Religious thinking is pretty arrogant. Nevertheless, size does not necessarily correspond to importance. When you think about our world, we exist between two extremes, the infinitely large and the infinitely small. My guess is that if we were somehow able to transport ourselves to the penultimately small world of the molecular we would find it comprised of even smaller micro-microscopic particles. And the largest obstacles we are aware of in space probably comprise but a (relatively speaking) microscopic particle of yet another universe. Such is the nature of infinity. Everything that exists exists between infinitely small worlds and infinitely large ones. In such a scheme a giant star is no more important than a small one. They exist on an endless continuum. The inhabitants of giant worlds would look up at infinity the same as we do and wonder at their smallness and insignificance.
As King David gazed at the great expanse, the starry heavens he asks of God the oft-read question ‘what is man that thou art mindful of him? Yes, that is the (real) question, what is man(kind)? Who are you, who am I, and why do ‘we’ exist? Are we mere ‘speck’s as a miniscule bit of carbon, H2o? Or are ‘we’ more, much, much more? And if we are, how could it be ‘arrogant’ to merely affirm the essence, the truth of our inherent being? Is there another grain of dust in a galaxy far, far away that asks the same of itself, what/who am I?
When was the last time that a tiny speck of inconsequential matter was the architect of a well-thought out, masterfully conceived atheist forum from which it might congregate other, like-inconsequential specks from all over ‘its’ universe to muse and ponder its own and others reason for existence? Man, even in his limited, stooped and shadowy state still retains to a great degree his creative potential and force, is a powerful being indeed.
The fact that man asks the question, that it even arises within his (darkened) mind, therein lies a great clue. Man is the only created being that is paternally/origin conflicted, confused. This is the what was lost in the proverbial ‘fall’ of man (as he went out of God and into himself, his self life, that was the forbidden and deathly ‘fruit’ that most still live from today, Self). The result was the loss of his heavenly (meaning spiritual light/consciousness) he no longer knows who he (really) is or where he originated, let alone the how’s and why’s of it all. This is what Christ comes to restore, that same ‘heavenly’ light (intimate knowing, deep within). Religion is not the Answer.
“This is what Christ comes to restore, that same ‘heavenly’ light (intimate knowing, deep within). Religion is not the Answer.”
Sounds like you are saying sex is the answer and not religion. I think I pity your confusion. Maybe religion also pity you.
If a higher intelligence existed, then the meaning of our life would be to kill each other. Religious texts clearly shows that we are animals bread for war and killing other people just like dogs are bread to fight each other to the death just for fun.
Do you feel better now? You compare man to a dog? No point made here. And the word is ‘bred’ not “bread”. I didn’t know we were “bread”, but that’s what science wants to do, make something out of us that we are not. And that’s what pseudo-science wants us to believe; that we are something which we are not. God does not breed us. He creates everything. It’s His laws of nature that we follow, to lead us back to Him as we promised Him we would, before He released our souls into His creation.
Terribly lovely and simple thoughts! May I be so inquisitive to ask, please……PROVE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SAID!! Go ahead, I can hardly wait! “his laws of nature”? What the bloody hell are those laws??!! From which part of the good ole book do you get these from? Could some of those “laws” include not eating pork and shrimp? Please fulfill my curiosity!! This ought to be a load of crapola!!
Yep that is what I also would tell fighting dogs bred for fight. “God did not breed you he created you for a very special purpose. Know that God loves you. Now go and kill that motherxxxx of a dog because I put a lot of money on you…”
Infinite small does not exist, distance and even time breaks down at the Planck scale and Planck time. Infinite large does also not exist, the universe is 156 billion light years in diameter, as far as we can see. The theory of multiversity is at this moment still not proven to be real.
Man exists, the stars exist and so do many untold number of galaxies. I wonder if the Klingons from Uranus think they are the only life forms in the universe and that the almighty created them. Who cares??!! We are here ready to kill each other over a bunch of dumb religions all with their own versions of creation! It would seem the only way to prove each other correct is to wait until Jahweh, Allah, Jesus….etc come in their spaceships to proclaim the truth. My guess is that when one or the other arrives, the planet Earth will be a burned out piece of rock revolving around the sun because we will have already nuked each other in unbridled hatred!
Our problem with all these ideologies stems from the fact that religion should only deal with the spiritual world and science with the physical world! NOW……get to your own corners……shut up and mind your OWN business!
“get to your own corners……shut up and mind your OWN business!”
The problem is that religions affect peoples’ mental and emotional health the least, besides survivability.
… and science does not? The problem is that there has come to be a struggle between the two as if there was an “all or nothing” fight to the death — that EITHER science is correct OR religion is correct with no room for shared truth. The Bible does not contradict science and science does not contradict the Bible IF both are understood correctly. I cannot speak for other religious texts and I do not speak for all that passes for ‘science’, either. I don’t think that anyone would be so foolish as to support all forms of either.
Whoever understands the bible to agree with science is to interpret the bible to mean anything they want it to mean instead of what it says. I think it’s really weird to believe in god and believe the bible is his word, then to take those words and pretend they mean something easier to believe, i.e. anything that reconciles with science. It’s easier to believe they’re not god’s words at all and go from there, so I don’t know why people cling so dearly to this book.
