Christian Forums

Quote from: A man with questions on Thu Jul 25, 2013 - 16:30:45
What you just explained was God's characteristics, not why I should believe in him. An argument without base is without reason. Do you simply trust in a 2000 year old book over modern science? You did not answer any of my questions; instead you dodged the point and named characteristics. Naming characteristics of something is not a reason to believe of that thing is real. If I list characteristics about the Hindu gods, does that make you suddenly believe in them?

I'm not sure if you're talking to me or not, but I answered your question with regards to the characteristics of God that you actually asked about.

You're dodging the answer to your question, and there is no contradiction with the Bible and any truthful modern science.

Quote from: A man with questions on Wed Jul 24, 2013 - 22:59:12
I'm going to go ahead and assume that you are one of those narrow minded Christian people who sees any intellectual challenge to any sort of something they believe in as an attack I stead of an exchanging of ideas. Such narrow minded people like you who have no problem "attacking" other religions yet gets angry when someone asks a controversial question about your religion. I hope that the rest of this website is not full of people like you. If I seem to understand you, you should likewise seek to understand my position.

geee...I wonder why you've gotten banned on other forums... 

Quote from: A man with questions on Thu Jul 25, 2013 - 15:17:05
ARGH!!!! How can you guys keep missing my points so completely?  why make anything just to send it to hell. If you know that person will suffer for all eternity, and it would be better to simply not be born, why do it? If you can put human characteristics on god of good and forgiving, then I should be able to put my human characteristics of evil on god. Do not set a double standard here. Therefore, if he has the power not to do something, knowing that someone he loves is going to be eternally punished, he is responsible. And why punish people with infinite burning for a finite transgression? That doesn't sound like a god that is the very essence of mercy to me.

The Psalms say, 'His mercy endureth forever'

But he's willing also to do evil, for the greater good, such as Noah's flood, God is not afraid of evil and sometimes is the author of it to punish evil doers, so that they may repent. Christ has cut short the work.

Quote from: chosenone on Thu Jul 25, 2013 - 17:11:25

Quote from: A man with questions on Thu Jul 25, 2013 - 16:30:45
What you just explained was God's characteristics, not why I should believe in him. An argument without base is without reason. Do you simply trust in a 2000 year old book over modern science? You did not answer any of my questions; instead you dodged the point and named characteristics. Naming characteristics of something is not a reason to believe of that thing is real. If I list characteristics about the Hindu gods, does that make you suddenly believe in them?

Many scientists are Christian. There is no contradiction between science and God. Except that God knows far more about the universe that HE made, than scientists do. Man only understands a tiny tiny part of the whole truth. They think they are very clever, but really they aren't.

Hindu gods dont exist. The Father who many of us here have known for many years, does.

I know, I mean atheists' snobbery just blows my mind, with turning science into a weird sort of mysticism when it's just a big extension out of making sense out of the things we see and defining them in terms that we can work with; they make "science" into something it was never meant to be: a religion.

LOL! Many scientists are Christians!? Oh man, that has got to be among one of the most baseless claims that ive ever heard. 7% of american scientists believe in God, as opposed to a population that has a 79% belief rate. And to the 7% that said yes, none of them believe in a strict interpretation of the bible and believe that it is wrought with errors. So basically, there are no fundamentalist Christians in scientists, and those who do believe are a very small minority. I would link you to the articles that say this, but I am on my phone at this moment. And when I say that my question has been unanswered; I think you misunderstand. I will now blatantly state what my question is: why believe in this God over any other god or atheism? I want to know what makes Christians Tick, why they believe in this God rather than another one.

And you cannot state "because this bible says so" that is not what I'm looking for. I know what you believe in, but why do you believe in them. I broke down my philosophy, showed you why I became an atheist and why I continue to believe in it. Why do you believe in a book that says that it is true? To me, it's like believing in the Internet because it says its true.

Quote from: A man with questions on Thu Jul 25, 2013 - 18:01:30
And you cannot state "because this bible says so" that is not what I'm looking for. I know what you believe in, but why do you believe in them. I broke down my philosophy, showed you why I became an atheist and why I continue to believe in it. Why do you believe in a book that says that it is true? To me, it's like believing in the Internet because it says its true.

