Ask a lurker anything.

[Michael]

Haha, sorry, my phone died the other day and I'm running out of time for now, I'll try and reply more frequently now that I know I have some eyes on me

Hey! Congrats on the transition from lurker to a full fledged member of our little community, complete with your own thread! Very cool, and welcome.

From the perspective of psychology I think you'll find that it's a rewarding transition from lurker to participant, well, usually anyway.

 

[Michael]

The "Controversy" for me was reconciling what I had been taught in Church with the real world. I believe science is the best attempt we have at understanding God's nature/role/"plan" with what we have available to us. and as such don't buy into the fundamentalist/literalist approach to the bible. It took time for me to accept that I can believe the message of Jesus Christ without adhering to any of the superfluous doctrines and dogmas man has used to assert authority/knowledge.

Amen to that. In my particular case that involved a nine year stint as a self professed "atheist" before I finally worked it out. Some of the "dogma" of "Christianity" has absolutely NOTHING to do with the teachings of Christ. It took me awhile, and some actual study of history to figure that out.

 

[Lampshade]

Back again on my mobile at work, so I'll try and do the best I can with my dwindling battery life.

Top 5 arguments, Top 5 dream team

I'll have to sit down tonight to flesh this out properly, so for now I'll just say what I believe is counterproductive for each side.
For me, arguments from hard literalists falter when they require the world to be entirely contrary to what we/experts/professionals find when studying nature. Also, while I encourage skepticism, I don't get the impression that ID/Creationists really respect the people who spend their lives studying the natural world. If I get sick, I go to the doctor; if my car breaks down, I go to a mechanic. Just because we may differ on world views doesn't change their findings/results or methodology (Hopefully).

On the other side of the spectrum Manners matter people. I know it can be hard to discuss topics to a layperson, and even harder when said layperson is ingrained in a differing world view, or are coming off as hostile to your view/profession/education. This isn't to say the ID/Creationist/Literalis side isn't guilty of this too, however, I see frustration popping up on the secular/scientific side of the argument than on the other.
Well, this isn't exactly where I wanted to go so I'll leave it at that for now and give a real answer when I'm sitting at my desk.

I hope you get a chance to answer all the questions that have been asked so far (especially mine). But, the more you say, the more questions it generates.

I agree with the above quote, but wonder if this is just an opinion or if there are studies to back it up.

Thanks! When I get home I'll try to find some studies for you on the subject instead of just assertions.

 

[Lampshade]

So you really do not think the people in the Bible are real people. You think they are the product of someone's imagination. Or you think they are real but people just make up a lot of stories about them?

It doesn't matter to me. If, for your faith, you need Jacob and Esau to be real historical people, then have at it. What I dont want to see is someone contorting the fact that "God hated Esau" and turned away from the life and morals of Jesus Christ. Whether they existed or not doesn't take away from what we learn from the stories. My biggest problem with a strict literal inperpretation is the number of stumbling blocks and loops one must jump through at times to reconcile the bible with the natural world.

For what its worth, I think most biblical figures existed, though whether they were responsible for everything attributed to them is dubious, and not altogether important to me. I call myself a Red Letter Christian, so aside from the red text, I'm not tied to anything.

 

[Lampshade]

I don't agree with that "nicene creed". Only "catholics" are entitled to agree with that "nicene creed", perhaps. I don't consider Christians, "catholic".

I may be mistaken, but while Catholics and other sects are required to accept the creed, I dobut if you went to any Protestant chuch that you'd get anyone to raise their hand if you asked, "Who here rejects the Nicene Creed?"

An anecdote:
One semester, I took a class entitled "Death and Dying." During the the first class, the professor touched on the subject of religious beliefs effecting perceptions of death, especially non-catholic/non-protestant world views. Eventually she asked for a show of hands of non-catholic/non-protestants and if they would mind telling their faith, and was floored when 90% of the class raised their hands! She began going around the room asking each person. The replies? "Baptist, baptist, baptist..."

Well, my mobile is dying shortly so that's it for now! Back in a few hours hopefully.

 

[Jro]

What should I cook for dinner tonight?