Just a thought. According to the Gnostics(the original christians) in the first century, the OT god was considered the evil god. It may be possible to realize that the god of the OT is NOT the same as the god of the NT. Putting both books of bible together may very well explain why today’s christians are so utterly mixed up! The NT, it would seem, refutes what is written in the OT. None of authors support it, so why do christians run back to the old book if only to find laws to assault their neighbours with? Could it mean that today’s christians are the real evil in this world? It’s just a thought!
Well the OT god created all, and if this is just occurring to you now, I’m to assume there’s no scene within its pages where the NT god challenges OT god and wins. I think a better example is that god is schizophrenic and made us in his image, unless you know the antidote, which is not to believe he exists. I’m not going to lie, some atheists are schizophrenic also. It’s impossible to account for each one, but I’m sure some are.
I’m sure you can prove this without opening the bible? This I’ve got to read! Unless of course you are talking about the mess he has made with his disobedient, bratty kids….lousy parent, I would say! He sure didn’t have many parenting skills…..how could he? He created this world, put man on it and then realized that in creating a whole universe just for his kids, he had NO idea as to how to control them, I’d sure like to see him come and punish those who supposedly talk in his name! Bad parent…..bad kids!
Usually when people talk about the “shared truth” of science and religion its just another lame attempt to garner some kind of credibility for religion.
There is NO shared truth. When it comes to the physical world, science IS correct. Religion is just a story about the bad, ole boogey man and how he is going to get if if you are not a “good” person. Age old bull crap created to keep man from evolving intellectually and spiritually! I know of a friend who claims to be an atheist but there is no way I can convince him that SIN does NOT exist. Religion brain-washes in such a corruptible way that any hope of ever crawling out of the mud pit is almost impossible. If man IS to evolve, and I for one really hope for this, religion in all it’s form must change or be eradicated from this planet!
If science exists, it is God’s science. The same God that created all, and nature, to follow the physical laws He created. Nature doesn’t deviate or question them. Because the universe does is not given a choice it moves forward… advances. And they are perfect laws, aren’t they? And as nature follows His physical laws so should we follow His spiritual laws and thereby advance, as He intended us to. Only we DO have a choice! God did all…we try to understand…our move.
Are you credulous that science exists or just a poor choice of words?
You either didn’t read the quotes at the top of the page or you don’t get it. You’re responding to comments only. What kind of subpar god makes an humongous universe but focuses his attention on every little move bobby makes and whether bobby loves him? Or else eternal damnation! Sicko, bobby.
Poor thinking often leads to poor word choice. I doubt our latest drive-by godbot is willing to engage your comments Kodie–at least, not before going to his handy bag of Jesusy talking points or moving on to the next atheist blog to peddle his imaginary sky-friend.
Let me phrase it so you can understand…If YOU admit science exists then it is God’s science. How could that be misunderstood? He created everything, and science and it’s laws are a part of everything. I’m not responding to anyone. I am making a statement. Why are atheists so bothered about there are people who accept God? Why feel a need to argue? Convincing yourself? Not sure? Did I say I’m concerned if God loves me? Why do you think you understand something you never made an effort to? Did you hear me say anything about eternal damnation? That came from you. What are you imagining? I never said that and neither did God. If God chose to control us we would be controlled. You choose not understand me as much as you choose not to understand God. There must be an effort involved to do so. And it is not my intention or God’s to force something on you that you choose not to understand.
“You choose not understand me as much as you choose not to understand God. There must be an effort involved to do so. And it is not my intention or God’s to force something on you that you choose not to understand.”
What an idiotic statement!
Pray tell…..which part of the ole book may I find the scientific treatises on God’s laws? Physical laws actually exist and ……(gulp)….spiritual laws,,,,,what spiritual laws? Name just one of the spiritual laws…..I dare you! Spiritual laws can NOT be written down as the moment they are, the essential(spiritual) message is corrupted beyond all resemblance! It is YOUR move….but be very careful NOT to use scriptural references. The bible is not spiritual in any way, it is just a book tampered so many times by the sticky hands of any version of christianity that could get a hold of it. Would you have quoted scripture from the Jehovah’s Witnesses version of the bible? I hear it’s divinely insprired. Go ahead….this ought to be fun!
How about this.. “Thou shalt not kill.”
Could there be any more???
Do you think it will be done for you?
Maybe the hope here is that life is without effort and work? Why start looking when it would make us responsible if we found answers. Questions are fine. But I hear no answers, just objections.
Science is for us to find, just as God is for us to find. God doesn’t need to find God. It’s HIS creation. It’s His laws, natural or spiritual. WE find God. We search to understand His creation. We labor to find the path. We investigate the reality He created. We find His science through effort. Why do people find this abstract? If it wasn’t so, there would be no purpose to our efforts or existence.
“Maybe the hope here is that life is without effort and work? Why start looking when it would make us responsible if we found answers. Questions are fine. But I hear no answers, just objections. … WE find God.”
So attention seeking. It’s all about bobby.
If science exists? What do you mean with IF?
Science is how we measure reality.
Bobby you really sound like brainwashed, no coherent thought in your sentences. Just like you memorized so much that you do not realize that nothing makes sense any-more in what you say. Compare it to try talking to someone that is completely drunk.
You choose not to understand what I say.