Why would this 3500 year old book hang around?


Why haven't we gotten rid of it?


Why does mankind not relegate it to obscurity like we have the works of Plato or the Epic of Gilgamesh?


Obviously there is something there that YOU have missed.


Why would your parents take you to church if they didn't think it was in your best interests to know God the way that they know God...on a personal level.

Just because something is old doesn't mean it's true. The Greeks used homer's Illiad and Odysey as a basis for their religion for thousands of years. And in a more secular tradition, we still have the beafeaters guarding the Tower of London even though it has no use now. See what I'm getting at? The Greeks had no special religion, and yet people believed it for longer than the bible. Now we view it as mythology. Or what about egypts mythology? Their idea of religion was around for longer than the Greek and Christian religion combined. And yet it has nothing special about it, other than it is interesting.

Quote from: A man with questions on Thu Jul 25, 2013 - 17:56:06
LOL! Many scientists are Christians!? Oh man, that has got to be among one of the most baseless claims that ive ever heard. 7% of american scientists believe in God, as opposed to a population that has a 79% belief rate. And to the 7% that said yes, none of them believe in a strict interpretation of the bible and believe that it is wrought with errors. So basically, there are no fundamentalist Christians in scientists, and those who do believe are a very small minority. I would link you to the articles that say this, but I am on my phone at this moment. And when I say that my question has been unanswered; I think you misunderstand. I will now blatantly state what my question is: why believe in this God over any other god or atheism? I want to know what makes Christians Tick, why they believe in this God rather than another one.

MY husband is a scientist and he has been a Christian since he was a boy. By the way I am not American so you quoting statistics to me about Americans means little to me. If not many scientists are believers then that is sad and that shows how may wont have eternal life, and how many really have no idea about the universe, but I know very many very well educated and very intelligent professionals who are strong believers.
You ask why believe in God? ...because he is God and the most amazing Father ever. Not much point in believing in any of the others because they don't exist. Good enough reason I would say.

Quote from: MeMyself on Thu Jul 25, 2013 - 17:43:31

Quote from: A man with questions on Wed Jul 24, 2013 - 22:59:12
I'm going to go ahead and assume that you are one of those narrow minded Christian people who sees any intellectual challenge to any sort of something they believe in as an attack I stead of an exchanging of ideas. Such narrow minded people like you who have no problem "attacking" other religions yet gets angry when someone asks a controversial question about your religion. I hope that the rest of this website is not full of people like you. If I seem to understand you, you should likewise seek to understand my position.

geee...I wonder why you've gotten banned on other forums... 

Well, yes, that much is clear. Attitude.

Strange that you dont understand why we believe what The Word of God says, yet you are believing all this nonsense on athiest sites that you are reading on the internet written by people who just havent got a clue.
I know which I will go with and trust, the one I know to be true, and that has proved to be true time and time again all my adult life. You are 14, I have been a believer for 40 years, and I can say with no doubt whatsoever that The word of God is true and alive, and that through many very painful times I have never doubted Him or that he is real.

The Bible is not just a book, it is inspired by the God who made everything, who understands everything, and who must be amused by scientists who think they know more than He does. 

Judaism is the oldest religion in the history of the world.

Christianity is a sect of Judaism.

That predates the pyramids of Egypt. So your gratuitous assertions are once again unfactual and wrong.

And as an FYI.

We have a bible from 300 AD & it is the same one we have today.

  you keep saying the reason to believe him is because he exists. I'm just asking for a little reasoning as to why he exists above all others. If you guys believe in god just because a book states itself to be true, well I might as well write a book about
And invisible pony and say that this truth is self evident. Does that make it true? The answer is no. Why do you believe in this over all the others. Please stop just saying that its true, give me a legitimate reason as to why. And we have no reason to believe that Judaism is older than Egypt. No archeogical evidence has been found and carbon dated that is related to Christianity that is over 2500 years old. As I will restate, again, that a book that holds itself to be true cannot be trusted over legitimate scientific proof. And I did not just pull these thoughts off of an atheist forum,'I formulated them myself after reading the bible front to back. I was agnostic at 11 and I got my first computer. At 12 and my first phone just a few months ago.

