Creation & EvolutionForum for the discussion of this important topic. This forum is open to non-believers. There is a Christians-only forum in the Christians-only section too.
Forgive me if this topic has been raised many times before.
Why were deadly viruses and bacteria included in the grand design? Doesn't seem too intelligent to me, more like sadistic.
Your dealing with two different things here. First of all a virus is RNA and even though we do not understand what went wrong we do know that RNA and DNA are essential to life and reproduction. Bacteria also is essential as anyone with a garden can tell you. Bacteria breaks down the old plants to be used as fertilizer for the new crop so we can produce food to eat. It is just that we live in a world with so much death that sometimes the bacteria gets confused and starts to break down a organism to soon.
We have a situation here where we live in a "fallen" world and things do not function the way God created or intended for them to work. He is in the process of restoring this world back to His intention and purpose. But He is doing that over a period of time. A 7,000 year period of time. That may seem like a lot of time to us, but if the world is really billions of years old, then a few thousand years should not matter all that much.
It is just that we live in a world with so much death that sometimes the bacteria gets confused and starts to break down a organism to soon.
This is interesting. Do you mean that normally "placid" bacteria sometimes suffer mass confusion and start attacking live cells instead of dead cells, leading to the death of their "victim"? Or are you saying that some benign bacteria have evolved to become deadly varieties?
Originally Posted by JohnR7
We have a situation here where we live in a "fallen" world and things do not function the way God created or intended for them to work. He is in the process of restoring this world back to His intention and purpose. But He is doing that over a period of time. A 7,000 year period of time. That may seem like a lot of time to us, but if the world is really billions of years old, then a few thousand years should not matter all that much.
Is that in the bible? When did the 7000 years start?
Your dealing with two different things here. First of all a virus is RNA and even though we do not understand what went wrong we do know that RNA and DNA are essential to life and reproduction.
So what?
Bacteria also is essential as anyone with a garden can tell you. Bacteria breaks down the old plants to be used as fertilizer for the new crop so we can produce food to eat. It is just that we live in a world with so much death that sometimes the bacteria gets confused and starts to break down a organism to soon.
So the ebola virus usually is a friendly little critter content with helping the local farmers, but every now and then, it spontaneously decides to dissolve some major arteries, leaving its victims internally bleeding to death and literally puking their guts out. I see.
We have a situation here where we live in a "fallen" world and things do not function the way God created or intended for them to work
So the ebola virus did what, exactly, before the fall?
He is in the process of restoring this world back to His intention and purpose. But He is doing that over a period of time. A 7,000 year period of time. That may seem like a lot of time to us, but if the world is really billions of years old, then a few thousand years should not matter all that much.
Actually, John, a virus can have either a RNA or DNA based genome.
Originally Posted by JohnR7
and even though we do not understand what went wrong
Nothing. Viruses and the plethora of bacteria reproduce very successfully.
Originally Posted by JohnR7
It is just that we live in a world with so much death that sometimes the bacteria gets confused and starts to break down a organism to soon.
John, seriously. This is complete claptrap. The bacteria does not get "confused".
Originally Posted by JohnR7
We have a situation here where we live in a "fallen" world
Heh. Before I'd read through the replies, I was going to make one prediction. And that was: The FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALL!
__________________ "This isn't right... This isn't even wrong" - Wolfgang Pauli
"Yes, the long war on Christianity. I pray that one day we may live in an America where Christians can worship freely! In broad daylight! Openly wearing the symbols of their religion…. perhaps around their necks? And maybe — dare I dream it? — maybe one day there can be an openly Christian President. Or, perhaps, 43 of them. Consecutively." - Jon Stewart
This is interesting. Do you mean that normally "placid" bacteria sometimes suffer mass confusion and start attacking live cells instead of dead cells, leading to the death of their "victim"? Or are you saying that some benign bacteria have evolved to become deadly varieties?
According to the Bible we are dead in our sin anyways. I was just trying to explain that bacteria can be a good thing. It is a vital part of the world we live in. Even they say we need it in our digestive track to break down the food so we can digest it.
Is that in the bible? When did the 7000 years start?
According to the Bible creation took 7 days, or at least 6 days and God "rested" on the seventh day. Then man fell into sin and it is taking another 7 days or 7,000 years to restore mankind back to God purpose and intention. All of this started back at the end of the last ice age.
John, seriously. This is complete claptrap. The bacteria does not get "confused".
The Bible says we are either dead to sin or we are dead in sin. So I guess the bacteria is just doing what God intended for it to do. It is our choice if we want sickness or health, life or death.
Deut. 30:15-16
"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, [16] in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.
According to the Bible we are dead in our sin anyways. I was just trying to explain that bacteria can be a good thing. It is a vital part of the world we live in. Even they say we need it in our digestive track to break down the food so we can digest it.
I was hoping you could explain the mechanism for bacteria confusion that you touched on earlier.
Originally Posted by JohnR7
According to the Bible creation took 7 days, or at least 6 days and God "rested" on the seventh day. Then man fell into sin and it is taking another 7 days or 7,000 years to restore mankind back to God purpose and intention. All of this started back at the end of the last ice age.
Are you saying that one day for God is really a thousand years? Not sure if that would fit in with the bible genesis account too well.
Has no one thought, "Hey, you know what?? Maybe G-d made deadly viruses to weed out the weaklings." When you think about it we are complicated mammals and with I'll say "less complex" animals its survival of the fittest. I think that when you stop this whole giving of medicine thing you will see once the weaklings die off we will be more prosperous. I think that partially because I'm allergic to penicillin. I have a severe reaction when i take that. So i have stopped taking that a long time ago. I have survived strep throat many times without your precious medication. I try not to be to hypocritical about it so I only get things like vaccines when they are required, like to go to school.
Linear Mode