Science exists because it is God’s science. Does science exist? Obviously it does! So IF science DOES exist (And it does) It is God’s creation. It is a manner of speaking that I’m sure most people would understand. Choosing to jump on the misinterpretation of a single word I do find revealing. If you did not understand two words instead of one, would it be twice as much more troublesome? If you found my statements coherent it may require an effort. Better to find fault than work to find the truth.
Could it be that you are just stupid and suck at writing?
“Science exists because it is God’s science. Does science exist? Obviously it does! So IF science DOES exist (And it does) It is God’s creation.”
Here, let me make that convoluted BS simpler for you, “Science exists because of Yggdrasil” See! You don’t even have to use Yggdrasil, you can just plug in any old Mythological Critter that you want people to worship.
“Choosing to jump on the misinterpretation of a single word I do find revealing.”
But not as revealing how you choose to ignore other more relevant points.
“Better to find fault than work to find the truth.” – Or you should write more clearly and try to use actual logic instead of assertions.
“Nature doesn’t deviate or question them.” – You know Nature is not a person, right? Or are you one of those wierdo Pagan-Christians?
“Because the universe does is not given a choice it moves forward… advances” – Forward through Time.
“as nature follows His physical laws so should we follow His spiritual laws”
Sorry you are going to have to do better than, Fire is hot, Ice is Cold and Time moves forward, to get someone to believe in this useless god thing you babble on about.
Wanting to stone your neighbours to death because they wear tattoos, eat pork and shrimp on the sabbath and are sexually free is mentally and emotionally sociopathic! I know that is not done today as in the OT, but the Fundamentalist attacks on gays, liberals and anybody else they don’t like is a sign that these people are simply NOT happy folks! Religion should only deal with spiritual matters, as in bringing some peace to their lives through spiritual growth. The Fundies are NOT getting the help they so badly need. How often do you see evolutionists and scientists going about beating up others that don’t agree with them? If the Fundies want to be stupid……wait a minute…..my mistake….they are stupid and lack the wisdom to know better! Their actions are entirely puerile and I really wish they’d grow up and join humanity instead of waiting for Father to come home and punish their fellow siblings! They are demented and SICK!
God creates, man destroys. Don’t blame God for what we do. Don’t blame God for our lack of knowledge and effort.
I will no longer take part in useless argument. There are obviously people just hanging on to disagree and name call. Have a nice life.
You are killing us with your pretty, flowery, ridiculous thoughts. Mind you, humanity has had to put up with this crap for almost two thousand years, so why not some more now. Unfortunately, over those two thousand years, man has also been subjected to very fatal methods of persuasion!
It’s depressing to observe the universe with humility? You must be a pompous jerk, so I find you kind of depressing. And confusing. I don’t know where you get that they despise themselves because they question what kind of person dreams up an omnipotent deity to create all that exists in the universe but so that one tiny planet could have people on it, and wants desperately for those people to worship him and follow strict and arbitrary rules. That’s a wasteful god you got there, that’s what’s depressing. What a universe he has to enjoy and he cares if you like other dudes or not, or whether you eat pork, for example. It’s so depressing to me that you don’t agree with the quotes, that you likely believe that the undue attention your lord gives to the crumbs of details about you when the vast universe exists is so awesome that you owe him your adoration.
It also doesn’t mean everyone else thinks like you, or that they’re depressing or despise themselves. They mean to tell you to get over yourself, but you filled your head with nonsense, so there’s no room left.
If every man had their own way there would be no rules. Chaos would reign. What is “arbitrary” to some is pure light to others. Obedience to laws which preserve civilization should not be that difficult to understand the reason ‘why’. But in most cases, before understanding, comes faith to see through these laws.
“the life of these men must be the most deppresing thing ever, if they despise themselves that way doesn’t mean that everyone thinks like them”
You are right on the stupidity of jesus also, in comparison.
Did you ever meet Jesus..capital ‘J’. Then, how can you judge a prophet of God? And by what right? Do you claim to be a prophet, therefore claiming to understand a prophet?
I guess it’s going to be hard to explain to you how you haven’t proven god exists or that jesus exists or that there’s any such thing as a prophet “OF GOD,” and that gives anyone the right to call such things “CRAPOLA” because they are ridiculous and imaginary.
If you are willing to accept it, I am a prophet. Show yourself approved of God by being diligent in taking your meds. You are in danger of hell by your disobedience.
A little perspective is all it takes for you to imply self-hatred? To be small is not to be mean and pathetic, unless you associate being small with being mean and pathetic.
IIRC, David was also something of a warrior king, accumulated a great deal of personal wealth and passed much of that on to his son Solomon to help pay for the building of the temple at Jerusalem. So, it’s not like realizing his relative size and importance kept him from achieving on an earthly scale. His accomplishments almost certainly dwarf those of any of the commentators to this blog. So, rather than belittling his humility, perhaps it would be better to learn from it?
Usage Note : People have been using the noun quote as a truncation of quotation for over 100 years, and its use in less formal contexts is widespread today. Language critics have objected to this usage, however, as unduly journalistic or breezy. As such, it is best avoided in more formal situations. The Usage Panel, at least, shows more tolerance for the word as the informality of the situation increases. Thus, only 38 percent of Panelists accept the example He began the chapter with a quote from the Bible, but the percentage rises to 53 when the source of the quotation is less serious: He lightened up his talk by throwing in quotes from Marx Brothers movies.
quote. Dictionary.com. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/quote (accessed: July 04, 2010).