Quote from: A man with questions on Thu Jul 25, 2013 - 19:38:42
you keep saying the reason to believe him is because he exists. I'm just asking for a little reasoning as to why he exists above all others. If you guys believe in god just because a book states itself to be true, well I might as well write a book about
And invisible pony and say that this truth is self evident. Does that make it true? The answer is no. Why do you believe in this over all the others. Please stop just saying that its true, give me a legitimate reason as to why. And we have no reason to believe that Judaism is older than Egypt. No archeogical evidence has been found and carbon dated that is related to Christianity that is over 2500 years old. As I will restate, again, that a book that holds itself to be true cannot be trusted over legitimate scientific proof. And I did not just pull these thoughts off of an atheist forum,'I formulated them myself after reading the bible front to back. I was agnostic at 11 and I got my first computer. At 12 and my first phone just a few months ago.

AS I keep saying there is no contradiction between science and God. No scientist have proved anything that isn't in the Bible. No scientist ever will. In fact the more they find out proves how amazing God and His creation is.
We all KNOW the one God to be true and the others to be false. He has proved Himself to me countless times over 40 years. IF you don't want to believe in Him that's your choice, but we KNOW what we know. If you wish to call yourself agnostic then carry on, but you are on the wrong path and will one day find that out.

Quote from: A man with questions on Thu Jul 25, 2013 - 19:38:42
you keep saying the reason to believe him is because he exists. I'm just asking for a little reasoning as to why he exists above all others. If you guys believe in god just because a book states itself to be true, well I might as well write a book about
And invisible pony and say that this truth is self evident. Does that make it true? The answer is no. Why do you believe in this over all the others.

Why? Because I have a relationship with Him. He speaks to me through His written Word, through His creation and through others.  I don't know how to help you believe.  I don't know how to help you see.

I never needed absolute proof of His existence.  (as in SEE Him) I feel Him with me, I hear Him when He speaks, I know He hears me when I call.  He has answered our prayers, miraculously even, but mostly, just by comforting us or encouraging us.

He has changed me completely. I am not the wreck I used to be.  He has made me new.

Quote from: JohnDB on Thu Jul 25, 2013 - 19:31:24
Judaism is the oldest religion in the history of the world.

http://www.mapsofwar.com/ind/history-of-religion.html

History - of – Religion

How has the geography of religion evolved over the centuries, and where has it sparked wars? Our map gives us a brief history of the world's most well-known religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism. Selected periods of inter-religious bloodshed are also highlighted. Want to see 5,000 years of religion in 90 seconds? Ready, Set, Go!

Try watching this by a previously athiest professor who had a brush with hell and became a Christian. He now is a pastor. Sometimes it takes drastic measures for someone to believe.
http://jesus-loves-you.org/atheist-professor-sees-hell-during-nde-see-his-amazing-conversion/

Quote from: A man with questions on Thu Jul 25, 2013 - 19:38:42
you keep saying the reason to believe him is because he exists. I'm just asking for a little reasoning as to why he exists above all others. If you guys believe in god just because a book states itself to be true, well I might as well write a book about
And invisible pony and say that this truth is self evident. Does that make it true? The answer is no. Why do you believe in this over all the others. Please stop just saying that its true, give me a legitimate reason as to why. And we have no reason to believe that Judaism is older than Egypt. No archeogical evidence has been found and carbon dated that is related to Christianity that is over 2500 years old. As I will restate, again, that a book that holds itself to be true cannot be trusted over legitimate scientific proof. And I did not just pull these thoughts off of an atheist forum,'I formulated them myself after reading the bible front to back. I was agnostic at 11 and I got my first computer. At 12 and my first phone just a few months ago.

If you wrote a book about an invisible pony but contained all of the other moral reasoning in it, I'd say all of it made sense except the invisible pony.

The entirety of the Bible in its straightforward yet intricate message simply makes sense. You mentioned that much of the Bible's moral reasoning seems reasonable, and that Allah seemed like a worse God. The basic point is that the picture the Bible paints simply makes the best possible sense, albeit not without some intense meditation and study.

Really, buddy, even if you disagree with it, admit it: your questions are being answered.

