Dinosaurs on the Ark: How It Was Possible

AV1611VET said:

I'm trying to get on the same page with you and play Devil's Advocate by saying Heaven was made up as a place for our loved ones to meet.

But then, why taint such a beautiful story by making up the idea of Hell?

If it's out of fear, as you say, are you assuming that made-up utopian story backfired on them in the form of another place that is just the opposite?

I don't believe Christianity was made up, just to get people to believe in a place where they can see their loved ones after they're gone; since Hell is a part of that Christian story as well.

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I mean, a story where you are eternal and you will either be eternally rewarded or eternally punished is quite compelling. There's the promise of reward and the fear of punishment and they can work together for maximum motivation.

Hans Blaster said:

That's a really odd thing for someone who grew from a single-celled organism to say.

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Actually, I had a mother....

myst33 said:

If the sky was green or yellow or silver, would you say its ugly, just because its not blue?

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Why should color even exist?

Subduction Zone said:

Arguments from ignorance and claims that you cannot back up are never very convincing.

Meanwhile scientists go on answering the questions of how we evolved.

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Actually they don't. They have some very shakey guesses at best.

Subduction Zone said:

"Beauty" is merely the recognition that one is in a hospitable environment. If one was in an environment unsuited for survival we would avoid it. That is why the caldera of an active volcano is amazing, but nothing in it welcomes you in. Don't you think that it might be an evolutionary advantage to avoid such things? Raging flood water, hmm, better avoid it. Evolutionary advantage. Rapidly rising tide on a large flat, hmm, better avoid it. Evolutionary advantage.

Just because a person does not understand an evolutionary advantage does not mean that one does not exist.

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Lol, but all those dangerous things are still beautiful. And that doesn't really work, at least not for thrill seekers. If it's such an advantage, why are we drawn to the ocean for example? It's a dangerous place, but danger is so often enticing and beautiful.

Art has no " evolution advantage". It's a spiritual pull for our souls, like everything in life that actually matters. Why do we admire the person that gives their life to save another? Terrible idea for survival, but praiseworthy because it's a reflection of divinity.

renniks said:

Why should color even exist?

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I mean, in one sense, colors don't really exist. Colors are how our brains interpret reflected light waves received via our eyes. We have three types of cones (for red, blue, and green) in our eyes that allow us to see the colors we do. Some creatures have fewer types of cones and some more. So there are animals that can see colors that we cannot.

Our eyes are not windows that a homunculus is looking out from. Our brain is creating what we are seeing.

Gene Parmesan said:

God stories are a crutch that make understanding the universe easy.

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And this is bad, why?

Gene Parmesan said:

I mean, in one sense, colors don't really exist. Colors are how our brains interpret reflected light waves received via our eyes. We have three types of cones (for red, blue, and green) in our eyes that allow us to see the colors we do. Some creatures have fewer types of cones and some more. So there are animals that can see colors that we cannot.

Our eyes are not windows that a homunculus is looking out from. Our brain is creating what we are seeing.

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I'm talking about humans. It's like the world was made with us in mind.

renniks said:

Lol, but all those dangerous things are still beautiful. And that doesn't really work, at least not for thrill seekers. If it's such an advantage, why are we drawn to the ocean for example? It's a dangerous place, but danger is so often enticing and beautiful.

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Who knows. Maybe it's because we've all evolved from aquatic life and a part of us still finds comfort in the place our ancestors called home. But I don't know that it matters so much.

renniks said:

Art has no " evolution advantage". It's a spiritual pull for our souls, like everything in life that actually matters. Why do we admire the person that gives their life to save another? Terrible idea for survival, but praiseworthy because it's a reflection of divinity.

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There are different types of selection processes that impact the evolution of a species. Group selection is one of those. Showing that you can sacrifice for the good of the group is received well by your tribe. Some folks just have a stronger instinct for the good of others than some other people. You actually see sacrifice even in a lot of different animals species which has helped them to survive.

renniks said:

And this is bad, why?

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I didn't say it was bad since my determination of whether I like something or not is any indication if the thing is true or not.

Religious thinking can lead to behaviors I would call bad though. We can all think of examples if we look to religions other than our own.

renniks said:

I'm talking about humans. It's like the world was made with us in mind.

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You just moments ago described the oceans as dangerous to humans. The surface of our world is primarily oceans.

Of course, if the creatures in there could ponder their existence, they would say it would seem like the world was made with them in mind.

Gene Parmesan said:

There are different types of selection processes that impact the evolution of a species. Group selection is one of those. Showing that you can sacrifice for the good of the group is received well by your tribe. Some folks just have a stronger instinct for the good of others than some other people. You actually see sacrifice even in a lot of different animals species which has helped them to survive.

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Talking to people who believe in evolution is like talking to politicians. They see everything as evidence for evolution even if it directly contradicts it.

Gene Parmesan said:

You just moments ago described the oceans as dangerous to humans. The surface of our world is primarily oceans.

Of course, if the creatures in there could ponder their existence, they would say it would seem like the world was made with them in mind.

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If you are a believer, why do you support so many non biblical ideas? God gave us dominion on this world. We are a special creation, not animals. These are basic biblical truths.

renniks said:

Talking to people who believe in evolution is like talking to politicians. They see everything as evidence for evolution even if it directly contradicts it.

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If you think group selection contradicts evolution, I'd be curious how you define group selection? Please explain the contradiction.

renniks said:

Who doesn't find the natural world beautiful?

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Way too many people.
Otherwise we wouldn't rape it the way we are.

renniks said:

And this is bad, why?

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Do you use crutches when you don't need them?

renniks said:

Why should color even exist?

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Because light comes in different frequencies. Information is carried by what frequencies are reflected. Being able to detect that information is an evolutionary asset.

renniks said:

I'm talking about humans. It's like the world was made with us in mind.

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Just as it would look to a sentient mud puddle that the depression that it was in was constructed with it in mind.

renniks said:

Actually they don't. They have some very shakey guesses at best.

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False. Simply because you don't understand the answers does not make them shaky at all.