Word Origin & History
quote
late 14c., “to mark (a book) with chapter numbers or marginal references,” from O.Fr. coter, from M.L. quotare “distinguish by numbers, number chapters,” from L. quotus “which, what number (in sequence),” from quot “how many,” related to quis “who.” The sense development is via “to give as a reference, to cite as an authority” to “to copy out exact words” (1670s). The business sense of “to state the price of a commodity” (1866) revives the etymological meaning. The noun, in the sense of “quotation,” is attested from 1885. Quotable is from 1821. Unquote first recorded 1935, in a letter by e e cummings.
For any religious people commenting on this site: It is called burden of proof. What this means is that it is the burden of the person who believes in something to prove that it exists. Not the burden of the person who does not believe to prove that it does not exist.
That would be like me asking you to prove that unicorns do not exist, or faries, or vampires. etc. If you said “well noone has ever seen any, so they cant be real” I could “prove” you wrong in two ways. One, by saying that their are people who have claimed to see these things. Two, by telling you that you must have faith.
You see, their is no possible way to prove that something does not exist, making it an invalid argument. Trying to convince anyone who knows what burden of proof is that a god exists using that faulty logic is going to be impossible.
Therefore. Instead of arguing that the absence of a god can’t be proven – which makes anyone who knows anything about the basic principles of logic and philosophy LOL hardcore at you, you may want to find a different way to defend you religion.. if that is even possible.
If there was a god-creator, clearly we would not be his most favored critters. As a dance teacher, the human knee immediately comes to mind as a flawed design. And then there’s that asteroid nuisance. If religious people really believe that God wants our species to survive “forever,” why aren’t they sending all their money to the space program, to build an interstellar ark?
@John C- “when was the last time that a tiny speck of inconsequential matter was the architect of a well-thought out, masterfully conceived atheist forum…?” 5 minutes ago. Millions of years ago. Either you didn’t read the Teller text, or you’re sticking your fingers in your ears, going “la la la la, millions of life-supporting planets don’t exist.”
Which recent book do this blog’s readers feel is the best equivalent to Teller’s The Atheism of Astronomy?
These comments and for that matter this website cause me to feel pity for all of you who feel the need to bash those who’s faith is in Jesus Christ. It is apparent to me that faith cannot coincide with science because science requires proof and faith is a belief in what is not seen. Though God has given us infinite amounts of proof of His existence, that being creation, sinful and wicked mankind has tried to explain it in his own way. It really is sad that you would choose to trust in your own understanding of God’s creation as opposed to trusting in His own word. You mock it and call it “the old book” and you call Him a liar when you say it is not true. Each one knows God to exist. Man is without excuse. You can make up every last excuse and attempt to provide as much evidence as possible against His existence, but each and every one of you knows God to exist. Your sin has blinded you of this truth however and this is why you mock God and persecute those who’s faith is in Him.
I know, because I was once just as you. Thankfully, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to suffer and die and pay the price for those sins. God provided a way out of damnation, which we brought upon ourselves. And YES, I’m not afraid to tell you all that Hell is real and that those who’s faith is not in the salvation that is Christ, will go there. He did provide a way out though, and it is you who must accept this. God is a loving God, but He is also to be feared. He is all powerful and you are on dangerous ground when you mock Him.
Go ahead, ban me from the site for “evangelizing” as you put it, but its my duty as one who knows the truth to make an attempt to give it to others.
The reason people here reject your religion is not because they don’t know about it. We reject it because we know more about your religion than you do. The only way to get to where you are from where I am is a lobotomy.
Save your pity, and instead redirect that into making your own life and those of the people around you better. Pause to give a damn about the world around you rather than some prize after death.
To glorify stupidity, advertise it as humility. There is no creator, why do you call us wicked for acknowledging the great truth, which you fail to acknowledge? You cower in your biblical worship, not daring to seem not humble, of all things. There is a lot to be humble about, and in awe of, without pretending there’s a creator and a heaven and a hell. God has offered no proof of his existence, you are just taught to frame your perception as “proof,” and that the real answers are humans denying god’s existence. To know whom? Who is there? Why do you think it’s your duty to tell us, to warn us, when you yourself have no knowledge that there is a god, because there is no god. Whatever you perceive him to be true is keeping you stupid.. or you can continue to believe that it is humble not to question, not to use the brain in your head. It is too wicked to use the brain, And I shall let it go to waste my whole life, And I am sure I’m going to heaven!
Religious thinking is pretty arrogant. Nevertheless, size does not necessarily correspond to importance. When you think about our world, we exist between two extremes, the infinitely large and the infinitely small. My guess is that if we were somehow able to transport ourselves to the penultimately small world of the molecular we would find it comprised of even smaller micro-microscopic particles. And the largest obstacles we are aware of in space probably comprise but a (relatively speaking) microscopic particle of yet another universe. Such is the nature of infinity. Everything that exists exists between infinitely small worlds and infinitely large ones. In such a scheme a giant star is no more important than a small one. They exist on an endless continuum. The inhabitants of giant worlds would look up at infinity the same as we do and wonder at their smallness and insignificance.
As King David gazed at the great expanse, the starry heavens he asks of God the oft-read question ‘what is man that thou art mindful of him? Yes, that is the (real) question, what is man(kind)? Who are you, who am I, and why do ‘we’ exist? Are we mere ‘speck’s as a miniscule bit of carbon, H2o? Or are ‘we’ more, much, much more? And if we are, how could it be ‘arrogant’ to merely affirm the essence, the truth of our inherent being? Is there another grain of dust in a galaxy far, far away that asks the same of itself, what/who am I?