Quote from: A man with questions on Thu Jul 25, 2013 - 17:56:06
LOL! Many scientists are Christians!? Oh man, that has got to be among one of the most baseless claims that ive ever heard. 7% of american scientists believe in God, as opposed to a population that has a 79% belief rate. And to the 7% that said yes, none of them believe in a strict interpretation of the bible and believe that it is wrought with errors. So basically, there are no fundamentalist Christians in scientists, and those who do believe are a very small minority. I would link you to the articles that say this, but I am on my phone at this moment. And when I say that my question has been unanswered; I think you misunderstand. I will now blatantly state what my question is: why believe in this God over any other god or atheism? I want to know what makes Christians Tick, why they believe in this God rather than another one.

I think one reason I picked up the bible and believed was because of it's claims of predicting the future. This made me realize the book has merit, due to the predictions being fulfilled. Also the message of the bible  was something I agreed with on a moral standpoint, especially impressed by the grace and power of Jesus. Historic records even verified that this man Jesus actually existed and that made the story even more real. Eventually I graduated from a factual basis of belief to a more personal and spiritual belief, other religions I dabbled in could not provide the same contentment.

Need I remind you of when the Catholic Church said that there was a geocentric system instead if a Helio enteric system that we know exists today based off of the "evidence" of this verse? Joshua 10: 12-13 . And don't forget about the huge battle between Adam and Eve against evolution. What do I believe, a belief that provides at least some tangible evidence, or a book that claims that it by itself is right? We know there is evolution because we witness it every year. There is a new vaccine every year for the flu because it changes constantly. When one piece of bacteria changes ever so slightly, it creates a new strain. And any strain of flu can double its population every 5 seconds. It then spreads. Single cell organisms mutate far faster than multi cell long lived organisms. What is your explanation to new strains of disease every year? Cause to me, it seems evolution is a much higher possibility than a book that says that itself is the evident truth. Jesus did exist, archeological evidence in fact proves Jesus existed, but that doesn't mean that it is all true. And thank you for saying why you believe in god, instead of just saying that "It's obviously true because its obviously true" thanks for answering my question.

Quote from: A man with questions on Thu Jul 25, 2013 - 17:56:06
LOL! Many scientists are Christians!? Oh man, that has got to be among one of the most baseless claims that ive ever heard. 7% of american scientists believe in God, as opposed to a population that has a 79% belief rate. And to the 7% that said yes, none of them believe in a strict interpretation of the bible and believe that it is wrought with errors. So basically, there are no fundamentalist Christians in scientists, and those who do believe are a very small minority. I would link you to the articles that say this, but I am on my phone at this moment. And when I say that my question has been unanswered; I think you misunderstand. I will now blatantly state what my question is: why believe in this God over any other god or atheism? I want to know what makes Christians Tick, why they believe in this God rather than another one.

You are undoubtedly a bright young man, and whether intentional or not you come across as a bit overconfident in your intellect.  However, I guarantee if you look back in ten years, then twenty, then thirty etc. you will see that confidence was misplaced at every point.

So we have 7% of the scientific community that call themselves Christian, do you know how many scientists that number represents?  Even if it is only ten, those ten are likely smarter, and more experienced in the subject matter than you or I. 

QuoteI want to know what makes Christians Tick, why they believe in this God rather than another one.

My suggestion is for you to go back to your Bible and read the red words (Christ's own words) and put some serious consideration into the moral teaching He provides.  The intellect that came up with those lessons is huge, humbling; and as was mentioned earlier Jesus was either a liar, crazy, or God.  The first two make absolutely no sense, to me anyway, and if it is the third option, you should realize how important a decision this is.

QuoteWhy would a loving and fatherly figure willingly make things that he know are only going to be eternally tortured? because by the very act of creating someone knowing that they are going to hell, they ar directly responsible. Thoughts on this subject?

How unreasonable it is for God who is good to create beings that He knows will be subject to eternal torture in hell?   Personally I am an annihilationist, but for those that do believe in an eternal existence in hell, it is not about endless pain and torture, rather torment; that torment is a result of living a bleak existence separated from God -- knowing that they gave up a free gift of such grandeur.

From an annihilationist standpoint the fate of the unbeliever is just, they think that when they die they cease to exist, and they will.  From a more traditional standpoint, if they were not interested in a relationship with God before, why are they deserving of one now.

