem to Atheist that God's word reflected "bronze age" morals; However, all the powerful being was doing was appearing to the people in a form they were most comfortable with. God will always be watching over humanity, whether it is in present times, or it is in the distant future, when humans have colonized each and every corner of the universe.
So then, after working behind the scenes for 14 billion years, why did this god wait until 3000 years ago to tell anybody it existed? People have been kicking around on this planet for a million years, anatomically modern humans for 100,000 years, without benefit of Yahweh. Somewhere in there, a formal priesthood started taking advantage of people's credulity to garner power. The oldest temple we know of is 17,000 years old, and it was an animistic religion.
It was build 11,000 years before the "creation" in Genesis.
God was always watching over the world, and working behind the scenes for all those years. However, for much of the time humanity has existed, sin was always deeply entrenched, starting with the original sin from Adam and Eve, the first humans. Aside from Noah and associations, not many had the ideal connection with the father. Then came Abraham, who built up the sufficient spiritual connection in order for God to reveal himself to him. And it goes on from there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell
That's not the only wart on Christianity's nose. We have well established that human consciousness depends on a functioning human brain. When the old squash rots, that's the end of the line. There is no life after death. People do not float up to live in the sky, they just die. For that matter, Heaven was an aftermarket idea invented by the Muslims and incorporated into Christianity to keep people from converting to a better deal. In the original Christianity you had to sleep until the resurrection.
As soon as they start feeling insecure, the superstitious retreat to talking about some nebulous "god" that can't be demonstrated or contacted. Certainly the god they are talking about is not the one in the Bible, which is just a collection of mostly iron age mythology and folk tales. They just don't have the intellectual honesty to admit that Christianity is a false religion, contradicted by the very world around them.
Yes, the mortal body lies in the ground for eternity after death... but the inner soul is immortal, and it goes up to Heaven if the person was good (and Hell if the person was bad). Heaven is the idyllic paradise God has for those who were gracious, which is more beautiful than any pleasure on Earth.
Atheists lack the spiritual connection with God Theists have. Just like how a mantis shrimp, with its complex eyes, can see things we can't even imagine, Theists can perceive the powerful connection with God Atheists can't. Atheists lack the spirituality to extrapolate the inner goodness of the Bible; that's why they pass it off as nothing but folk tales.
Even with your given explanation, Science and God still go hand in hand. We can explore the universe God created, and find things that intrigue us, and make us ponder what its all about; we can then explore the details of the mechanisms God designed to make the universe work as it is. Then we gain a better understanding of the universe God created by exploring the questions. It is God who bestowed us with the intelligent mind that is capable of reason, logic, and science; so science can't contradict God.
God is timeless and all-knowing; all of the science seen today appeared in some form or fashion in the religious texts. It may seem to Atheist that God's word reflected "bronze age" morals; However, all the powerful being was doing was appearing to the people in a form they were most comfortable with. God will always be watching over humanity, whether it is in present times, or it is in the distant future, when humans have colonized each and every corner of the universe.
There is no evidence, other than faith, to prove the existence of God. You can not challenge or question something as intangible and personal as faith with science. By the very definition of the words, science and faith are incompatible, and since the only evidence for god exists in faith, science and God are incompatible. Whether you choose to accept this or not, is up to you.
Everyone believes in something, even if it's nothing. An atheist believes there is nothing to believe in.
No one knows.
Religion is pretty much an organization committed to a particular belief system. That becomes a problem when it is in conflict with another belief system, even if that system is not a religion.
So if there were no organized religions, maybe things would be better. But then there might be a lot more individuals stirring up trouble by themselves.
The problem isn't religion or belief.
The problem is hatred.
Last edited by mbradleyc; 01-12-2014 at 03:45 AM..
Except Physics says it's possible for something to come from nothing. The particle accelerator in Europe has detected such sub atomic particles that do, and the mathematical evidence supports it. On the other hand, your religion is nothing more than a story that requires BLIND faith. Just because your mind can't grasp certain concepts in physics, doesn't make them any less real, if anyone is crock, it isn't me.
The majority of scientists, especially those at the top of their field (over 80%,) are either agnostic or atheist, and in physicist at the top of their field, the number of believers is almost nonexistent (less than 5%.)
It is true that famous scientist in the past were religious, but it is also true that they did not know the majority of what we know today, so it is understandable they were religious. It is also true that in many cases, religion also hindered the minds of some of the greatest scientific intellects in history. The most famous example would Issac Newton. He invented calculus in a few months just so that he could explain the orbits of the planets around the sun. However, his calculus only explained the motion between two objects, and failed to explain how a third object could influence the motion/orbits of the other two objects, so he couldn't explain the wobble in planetary orbits. Rather than continue to ask questions and advance science, Newtown decided that any answer would be too complex, therefore God must be the answer. Of course, calculus is more advanced now and we know God has nothing to do with the orbits of the planets around the sun.
You are woefully ignorant. My guess is that you have some type of brain disorder. Just because you can't grasp the concept that there is a higher power, that is infinitely more intelligent than the so called smartest human to ever walk the Earth, doesn't mean He does not exist. Just because you might possibly understand some of His scientific laws, doesn't mean you invented scientific laws or are capable of creating life or are anywhere near qualified to refute religion. You are not a Theologian. No, I did not major in science but, I did major in something else, which you probably don't have 1/100th of the the knowledge that I have relative to that subject. That fact that you would try to refute the entire field of Theology, is a testament to your ignorance and pure hate. Yes that does qualify you as a quack and crock. Bottom line, stick to science. Stay out of religion. YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED.
If you are as "intelligent" (lol) as you claim, then, why don't you CREATE a universe? Show us all how wrong we are and how smart you are? If you can't do it, then, you truly need to shutup and go away.
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