When was the last time that a tiny speck of inconsequential matter was the architect of a well-thought out, masterfully conceived atheist forum from which it might congregate other, like-inconsequential specks from all over ‘its’ universe to muse and ponder its own and others reason for existence? Man, even in his limited, stooped and shadowy state still retains to a great degree his creative potential and force, is a powerful being indeed.
The fact that man asks the question, that it even arises within his (darkened) mind, therein lies a great clue. Man is the only created being that is paternally/origin conflicted, confused. This is the what was lost in the proverbial ‘fall’ of man (as he went out of God and into himself, his self life, that was the forbidden and deathly ‘fruit’ that most still live from today, Self). The result was the loss of his heavenly (meaning spiritual light/consciousness) he no longer knows who he (really) is or where he originated, let alone the how’s and why’s of it all. This is what Christ comes to restore, that same ‘heavenly’ light (intimate knowing, deep within). Religion is not the Answer.
“This is what Christ comes to restore, that same ‘heavenly’ light (intimate knowing, deep within). Religion is not the Answer.”
Sounds like you are saying sex is the answer and not religion. I think I pity your confusion. Maybe religion also pity you.
If a higher intelligence existed, then the meaning of our life would be to kill each other. Religious texts clearly shows that we are animals bread for war and killing other people just like dogs are bread to fight each other to the death just for fun.
Do you feel better now? You compare man to a dog? No point made here. And the word is ‘bred’ not “bread”. I didn’t know we were “bread”, but that’s what science wants to do, make something out of us that we are not. And that’s what pseudo-science wants us to believe; that we are something which we are not. God does not breed us. He creates everything. It’s His laws of nature that we follow, to lead us back to Him as we promised Him we would, before He released our souls into His creation.
Terribly lovely and simple thoughts! May I be so inquisitive to ask, please……PROVE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SAID!! Go ahead, I can hardly wait! “his laws of nature”? What the bloody hell are those laws??!! From which part of the good ole book do you get these from? Could some of those “laws” include not eating pork and shrimp? Please fulfill my curiosity!! This ought to be a load of crapola!!
“God does not breed us. He creates everything.”
Yep that is what I also would tell fighting dogs bred for fight. “God did not breed you he created you for a very special purpose. Know that God loves you. Now go and kill that motherxxxx of a dog because I put a lot of money on you…”
Infinite small does not exist, distance and even time breaks down at the Planck scale and Planck time. Infinite large does also not exist, the universe is 156 billion light years in diameter, as far as we can see. The theory of multiversity is at this moment still not proven to be real.
Correction. It’s as far as YOU can see.
Thou canst see farther? How? Another jewel of “wisdom” soon to be clarified!!
Correction it is as far as science can see. The cosmic background radiation is not transparent.
Infinity does not exist? I’m not surprised. It never seemed possible anyway.
Drat! First God and now infinity! Whose next on the atheist hit list?
No, it wasn’t all made so that you could exist, Peter. It was all made so that I could exist! (Note the subtle difference.)
Man exists, the stars exist and so do many untold number of galaxies. I wonder if the Klingons from Uranus think they are the only life forms in the universe and that the almighty created them. Who cares??!! We are here ready to kill each other over a bunch of dumb religions all with their own versions of creation! It would seem the only way to prove each other correct is to wait until Jahweh, Allah, Jesus….etc come in their spaceships to proclaim the truth. My guess is that when one or the other arrives, the planet Earth will be a burned out piece of rock revolving around the sun because we will have already nuked each other in unbridled hatred!
Our problem with all these ideologies stems from the fact that religion should only deal with the spiritual world and science with the physical world! NOW……get to your own corners……shut up and mind your OWN business!
“get to your own corners……shut up and mind your OWN business!”
The problem is that religions affect peoples’ mental and emotional health the least, besides survivability.
… and science does not? The problem is that there has come to be a struggle between the two as if there was an “all or nothing” fight to the death — that EITHER science is correct OR religion is correct with no room for shared truth. The Bible does not contradict science and science does not contradict the Bible IF both are understood correctly. I cannot speak for other religious texts and I do not speak for all that passes for ‘science’, either. I don’t think that anyone would be so foolish as to support all forms of either.
Whoever understands the bible to agree with science is to interpret the bible to mean anything they want it to mean instead of what it says. I think it’s really weird to believe in god and believe the bible is his word, then to take those words and pretend they mean something easier to believe, i.e. anything that reconciles with science. It’s easier to believe they’re not god’s words at all and go from there, so I don’t know why people cling so dearly to this book.
…cling so dearly to this book and tell lies to yourself and us like you just did.
Just a thought. According to the Gnostics(the original christians) in the first century, the OT god was considered the evil god. It may be possible to realize that the god of the OT is NOT the same as the god of the NT. Putting both books of bible together may very well explain why today’s christians are so utterly mixed up! The NT, it would seem, refutes what is written in the OT. None of authors support it, so why do christians run back to the old book if only to find laws to assault their neighbours with? Could it mean that today’s christians are the real evil in this world? It’s just a thought!
