Thoughts on the Existence of the Universe

[LittleNipper]

Little Nipper meet mirror.

My faith rests upon a book that has transformed lives and been the foundation for Western Society --- including the United States. It concern for the salvation of all men was and is the only document that fostered an end to slavery. Harriet Beecher Stow was a fervent Christian and the writer of many Christian Hymns. But she is most noted for Uncle Tom's Cabin.

[aitm]

The "western world" widely accepts the "new" testament, ignoring the part of the new testament where jesus specifically champions the OT as the prevailing law,, the law where your "god" demands that babies be slaughtered and little girls be raped. You are welcome to worship a piece of shit like that, but you earn no points for being a sick pervert in this house.

[LittleNipper]

The "western world" widely accepts the "new" testament, ignoring the part of the new testament where jesus specifically champions the OT as the prevailing law,, the law where your "god" demands that babies be slaughtered and little girls be raped. You are welcome to worship a piece of s__t like that, but you earn no points for being a sick pervert in this house.

Christ perfectly fulfilled God's LAW. If one trusts in Christ, one is found righteous in God's sight because of what Christ accomplished and finished. How many babies are aborted yearly? Do you blame God or man?

[Baruch]

Alas, early Christian theologians didn't understand what "fulfill" means.  But then Paul didn't either, who was introducing a new deity different from that of the Torah.

[Mr.Obvious]

Christ perfectly fulfilled God's LAW. If one trusts in Christ, one is found righteous in God's sight because of what Christ accomplished and finished. How many babies are aborted yearly? Do you blame God or man?

Naturally occuring abortions far outwheigh man-made ones.
I'd blame that one on the creator, if there were one.

[josephpalazzo]

Most hospitals, on the other hand, have long realized the power of spiritual healing. And there has been research to suggest it is very real.

The funny part in these research studies is that if you substitute humans with yeast or bacteria, you get similar results. Unless you are prepared that accept that yeast and bacteria have a spiritual nature then you have to think something else is happening in those studies. LOL.

[LittleNipper]

The funny part in these research studies is that if you substitute humans with yeast or bacteria, you get similar results. Unless you are prepared that accept that yeast and bacteria have a spiritual nature then you have to think something else is happening in those studies. LOL.

So atheists actually believe yeast or bacteria pray? And here I didn't think it was desirable to take yeast or bacteria into a hospital much less attempt to heal them...

[Hakurei Reimu]

So atheists actually believe yeast or bacteria pray? And here I didn't think it was desirable to take yeast or bacteria into a hospital much less attempt to heal them...

Are you joking, or serious?

[LittleNipper]

Are you joking, or serious?

Quote from: josephpalazzo on Today at 06:47:46 AM

The funny part in these research studies is that if you substitute humans with yeast or bacteria, you get similar results. Unless you are prepared that accept that yeast and bacteria have a spiritual nature then you have to think something else is happening in those studies. LOL

Was Josephalazzo joking or serious?

[Sargon The Grape]

So atheists actually believe yeast or bacteria pray?

No, we think prayer has nothing to do with reactions to the treatment.

Ancient medicine often included lots of ritual. There weren't as many people back then to test and document this stuff, so a lot of it was passed down orally: known, but not understood. We as a species have gotten better about that, but there are still things we do today where this applies; however, you are just as misguided as the ancients if you think "I don't know, therefore God" is an adequate explanation to fill in the gaps. "God of the Gaps" is not an insult: it's a description.

[Blackleaf]

My faith rests upon a book that has transformed lives and been the foundation for Western Society --- including the United States. It concern for the salvation of all men was and is the only document that fostered an end to slavery. Harriet Beecher Stow was a fervent Christian and the writer of many Christian Hymns. But she is most noted for Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Just like in every other population, there are good people and bad people in the Christian population. And just like in every religious population, the people they like are the "real [insert religious affiliation here]," while all the ones they don't like "don't count." What you think you see in God "working through" people is exactly what Muslims think they see in their people.