QuoteI want to know what makes Christians Tick,

Above I gave an answer based on logic, but now one from my heart.

I just received a call, my dear Uncle Alvin passed a short time ago.  I write with tears in my eyes, they are tears of sadness, yet also tears of joy.

Uncle Alvin was a Godly man, a respected minister his entire adult life, he will be dearly missed, but he is home.

Matthew 5:4(NIV)
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.

I wish for you that someday you will know that comfort.

Quote from: Carey on Thu Jul 25, 2013 - 22:12:23

QuoteI want to know what makes Christians Tick,

Above I gave an answer based on logic, but now one from my heart.

I just received a call, my dear Uncle Alvin passed a short time ago.  I write with tears in my eyes, they are tears of sadness, yet also tears of joy.

Uncle Alvin was a Godly man, a respected minister his entire adult life, he will be dearly missed, but he is home.

Matthew 5:4(NIV)
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.

I wish for you that someday you will know that comfort.

I agree. After all, this time on earth is so very short, and where we will spend eternity is the most important thing. To know where we are going is amazing, and to be reunited with those we love who are already there is awesome.
There will be nowhere better than being with God in that amazing place.

Quote from: A man with questions on Thu Jul 25, 2013 - 13:46:36
My parents are not atheists and are in fact Christian. They always tried to get me to read the bible and do all that, but it just didn't make sense to me. My parents do not know that I am an agnostic atheist because if they found out, I would be in more than trouble; I'd be kicked out of the house. I live in a very secular state and inside that state newtown is considered more secular than most other towns. My parents are an exception to newtowns normally nonreligious attitude. All my friends know that I'm an agnostic atheist, in fact, everyone but my family knows. When I get older to be on my own financial power and I don't need to be supported by my parents, I will tell them I'm an agnostic atheist. But only after they have used their money to help further my education and get me to the place I want to be.

I am not convinced that you are only fourteen, and that you have not been honest as to your real identity, if wrong, then accept my sincere apologize.  I could be, but do not believe so. You have not lived long enough to establish too many concrete convictions, as you seem to have.  I have dealt with people like you many times before, since my wife's father-in-law is of the same belief system (in humanistic religion where man's wisdom is exalted above God) as you want us to believe that you are learning toward, or have indeed embraced as your religion of choice. 

If you are just fourteen, then you have not been too long removed form messing all over your self and needing someone to clean you up, and now you believe that you have it all figure out!   

You will never figure our or understand the mystery of the Godhead, through reasoning, never.  Hebrews 11:1-3 reveals how any of us understand the world in which we live in, and it can come in no other way.  It is a gift freely given to some and to others it is not, and at the moment you are the one that it has not been given to, by your very own words, you are revealing this to us. 

People like you (who trust or lean unto their own understanding)  will always  have more questions than answer and will always have a different position as to why you are correct and others who are children of faith are wrong.  We have a perfect manual for our information, you folk have none.  The scriptures give us all answers that we need, you will never have one answer that will completely give you peace of mind and joy, but believers do, and that, many.

Where would you like to start?  Our bodies?  They are perfectly made, with every member in its perfect place, and doing its perfect work.  Your eyes are in a perfect place in your body.  Everything about the human body is amazing, if seriously considered.  Evolution could NOT have even come close to forming these perfect bodies. 

I can give you over a hundred reason why we believe the scriptures are of God, and not written by uninspired men.  If you want them, I can easy provide you with enough material that you little mind cannot answer, even if you lived thousands of life's back to back.  I will only reason within the scriptures, since I am a child of faith.  Everything outside of the scriptures, that I cannot understand, and there is much, I accept it by faith, that God is greater than man, and If I could explain everything, then I would be like the Most High, and would not need him, but I cannot, and neither can anyone else, including you.

RB   

Red,

He is from CT. That's the reason for the attitude. Its one of those indigenous things of those people from that state.

Quote from: JohnDB on Fri Jul 26, 2013 - 05:14:01
Red,

He is from CT. That's the reason for the attitude. Its one of those indigenous things of those people from that state.

JohnDB~Thank God for I-95 heading south out of CT! Maybe the only good thing there.  But, I am sure there are a few good men and women there somewhere. 