Well the OT god created all, and if this is just occurring to you now, I’m to assume there’s no scene within its pages where the NT god challenges OT god and wins. I think a better example is that god is schizophrenic and made us in his image, unless you know the antidote, which is not to believe he exists. I’m not going to lie, some atheists are schizophrenic also. It’s impossible to account for each one, but I’m sure some are.
I’m sure you can prove this without opening the bible? This I’ve got to read! Unless of course you are talking about the mess he has made with his disobedient, bratty kids….lousy parent, I would say! He sure didn’t have many parenting skills…..how could he? He created this world, put man on it and then realized that in creating a whole universe just for his kids, he had NO idea as to how to control them, I’d sure like to see him come and punish those who supposedly talk in his name! Bad parent…..bad kids!
Usually when people talk about the “shared truth” of science and religion its just another lame attempt to garner some kind of credibility for religion.
There is NO shared truth. When it comes to the physical world, science IS correct. Religion is just a story about the bad, ole boogey man and how he is going to get if if you are not a “good” person. Age old bull crap created to keep man from evolving intellectually and spiritually! I know of a friend who claims to be an atheist but there is no way I can convince him that SIN does NOT exist. Religion brain-washes in such a corruptible way that any hope of ever crawling out of the mud pit is almost impossible. If man IS to evolve, and I for one really hope for this, religion in all it’s form must change or be eradicated from this planet!
If science exists, it is God’s science. The same God that created all, and nature, to follow the physical laws He created. Nature doesn’t deviate or question them. Because the universe does is not given a choice it moves forward… advances. And they are perfect laws, aren’t they? And as nature follows His physical laws so should we follow His spiritual laws and thereby advance, as He intended us to. Only we DO have a choice! God did all…we try to understand…our move.
Are you credulous that science exists or just a poor choice of words?
You either didn’t read the quotes at the top of the page or you don’t get it. You’re responding to comments only. What kind of subpar god makes an humongous universe but focuses his attention on every little move bobby makes and whether bobby loves him? Or else eternal damnation! Sicko, bobby.
Poor thinking often leads to poor word choice. I doubt our latest drive-by godbot is willing to engage your comments Kodie–at least, not before going to his handy bag of Jesusy talking points or moving on to the next atheist blog to peddle his imaginary sky-friend.
@Roger. I agree with you, entirely.
Let me phrase it so you can understand…If YOU admit science exists then it is God’s science. How could that be misunderstood? He created everything, and science and it’s laws are a part of everything. I’m not responding to anyone. I am making a statement. Why are atheists so bothered about there are people who accept God? Why feel a need to argue? Convincing yourself? Not sure? Did I say I’m concerned if God loves me? Why do you think you understand something you never made an effort to? Did you hear me say anything about eternal damnation? That came from you. What are you imagining? I never said that and neither did God. If God chose to control us we would be controlled. You choose not understand me as much as you choose not to understand God. There must be an effort involved to do so. And it is not my intention or God’s to force something on you that you choose not to understand.
“You choose not understand me as much as you choose not to understand God. There must be an effort involved to do so. And it is not my intention or God’s to force something on you that you choose not to understand.”
What an idiotic statement!
Pray tell…..which part of the ole book may I find the scientific treatises on God’s laws? Physical laws actually exist and ……(gulp)….spiritual laws,,,,,what spiritual laws? Name just one of the spiritual laws…..I dare you! Spiritual laws can NOT be written down as the moment they are, the essential(spiritual) message is corrupted beyond all resemblance! It is YOUR move….but be very careful NOT to use scriptural references. The bible is not spiritual in any way, it is just a book tampered so many times by the sticky hands of any version of christianity that could get a hold of it. Would you have quoted scripture from the Jehovah’s Witnesses version of the bible? I hear it’s divinely insprired. Go ahead….this ought to be fun!
How about this.. “Thou shalt not kill.”
Could there be any more???
Do you think it will be done for you?
Maybe the hope here is that life is without effort and work? Why start looking when it would make us responsible if we found answers. Questions are fine. But I hear no answers, just objections.
Science is for us to find, just as God is for us to find. God doesn’t need to find God. It’s HIS creation. It’s His laws, natural or spiritual. WE find God. We search to understand His creation. We labor to find the path. We investigate the reality He created. We find His science through effort. Why do people find this abstract? If it wasn’t so, there would be no purpose to our efforts or existence.
“Maybe the hope here is that life is without effort and work? Why start looking when it would make us responsible if we found answers. Questions are fine. But I hear no answers, just objections. … WE find God.”
So attention seeking. It’s all about bobby.
“How about this.. “Thou shalt not kill.””
Except for all those other parts where god does tell you to kill?
If science exists? What do you mean with IF?
Science is how we measure reality.
Bobby you really sound like brainwashed, no coherent thought in your sentences. Just like you memorized so much that you do not realize that nothing makes sense any-more in what you say. Compare it to try talking to someone that is completely drunk.
You choose not to understand what I say.
Science exists because it is God’s science. Does science exist? Obviously it does! So IF science DOES exist (And it does) It is God’s creation. It is a manner of speaking that I’m sure most people would understand. Choosing to jump on the misinterpretation of a single word I do find revealing. If you did not understand two words instead of one, would it be twice as much more troublesome? If you found my statements coherent it may require an effort. Better to find fault than work to find the truth.
“You choose not to understand what I say.”
Could it be that you are just stupid and suck at writing?