Christianity didn't end slavery. Some used their faith as a justification to end slavery, but those in favor of slavery also used their faith to justify their position. And out of the two, the latter has the most Biblical evidence for the use of slavery, with God giving orders to go out and make slaves of their enemies. If the tables were turned, and the Confederates had won, they would have also claimed to have had God on their side.

[Solomon Zorn]

Atheists are no more honest or dishonest than anyone else.

I can report that that I am a lot more honest now than when I was a Christian. But I have met a somewhat dishonest atheist as well. So I tend to agree, based on my limited experience. But whether I agree or not, you're just pulling this statement out of your head, without any facts or stats to warrant it.

Though if one depends on evolution for his/her livelihood, they may hold to what they have been taught in order to pass and ultimately get a job at an institution that embraces only secular reasoning.

Reverend Billy Graham may have sucked a few politicians cocks over the years. But suggesting a thing is possible, is a long way from showing it is actually happening.

Most hospitals, on the other hand, have long realized the power of spiritual healing. And there has been research to suggest it is very real.

WRONG! The research shows the opposite: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/health/31pray.html?_r=1&;

[reasonist]

My faith rests upon a book that has transformed lives and been the foundation for Western Society --- including the United States. It concern for the salvation of all men was and is the only document that fostered an end to slavery. Harriet Beecher Stow was a fervent Christian and the writer of many Christian Hymns. But she is most noted for Uncle Tom's Cabin.

...and yet the good book caused slavery in the first place and was used to defend it. I am sure you read about the American civil war. The bible didn't end slavery because it actually endorses it throughout.

[stromboli]

My faith rests upon a book that has transformed lives and been the foundation for Western Society --- including the United States. It concern for the salvation of all men was and is the only document that fostered an end to slavery. Harriet Beecher Stow was a fervent Christian and the writer of many Christian Hymns. But she is most noted for Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Your faith is based on a work of fiction. Adam and Eve is taken from Babylonian mythology
http://apocryphabookofadamandeve.blogspot.com/2012/11/babylonian-origins-of-creation-myth-of.html

Noah's Ark didn't happen. It was also based on Babylonian myth.
http://time.com/44631/noah-christians-flood-aronofsky/

Exodus didn't happen.
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Evidence_for_the_Exodus

Jesus never existed
http://www.listland.com/top-10-reasons-jesus-christ-never-existed/

The diaspora didn't happen.
http://www.americanfreepress.net/html/jewishnationmythl_101408.html

You holy book was invented by people to justify their political and cultural supremacy over followers.

Many of the people on this forum, including me, have an extensive religious background. We STUDIED religion. I read the Bible through first in Mormon Seminary and later in an Assembly of God church challenge. Guess what? Both religions, which are quite different, use the bible as a means to justify their beliefs. They pick different scriptures to support their beliefs- cherry picking. I went to 6 different Christian churches after leaving Mormonism. Every single denomination has a different take than the others.

Calvinists read different scriptures than Free Will Baptists. Assembly of God cite scripture to justify their belief in speaking in tongues. Free Will Baptists cite other scriptures to show it is a waste of time. Get the point? Religion is failing. People are leaving in droves. Know why? Its the information age. We can now find out anything we want.

Its called Google. Use it.

[LittleNipper]

...and yet the good book caused slavery in the first place and was used to defend it. I am sure you read about the American civil war. The bible didn't end slavery because it actually endorses it throughout.

Who told you that? The Vikings had slaves. The Barbarians had slaves. The Romans had slaves. The Greeks had slaves. The Egyptians had slaves. None of them looked to the Bible for inspiration. The South abused the teachings of the Bible to suit their own needs. The Bible clearly stated that slaves were not to be abused  and if they were hurt, they were to be freed. The New Testament actually builds the case for a Christian servant and a Christian master as being equals. And it seems that such a thought would have been appalling to many southern slave owners but not to someone reading Darwin's book.

Most 19th century promoters of evolution believed that race was an acceptable illustration of evolution. I know of no 19th century evolutionist who theorized that whites and blacks were co-equal intellectually. However, many Fundamentalist Evangelical Christians accepted Blacks as equals and wasted no time trying to share the Gospel with the down trodden brothers and sisters.