Skyman747 Posted:

QFT, although I would say “unopen” instead. The majority of Humans will not accept new ideas, as they grew up with god and they will pbum god down to their children, thus sealing us in religions. The small percentage that don’t pbum down to their children are the only ones helping the race move along.

You do realize some people actually think about religion without blindly swallowing it their entire life?

Of course that’s true.

Perception governs the universe. Even quantum physics states that perception gives the world its order, since the universe is a cloud of probability instead of a physical place. (Think Schrodinger’s cat)

To someone tripping on acid, the wall might be talking to him and revealing life’s mysteries. It isn’t doing the same for you in your reality, but to him, that’s what reality is. It’s entirely subjective.

No, nihilism is believing in nothing whatsoever.

Not believing the world has no inherent meaning. You would dispute the claim that atheists don’t see the world as being anything more than a cosmic accident?

Shii Posted:

You would dispute the claim that atheists don’t see the world as being anything more than a cosmic accident?

I never said that.

Religion is in a sense a sandbox that artificially limits intellectual growth in order to provide a more simple and unified (although illogical) worldview that presents existence in an easy to understand form. Knowledge raises sometimes uncomfortable questions. Some people would rather compartmentalize their life and believe in a fairy tale than deal with them.

Except the notion that religion is sort of inimical to intelligence or logical thought is a complete fallacy.

I believe in God and the teachings of Christ because throughout all my research of science, evolution, and other religions, I have yet to find anything that remotely proves it wrong, or even makes it seem unlikely.

I will not deny that many, many people believe Christian doctrine because they were told too and “it’s right because it is.” I’m saying that for those of us who do question, and do research and look into questions of faith and doctrine, it’s still every bit as valid.

Shii Posted:

Except the notion that religion is sort of inimical to intelligence or logical thought is a complete fallacy.

Your religion says X.

Science says Y.

What do you do?

I’m not saying atheists don’t live and enjoy life, Tesfan. Now you’re making non sequiturs.

I’m saying that they try to make the most out of life because it’s fleeting, and they believe nothing else is coming afterwards. There is no great anything watching over them, so there’s no overarching meaning to life besides human morality.

Also, I have yet to see where science says X and religion says Y that can’t be reconciled. I find Christianity is more supported by science than disproved.

Countless paradoxes do indeed plague Christianity.

DarkDespair5 Posted:

Evolution. Earth created in X days. Jesus’ supposed reincarnation.

Etc.

http://www.nobeliefs.com/DarkBible/DarkBibleContents.ht

Evolution works just fine with Christianity.

The problem with Christians today is that they have no clue of how proper exegesis works, or how to apply hermeneutics when reading the Scriptures.

They claim everything in the Bible is literal, when it’s obvious that’s not possible. Jesus speaks in parables, obvious hyperbole in many places, some of the apostles use sarcasm, and many books are written in poetic verse and symbolism.

The creation story is symbolic. While God COULD’VE made the entire world in 6 days, it’s naive to bumume that because that’s what the literal interpretation is, that’s how it happened.

For example, the sun, moon, and stars weren’t created until the 3rd day, so until then, there would be no concept of what a ‘day’ actually was. Also, for an immortal God, the Bible frequently says things equivalent to “a million years is a blink of an eye to the Lord.”

The ‘day’ utilized in the creation epic is a literary device that allows ancient listeners to comprehend the work of a vastly powerful, supreme creator.

And no, you’re right, the resurrection isn’t accounted for by pure science. And to try to scientifically come up with a method for it would be to rob it of it’s significance and miraculousness. However, Jesus Christ was recorded as a major prophet by no less than 5 secular historians, including the Jewish historian Josephus, as well as Tacitus. Both recorded his trials, crucifixion, and burial. I’ve heard that they also record that the body disappeared from the tomb, but I’m not going to pretend I know that for sure. I’m honest with the spots of my learning I’m fuzzy on.

Evolution, on the other hand, is silly to try to disprove. We see the work of evolution going on in our own society. Look at how humans have increased in size over the last 100 years. We’re on average like 8 inches taller. Obviously, taller men get the genes pbumed on more frequently.

I was an Anthropology major for two years, so I know my evolutionary theory. And I fail to see why the laws of science and nature couldn’t have been set in place by the Creator.