“Science exists because it is God’s science. Does science exist? Obviously it does! So IF science DOES exist (And it does) It is God’s creation.”
Here, let me make that convoluted BS simpler for you, “Science exists because of Yggdrasil” See! You don’t even have to use Yggdrasil, you can just plug in any old Mythological Critter that you want people to worship.
“Choosing to jump on the misinterpretation of a single word I do find revealing.”
But not as revealing how you choose to ignore other more relevant points.
“Better to find fault than work to find the truth.” – Or you should write more clearly and try to use actual logic instead of assertions.
If science exists” _ IF?
“Nature doesn’t deviate or question them.” – You know Nature is not a person, right? Or are you one of those wierdo Pagan-Christians?
“Because the universe does is not given a choice it moves forward… advances” – Forward through Time.
“as nature follows His physical laws so should we follow His spiritual laws”
Sorry you are going to have to do better than, Fire is hot, Ice is Cold and Time moves forward, to get someone to believe in this useless god thing you babble on about.
You made science personal yourself and in your worldview, lame.
Wanting to stone your neighbours to death because they wear tattoos, eat pork and shrimp on the sabbath and are sexually free is mentally and emotionally sociopathic! I know that is not done today as in the OT, but the Fundamentalist attacks on gays, liberals and anybody else they don’t like is a sign that these people are simply NOT happy folks! Religion should only deal with spiritual matters, as in bringing some peace to their lives through spiritual growth. The Fundies are NOT getting the help they so badly need. How often do you see evolutionists and scientists going about beating up others that don’t agree with them? If the Fundies want to be stupid……wait a minute…..my mistake….they are stupid and lack the wisdom to know better! Their actions are entirely puerile and I really wish they’d grow up and join humanity instead of waiting for Father to come home and punish their fellow siblings! They are demented and SICK!
Strange, I believe in God and don’t feel like killing anyone. Do you?
Nope. Can’t say the same for God, though.
Highest tally for “depraved indifference to human life” ever!
God creates, man destroys. Don’t blame God for what we do. Don’t blame God for our lack of knowledge and effort.
I will no longer take part in useless argument. There are obviously people just hanging on to disagree and name call. Have a nice life.
You are killing us with your pretty, flowery, ridiculous thoughts. Mind you, humanity has had to put up with this crap for almost two thousand years, so why not some more now. Unfortunately, over those two thousand years, man has also been subjected to very fatal methods of persuasion!
the life of these men must be the most deppresing thing ever, if they despise themselves that way doesn’t mean that everyone thinks like them
It’s depressing to observe the universe with humility? You must be a pompous jerk, so I find you kind of depressing. And confusing. I don’t know where you get that they despise themselves because they question what kind of person dreams up an omnipotent deity to create all that exists in the universe but so that one tiny planet could have people on it, and wants desperately for those people to worship him and follow strict and arbitrary rules. That’s a wasteful god you got there, that’s what’s depressing. What a universe he has to enjoy and he cares if you like other dudes or not, or whether you eat pork, for example. It’s so depressing to me that you don’t agree with the quotes, that you likely believe that the undue attention your lord gives to the crumbs of details about you when the vast universe exists is so awesome that you owe him your adoration.
It also doesn’t mean everyone else thinks like you, or that they’re depressing or despise themselves. They mean to tell you to get over yourself, but you filled your head with nonsense, so there’s no room left.
If every man had their own way there would be no rules. Chaos would reign. What is “arbitrary” to some is pure light to others. Obedience to laws which preserve civilization should not be that difficult to understand the reason ‘why’. But in most cases, before understanding, comes faith to see through these laws.
You make no sense, bobby. Everyone does have their own way.
Faith??!!….Laws??!! What the hell does that mean…..and please, NO scriptural verses!!
“the life of these men must be the most deppresing thing ever, if they despise themselves that way doesn’t mean that everyone thinks like them”
You are right on the stupidity of jesus also, in comparison.
Did you ever meet Jesus..capital ‘J’. Then, how can you judge a prophet of God? And by what right? Do you claim to be a prophet, therefore claiming to understand a prophet?
I guess it’s going to be hard to explain to you how you haven’t proven god exists or that jesus exists or that there’s any such thing as a prophet “OF GOD,” and that gives anyone the right to call such things “CRAPOLA” because they are ridiculous and imaginary.
Jesus was NOT a prophet of god! I guess I’ll have to ask for an explanation of that statement! PROVE IT!
“Then, how can you judge a prophet of God?”
The same way we judge all people making extraordinary claims.
“And by what right?”
By the same right you use when you choose not to follow the teachings of Muhammed.
“Do you claim to be a prophet, therefore claiming to understand a prophet?”
Do you?
By your own words how can you understand this so called prophet you speak of?
If you are willing to accept it, I am a prophet. Show yourself approved of God by being diligent in taking your meds. You are in danger of hell by your disobedience.
We just witnessed bobby’s…little”b” head explode.
A little perspective is all it takes for you to imply self-hatred? To be small is not to be mean and pathetic, unless you associate being small with being mean and pathetic.
IIRC, David was also something of a warrior king, accumulated a great deal of personal wealth and passed much of that on to his son Solomon to help pay for the building of the temple at Jerusalem. So, it’s not like realizing his relative size and importance kept him from achieving on an earthly scale. His accomplishments almost certainly dwarf those of any of the commentators to this blog. So, rather than belittling his humility, perhaps it would be better to learn from it?
