A question to Atheists...

[DaneaFL]

The pattern I saw was one where reductionism was getting debunked.

Debunked? So what's your proof that anything we observe anywhere is anything more than the sum of it's parts?

Or are you just opposing religious reductionism because it demystifies Christianity and actually offers real explanations for things?

I know that you want your religion to forever remain this mystical, intangible, spiritual, hoodoo-voodoo phenomena so that you can keep believing that it is special... but the hard facts are that all religions have perfectly natural explanations for all their phenomena.

 

[Gracchus]

Designed by...?

The Raelians? The Flying Spaghetti Monster? Apparently, you are one those who thinks everything was designed by an omnipotent, omniscient, benevolent god. Judas Iscariot was a necessary tool used in that strange plan of "salvation".

"For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." (Gal 6:8)

What has that to do with the subject under discussion/

"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live" (Deut 30:19)

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you reason and dementia, order and chaos. Now choose reason, so that you and your children may live.

(Ecc 15:11-20)

It was all good, all according, to a perfect plan by an omnipotent, omniscient, benevolent creator, but now there are parts he hates. For an omniscient eternal being, he sure changes his mind a lot!

(Wisdom 6:1-11)

Who wrote that? do you think you can obscure facts, (Your own "facts"!) and reasoning (Your own "reasoning"!) by burying them in a pile of irrelevant quotations?

I have a Bible, several in fact, in various versions and languages. I've even read one or two of them from start to finish, so you needn't quote at length. A citation will do.

But ... You are not dealing with the points raised. You are merely piling up biblical "ad homs" and threats.

 

[Metal Minister]

This thread held such promise, and I had hoped for so much more...

 

[Gracchus]

I would like to ask a question of atheists who post on these forums. A lot has been made of evolution not having anything to do with origins (abiogenesis) but that it only works after life has begun. With that being said, where do you personally feel life originated from? This is not an attack, or even a true debate. I am genuinely curious. I may offer my input from time to time, and of course anyone can freely discuss what's brought up, but mostly I am just curious. Thanks!

May God Richly Bless You! MM

This thread held such promise, and I had hoped for so much more...

What did you hope for?

Yu have been given several citations. The discussion wandered off-topic , to be sure. Religious people, including the mods, much prefer a derailed thread to a thread that cuts to religious paradoxes underlying literal biblical interpretations and doctrines. And, if yu want science, you can google "abiogenesis", or even read a book!

 

[Naraoia]

Kudos for that. That's a very good approach. I'm glad you don't take offense, as I realize I can be a little too direct and undiplomatic sometimes.

To help you understand atheism better: Atheists as a general rule don't think that Christians or other theists have met their burden of proof. That's really all it boils down to. We see people making claims about an invisible being that doesn't appear to manifest itself in any measurable way, and they don't appear to back their claims up with anything solid.

That said, I can sympathize that it will be difficult to understand the atheist mindset as I'm sure you're are deeply attached to your beliefs, they are no doubt a huge part of your life and you feel that their veracity is verified through your experiences. It can be difficult to step outside of one's own head and into another, especially when it comes to strong convictions. This weakness applies to all of us.

Peter

Since we started bringing up YouTubers, I'd like to mention Evid3nc3's deconversion series as another of my favourites. Those videos literally had me tearing up at times.

I'm not sure I would recommend them to MetalMinister, though. I have a feeling that they might be even more emotionally dangerous to the sort of smart and curious (ex-)theist they were made by.

Debunked? So what's your proof that anything we observe anywhere is anything more than the sum of it's parts?

Sometimes, things are the sum of their parts and their interactions

However, he does make me curious as to these proofs, since him being The Greg, I don't think it's emergence he has in mind...

 

[Davian]

I would like to ask a question of atheists who post on these forums. A lot has been made of evolution not having anything to do with origins (abiogenesis) but that it only works after life has begun. With that being said, where do you personally feel life originated from? This is not an attack, or even a true debate. I am genuinely curious. I may offer my input from time to time, and of course anyone can freely discuss what's brought up, but mostly I am just curious. Thanks!

I found this lecture on the subject interesting:

Genesis: The Scientific Quest for Lifes Origins - YouTube

and as time allows I have been slowly working through his other lectures on the subject:

The Great Courses - Origins of Life