Quote from: Red Baker on Fri Jul 26, 2013 - 05:09:11
Where would you like to start?  Our bodies?  They are perfectly made, with every member in its perfect place, and doing its perfect work.  Your eyes are in a perfect place in your body.  Everything about the human body is amazing, if seriously considered.  Evolution could NOT have even come close to forming these perfect bodies. 

http://anthro.palomar.edu/primate/prim_8.htm

Humans

In addition to the great apes, the family Hominidae includes our species, Homo sapiens.  In the past, there also were other species of humans as well as hominids more similar to us than the chimpanzees and bonobos.  They will be described in the last three tutorials of this series.

It has been historically difficult for people to accept that we are in fact just another primate species with African origins and that we differ physically only in degree from some of the others.  The similarities can be seen throughout our bodies.   The African apes and humans have essentially the same arrangement of internal organs, share all of the same bones (though somewhat different in shape and size), lack external tails, and have several important blood type systems in common.  We also get many of the same diseases.  Humans and the African apes have hands with thumbs that are sufficiently separate from the other fingers to allow them to be opposable for precision grips.  Like all of the great apes, humans are sexually dimorphic--human men are 5-10% larger on average and have greater upper body muscular development.  Like chimpanzees and bonobos, we are omnivorous.  We kill other animals for food in addition to eating a wide variety of plants.

The comparatively minor anatomical differences between humans and apes are largely a result of our habitual bipedalism.  A number of changes in our bodies were related to the evolution of this form of locomotion.  Unlike apes, our arms are relatively short and weak compared to our legs.  Our feet no longer have the ability to effectively grasp and manipulate objects because the toes became shorter and the big toe moved up into line with the others.  Human feet also have lengthened and acquired an arch, making them better body supports.  The human pelvis and spinal column also have been modified for an erect posture and efficient bipedal locomotion.  The pelvis became shorter, broader, and more bowl shaped.  This provided greater stability for walking and running.  We are now essentially fully terrestrial animals.  Nature very likely selected for longer legs with powerful muscles and spring-like tendons in humans because it is more efficient for walking and especially running bipedally.  Research done by Herman Pontzer of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri indicates that longer legs require less up-and-down movement while running and, therefore, reduce the amount of energy needed to move rapidly.  This relatively lower rate of energy consumption would also allow humans to travel farther with the same calorie expenditure.  In addition, the largely hairless human body with its abundance of sweat glands allows us to remain cooler while running than if we only relied on panting like most other mammals.  This no doubt was a major advantage for our early human ancestors in the competition with other hunters and scavengers for meat in warm climates.  Humans can easily be outrun by many other animals over short distances.  However, we are endurance runners and can ultimately run down virtually all other land animals.

A downside of the evolution of efficient bipedalism in humans is that it resulted in changes in the pelvis which unfortunately included a narrower birth canal in females.  As a consequence, giving birth is a more difficult and riskier process for us than for most other mammal species.  During delivery, human babies must partially rotate laterally twice during their passage through the oval birth canal in order for their comparatively large heads and then their broad shoulders to make it through.  This is usually a long, tiring, and painful process for the mother as well as a risky one for her baby.  Because of this, human mothers generally seek help from a "midwife" for the delivery.  Other primates give birth without assistance.  A partial evolutionary solution to this birth difficulty for humans was fetuses being born at a less mature stage, when their heads and torsos are smaller.  The trade off is that human infants are more vulnerable.  By comparison, chimpanzees at birth are neurologically and cognitively ahead of human babies of the same age, but the chimps begin to fall behind by about six months old because of the more rapid continued development of the human brain following birth.

With the exception of these differences, we are quite similar to the African apes anatomically and genetically, especially to the chimpanzees and bonobos.  Humans have 46 chromosomes in their cells while all of the great apes have 48.  In reality, this difference is not as great as it would initially seem because the human chromosome 2 is a fusion of ape chromosomes 12 and 13 with most of the same genes.

Quote from: Carey on Thu Jul 25, 2013 - 22:12:23

QuoteI want to know what makes Christians Tick,

Above I gave an answer based on logic, but now one from my heart.

I just received a call, my dear Uncle Alvin passed a short time ago.  I write with tears in my eyes, they are tears of sadness, yet also tears of joy.