Bump. Sorry, that should have been a response to Joe.
Yay, a drive-by godbot on Independence Day! It’s an Independence miracle!
HELL-a-loo-yah!
Depressing? The universe is the coolest place ever!
How can this universe be depressing?
It is only depressing of you are addicted to religion and are afraid to get off the religious drugs.
Should read “QUOTATIONS of the moment, rather than quotes of the moment. Proper English.
As in…”He quotes a certain quotation”. Thanks (Quote is a verb and quotation is a noun).
But….It’s all about me…..has no quotaion marks about it, so it is not an actual quotation! I ain’t went to skool four nuthin!
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/quote
quote. Dictionary.com. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/quote (accessed: July 04, 2010).
(emphasis mine)
quote. Dictionary.com. Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/quote (accessed: July 04, 2010).
Brought.
For any religious people commenting on this site: It is called burden of proof. What this means is that it is the burden of the person who believes in something to prove that it exists. Not the burden of the person who does not believe to prove that it does not exist.
That would be like me asking you to prove that unicorns do not exist, or faries, or vampires. etc. If you said “well noone has ever seen any, so they cant be real” I could “prove” you wrong in two ways. One, by saying that their are people who have claimed to see these things. Two, by telling you that you must have faith.
You see, their is no possible way to prove that something does not exist, making it an invalid argument. Trying to convince anyone who knows what burden of proof is that a god exists using that faulty logic is going to be impossible.
Therefore. Instead of arguing that the absence of a god can’t be proven – which makes anyone who knows anything about the basic principles of logic and philosophy LOL hardcore at you, you may want to find a different way to defend you religion.. if that is even possible.
“You see, their is no possible way to prove that something does not exist, making it an invalid argument”
Nice, easy out there Aeracura, but The Truth (Himself) has nothing to do with ‘religion’ anyway. All the best…
“The Truth (Himself) has nothing to do with ‘religion’ anyway”
Nice easy out there, JohnC, but repeating maxims and playing no-true-scotsman has nothing to do with establishing truth.
If there was a god-creator, clearly we would not be his most favored critters. As a dance teacher, the human knee immediately comes to mind as a flawed design. And then there’s that asteroid nuisance. If religious people really believe that God wants our species to survive “forever,” why aren’t they sending all their money to the space program, to build an interstellar ark?
@John C- “when was the last time that a tiny speck of inconsequential matter was the architect of a well-thought out, masterfully conceived atheist forum…?” 5 minutes ago. Millions of years ago. Either you didn’t read the Teller text, or you’re sticking your fingers in your ears, going “la la la la, millions of life-supporting planets don’t exist.”
Which recent book do this blog’s readers feel is the best equivalent to Teller’s The Atheism of Astronomy?
These comments and for that matter this website cause me to feel pity for all of you who feel the need to bash those who’s faith is in Jesus Christ. It is apparent to me that faith cannot coincide with science because science requires proof and faith is a belief in what is not seen. Though God has given us infinite amounts of proof of His existence, that being creation, sinful and wicked mankind has tried to explain it in his own way. It really is sad that you would choose to trust in your own understanding of God’s creation as opposed to trusting in His own word. You mock it and call it “the old book” and you call Him a liar when you say it is not true. Each one knows God to exist. Man is without excuse. You can make up every last excuse and attempt to provide as much evidence as possible against His existence, but each and every one of you knows God to exist. Your sin has blinded you of this truth however and this is why you mock God and persecute those who’s faith is in Him.
I know, because I was once just as you. Thankfully, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to suffer and die and pay the price for those sins. God provided a way out of damnation, which we brought upon ourselves. And YES, I’m not afraid to tell you all that Hell is real and that those who’s faith is not in the salvation that is Christ, will go there. He did provide a way out though, and it is you who must accept this. God is a loving God, but He is also to be feared. He is all powerful and you are on dangerous ground when you mock Him.
Go ahead, ban me from the site for “evangelizing” as you put it, but its my duty as one who knows the truth to make an attempt to give it to others.
“I was once just as you.”
No.
You weren’t.
The reason people here reject your religion is not because they don’t know about it. We reject it because we know more about your religion than you do. The only way to get to where you are from where I am is a lobotomy.
Save your pity, and instead redirect that into making your own life and those of the people around you better. Pause to give a damn about the world around you rather than some prize after death.
To glorify stupidity, advertise it as humility. There is no creator, why do you call us wicked for acknowledging the great truth, which you fail to acknowledge? You cower in your biblical worship, not daring to seem not humble, of all things. There is a lot to be humble about, and in awe of, without pretending there’s a creator and a heaven and a hell. God has offered no proof of his existence, you are just taught to frame your perception as “proof,” and that the real answers are humans denying god’s existence. To know whom? Who is there? Why do you think it’s your duty to tell us, to warn us, when you yourself have no knowledge that there is a god, because there is no god. Whatever you perceive him to be true is keeping you stupid.. or you can continue to believe that it is humble not to question, not to use the brain in your head. It is too wicked to use the brain, And I shall let it go to waste my whole life, And I am sure I’m going to heaven!
“Though God has given us infinite amounts of proof of His existence”
Infinite?! Great! Please provide us with just one scrap then.
BTW your name is awfully presumptuous. You better hope heaven isn’t run by Thor.