What are your beliefs on religion, god?

[ABM]

There is just mountains of verifiable evidence for a Big Bang.

I happen to believe in the Big Bang theory: Yep, God spoke and BANG! it came into existence!

 

[magnifier661]

The primary appeal of religion is that it has (or CLAIMS to have) answers for all of these questions! What happened at the beginning of the universe? God! What happens after we die? God! Why do people suffer? God! Ok no, not that one... But you see my point? Religion is attractive precisely BECAUSE it seems to eliminate uncertainties.

Okay, but you are just talking about Religion yes? A true Scientist could accept the probability of a God existing, taking account of religious documentation as direction. Accounting that if there is a creator; that this creator would want to communicate with his creation yes? Maybe Christians got it wrong, or Buddhist, etc. Maybe Science can find the closest to this truth? Whatever the case; ruling it out completely is pretty laughable for anyone that embraces science if you ask me.

Edit: what form of language is black and white?

 

[magnifier661]

what?

What don't you understand?

 

[crowTrobot]

EXACTLY.

yes exactly. your question illustrates my point. it is only not a scientific question because the term 'best' is intentionally vague/subjective. if you define what you mean with any precision it becomes a scientific question.

this is equally true for any aesthetic or moral question.

 

[crowTrobot]

What don't you understand?

are you disputing that questions about the origin of the universe are scientific?

 

[magnifier661]

are you disputing that questions about the origin of the universe are scientific?

I am simply applying that creation can be a possibility if you can accept the possibility that mass can somehow just exist (eternity) or that if there was a beginning; then something that isn't confined by matter, space and time could create the universe.

 

[crowTrobot]

I am simply applying that creation can be a possibility if you can accept the possibility that mass can somehow just exist (eternity) or that if there was a beginning; then something that isn't confined by matter, space and time could create the universe.

cool, but i don't see the connection to what i was talking about.

 

[Denny Crane]

define best

What time is it. Really. What time is it.

 

[TripTango]

Here is something I just popped up via google.

http://www.inplainsite.org/html/bible_historical_evidence.html

TL;DR. I'm simply asking for a single example of a Biblical reference that CLEARLY couldn't have been known by its likely authors at the time if its writing. Don't give me no wall of text blog posts!

 

[crowTrobot]

The historical evidence clearly shows that the Bible is a reliable historical document. Since the Bible can be trusted in areas that we can check (its history), then this gives us a reason to trust it in areas that we cannot check (its claims for inspiration).

hopefully anyone here can see that even if the bible is historically reliable, a leap like this isn't justified. if it is everyone should check out the historicity of the illiad and start believing in Zeus.

 

[ABM]

TL;DR. I'm simply asking for a single example of a Biblical reference that CLEARLY couldn't have been known by its likely authors at the time if its writing. Don't give me no wall of text blog posts!

Micah 5:2

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans[a] of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Oh? What's the best rock song of all time, scientifically speaking?

[video=youtube;w9TGj2jrJk8]

 

[magnifier661]

hopefully anyone here can see that even if the bible is historically reliable, a leap like this isn't justified. if it is everyone should check out the historicity of the illiad and start believing in Zeus.

Possible. But then again Greek mythology has the gods actually being created. Maybe you didn't know that. And since that's the case; then how would it support the creation of the universe being created from something that isn't bound by space, matter and time.

Are there other gods that fit this criteria?

 

[Further]

I'm enjoying this thread. I think this is a pretty cool online comunity that can have a 14 page discussion on this topic and keep things civil.

 

[crowTrobot]

What time is it. Really. What time is it.

[video=youtube;8XYrqYVialk]

 

[magnifier661]

What time is it. Really. What time is it.

What are the parameters? Time on Pluto, planet z or at the end of the universe?

Question... What time is it outside the universe?

 

[crowTrobot]

[video=youtube;w9TGj2jrJk8]

the most voted for in greatest of all time countdowns anyway

 

[magnifier661]

I'm enjoying this thread. I think this is a pretty cool online comunity that can have a 14 page discussion on this topic and keep things civil.

Well you should have read the other 30 page threads. We grew to be civil! Lol

 

[SlyPokerDog]

the most voted for in greatest of all time countdowns anyway

There was a time when I thought Robert Plant was god.

 

[crowTrobot]

Possible. But then again Greek mythology has the gods actually being created. Maybe you didn't know that. And since that's the case; then how would it support the creation of the universe being created from something that isn't bound by space, matter and time.

Are there other gods that fit this criteria?

don't see the relevence. point was human mythology is typically based on actual places, people, events. the fact that the bible refers to actual places isn't evidence it's the inspired word of god, which is what the dude you linked was claiming.

 

[crowTrobot]

There was a time when I thought Robert Plant was god.

there was a time when jimmy page claims to have seen god while playing stairway to heaven. maybe god was coming to punish him for the backmasking.

 

[Further]

It's fun talking about this stuff, but the truth of the matter, for me, I really don't care if there is a god. I don't believe there is, but I don't think that I would live my life much differently if I found out I was wrong.

 

[magnifier661]

don't see the relevence. point was human mythology is typically based on actual places, people, events. the fact that the bible refers to actual places isn't evidence it's the inspired word of god, which is what the dude you linked was claiming.

Oh I feel you; but I wasn't claiming the historical evidence was proof that this was Gods word. I am just amazed that shepard and fisherman wrote a lot of historical evidence. Greek mythology had scholastic and highly educated high society write their mythology.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

there was a time when jimmy page claims to have seen god while playing stairway to heaven. maybe god was coming to punish him for the backmasking.

The first time I heard this live I thought I was seeing god.

[video=youtube;ZRXGsPBUV5g]

 

[magnifier661]

It's fun talking about this stuff, but the truth of the matter, for me, I really don't care if there is a god. I don't believe there is, but I don't think that I would live my life much differently if I found out I was wrong.

Would live your life differently if you became a father? What would happen if you found a wonderful woman? Would you change your lifestyle for them?

 

[TripTango]

yes exactly. your question illustrates my point. it is only not a scientific question because the term 'best' is intentionally vague/subjective. if you define what you mean with any precision it becomes a scientific question.

this is equally true for any aesthetic or moral question.

I believe there is a whole host of important questions that CANNOT be reduced to an empirical metric of the type you seem to be asking for.

 

[crowTrobot]

I am just amazed that shepard and fisherman wrote a lot of historical evidence.

not really.

most of the OT was first written down by jewish priests who would have been motivated to correct any historical inaccuracy in oral tradition. 1/2 of the NT was written by the apostle Paul who was a well-educated man for the day, being taught by leading jewish priests. most other NT books are of dubious/unknown authorship.

 

[TripTango]

Micah 5:2

You do realize that this is, by definition, a self-fulfilling Biblical prophecy? The Bible contains a prediction that is later found to be true -- IN THE BIBLE. Not exactly convincing to anyone but the already convinced...

 

[crowTrobot]

I believe there is a whole host of important questions that CANNOT be reduced to an empirical metric of the type you seem to be asking for.

define important : )

 

[ABM]

You do realize that this is, by definition, a self-fulfilling Biblical prophecy? The Bible contains a prediction that is later found to be true -- IN THE BIBLE. Not exactly convincing to anyone but the already convinced...

That's why they call it faith.