| Creation & Evolution Forum 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. |  | | 
29th October 2003, 12:45 PM
|  | Teleologist 26 
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Reps: 1,320 (power: 12) | | | BTW, I like that one guys signature that shows that evil is also in the hands of God. God is very much capable of carrying out acts of evil. Evil=subtraction from another, whereas Good=addition to another. Evil used justly is vengance. Evil used unjustly is hate.
It is not Good vs. Evil as much as it is the forces of Love vs. Hate. For punishment is made in love. And vengance is just if carried out by a perfect judge.
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29th October 2003, 12:48 PM
|  | Beyond Delusion 29  | | Join Date: 29th October 2003
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Evil isnt evil if its for an overall net gain of goodness | 
29th October 2003, 01:20 PM
|  | <font color="#880000" ></font>The sum of everything = zero
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__________________ "We’ve been attacked by the intelligent, educated segment of the culture," Pastor Ray Mummert speaking out against teaching evolution in Pennsylvania schools To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
The flood becomes harder and harder to support when you get more information. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. | 
29th October 2003, 03:35 PM
|  | Thief in the Night 25  | | Join Date: 30th August 2003 Location: New York
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__________________ Bushido216 | 
29th October 2003, 04:22 PM
| | Evolution =/= atheism
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Reps: 154 (power: 0) | | | Viruses can be either DNA or RNA. RNA will self assemble under certain circumstances. The RNA viruses are thought to come from that assembly, and also as parasites of early rna/dna organisms.
Some viruses are thought to be escaped bits of genetic material, hence the need of replication in the genome.
There are also virions, and other nucleic acid "things" which only infect if you already have another virus. Delta hepatitis is dependent on the human having a hepatitis b infection. Dhep cannot infect alone.
__________________ Jesus said, "If a blind person leads a blind person, both of them will fall into a hole." Thomas 34
"On blind faith they place reliance, what they need more of is science"- MC Hawking | 
29th October 2003, 04:42 PM
|  | Junior Member
 | | Join Date: 4th September 2003 Location: Lewes, EU
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Reps: 10 (power: 0) | | Originally Posted by Bushido216 I think Virii are the precursors to cells and such? Not sure.
Its very unlikely that DNA based viruses are the precursors to cells. DNA doesn't spontaneously form and it doesn't fair well outside of protective environments (either in a cell or bound up in a protein "coat"). It's more likely that viruses are "gone wrong" sections of DNA that escaped the cell and ran out of control.
I love the idea of satan being responsible of viruses. There is the stereotype of the wannabe programmer, crudely aping people who can actually write real programs, by writing computer viruses. And there sits satan, having a tantrum because he can't create/ evolve proper life, making biological viruses as a poor immitation
G. | 
29th October 2003, 05:08 PM
| | Veteran
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Reps: 207 (power: 0) | | Originally Posted by Gormless Its very unlikely that DNA based viruses are the precursors to cells. DNA doesn't spontaneously form and it doesn't fair well outside of protective environments (either in a cell or bound up in a protein "coat"). It's more likely that viruses are "gone wrong" sections of DNA that escaped the cell and ran out of control.
I love the idea of satan being responsible of viruses. There is the stereotype of the wannabe programmer, crudely aping people who can actually write real programs, by writing computer viruses. And there sits satan, having a tantrum because he can't create/ evolve proper life, making biological viruses as a poor immitation
G.
I suppose its kind of a faith-assertion, right? A bit of a bizarre one, though.
Of course the question is clearly a theological one. I don't believe pain, suffering, hang-nails, viruses, etc, are evil themselves....nor should they be considered an 'agent' of evil. If such were the case, wouldn't it be ironic that many people come to God while experiencing suffering? I believe that true evil is realized in a kind of warfare that plays out in our spiritual lives. The real evidence for it often is seen in how one *responds* to illness, pain, or suffering. Suffering can bring you closer or farther away from God. "Evil" works through a kind of internalized self-deception that consistantly takes you down the wrong path.
Just my $0.02. | 
29th October 2003, 06:27 PM
|  | Contributor

| | Join Date: 29th September 2003
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Reps: 9,402,894,558 (power: 0) | | | Wow, so god created smallpox, ebola, AIDS, polio and other deadly/debilitating viruses. What a 'great' being god is, he must truely love us. :rolleyes:
While we're on the subject, he must espeically love us for e coli, anthrax, gaune green infection(spelling, I know), and other wonderful illnesses causes by his creations.
Lets talk about Guinea worm disease..another of 'gods' creatures whos ONLY host is people. This animal causes uncomprehensible pain to those infected by it, when it emerges(which takes about a MONTH) from its host. The worm is over 3 feet long when it emerges, and its host has to take extreme care not to 'break' the worm while its emerging. If the worm breaks during the this period, the remaining worm in the host causes a massive infection usually killing the host. During the time it is emerging, the host cannot work or do daily activities for MONTHS. Even if the host is lucky enough to get the worm to leave their system peacefully, they are left with scarring and permenant crippling(since it almost always emerges from a joint).
So, when its broken down, this 'gods' creature has only one goal in life. To find a human host, infect that host, grow inside him/her, then emerge and leave the host. It causes terrible pain, and very often cripples the person permanently. This god must be a nice fellow..for creating such a monster parasite. | 
29th October 2003, 06:37 PM
|  | Teleologist 26 
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Pain, suffering, and death are only terrible if you think that these things are important. For instance, the pain a mosquitto feels when it is flattened and smeared by a human hand might be incomprehensibly more painful than if it were to somehow happen to a human.
Stoic thinking and Christian thinking are not so different. The flesh experiences awful things in order to know to avoid such circumstances. In light of "true reality"- pain, suffering, and even death are meaningless. They are only fears of the blob of flesh in your head.
If we program a computer to hate being dropped, is it cruel to drop it?
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29th October 2003, 10:20 PM
|  | Senior Contributor
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Satan can't create anything. Only God. Makes one wonder how much of God's work has been blamed on Satan. Or, perhaps. God, being Alpha and Omega, is both Good and evil.
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