Uncle Alvin was a Godly man, a respected minister his entire adult life, he will be dearly missed, but he is home.

Matthew 5:4(NIV)
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.

I wish for you that someday you will know that comfort.

I am sorry for your loss, Carey.

I am so glad that you know the comfort of our great God.  May He draw near to you and your whole family in this time, and may you find joy in knowing that your uncle is finally home.

Quote from: JohnDB on Fri Jul 26, 2013 - 05:14:01
Red,

He is from CT. That's the reason for the attitude. Its one of those indigenous things of those people from that state.

What in the world??

MeMyself,

You have to go there to know.

So you believe in god for no other reason than he makes you feel good and a book says he and there is some archeological evidence to suggest that some biblical events did happen. I see what's going on here. Placebo. It's the placebo effect.

Quote from: A man with questions on Thu Jul 25, 2013 - 20:27:14
Need I remind you of when the Catholic Church said that there was a geocentric system instead if a Helio enteric system that we know exists today based off of the "evidence" of this verse? Joshua 10: 12-13 . And don't forget about the huge battle between Adam and Eve against evolution. What do I believe, a belief that provides at least some tangible evidence, or a book that claims that it by itself is right? We know there is evolution because we witness it every year. There is a new vaccine every year for the flu because it changes constantly. When one piece of bacteria changes ever so slightly, it creates a new strain. And any strain of flu can double its population every 5 seconds. It then spreads. Single cell organisms mutate far faster than multi cell long lived organisms. What is your explanation to new strains of disease every year? Cause to me, it seems evolution is a much higher possibility than a book that says that itself is the evident truth. Jesus did exist, archeological evidence in fact proves Jesus existed, but that doesn't mean that it is all true. And thank you for saying why you believe in god, instead of just saying that "It's obviously true because its obviously true" thanks for answering my question.

I don't think the Church is against evolution or change, but rather more against the idea that those cells you speak of eventually mutate, and turn into a human, after millions of years, or millions of millions or billions, give or take.
As concerning flu or parasites, these organisms accomplish nothing but destruction. That is their goal and our human efforts to prevent destruction is like a band aid to try and prolong life. The destructive power will find its way through these band aids(antibiotics) someway or another, unless God wills otherwise.
These organisms destroy its host, even if it destroys itself, so how do these organisms just appear?

Quote from: A man with questions on Fri Jul 26, 2013 - 09:39:51
So you believe in god for no other reason than he makes you feel good and a book says he and there is some archeological evidence to suggest that some biblical events did happen. I see what's going on here. Placebo. It's the placebo effect.

..... who is this referring to?

They do not just mutate and mutate till they become humans. I sense lack of understanding of evolution. Certain conditions must be met in order for something to evolve, survival of the fittest. It does not take millions of years, it takes BILLIONS of years for multicellular organisms that live for a long time to evolve. Whereas it is a simple matter for bacteria where one slightly mutates and clones itself. That's how we got aids, HIV, h1n1 and all of that. And this is where science and the bible directly conflict. In genesis, birds are created before land animals, against evolution. God created plants before the sun and moon, so he created something, and gave it a food source the next day. God created Adam from dust of the ground, and even came from his ribs. There's the problem, it's one or the other, no inbetween. The Big Bang also conflicts with the bible because god created the earth before light. That goes against the Big Bang theory in a big way. So it's either believe in god or Big Bang theory, there is no god created the Big Bang. And then there's Noah's ark. The bible states that a huge flood covered the earth for 40 days and 40 nights. There is no geological landmark that is typical for flooding that has been found that suggests a 6000 year old flood covered the earth. But there is archeological evidence that there were civilizations who lived in this period did not die out all  of a sudden, and in fact were fine for several hundred years. Science also contradicts the age of the earth. I don't think I'm going to need to explain that one, since that one is pretty obvious. Science contradicts a lot of biblical teachings. As far as morals go, the bible is a great source of guidance, but I don't think that everything In it is true. Especially when it contradicts science.

You are allowed your own opinions on things, but we dont have to agree with you. Most of us here have been in a close relationship with Jesus 3 or 4 times longer than you have even been on this earth. We know him and that He is real. I wouldn't be wasting my time on being a Christian if I knew Gods wasn't real, alive and the creator of the universe.