I have found out something.

Hi Dasspeil, whether life has a purpose or not is a great question. The Bible says we have a purpose - to glorify God - but others of course have suggested other purposes. And still others suggest life really has no purpose, it resulted from chance.

Why should we rely on old ideas written by folks who did not have the benefit of what we have learned from the past. Obviously, if something is true it remains true yesterday, today and forever.

Lets talk a little about the physical universe. Did it have a beginning or have the stars been pretty much where they are today, eternally sparkling in the night sky? In the past some folks thought the universe had no beginning, contrary to the Bible which proclaims "In the beginning, God created...." Now of course, according to the Big Bang Theory, science believes the Bible was right, the universe did have a beginning.

Does the Bible contain words and phrases that suggest a rather limited knowledge of our universe, stuff like the ends of the earth? Yes. But these phrases simply illustrate in terminology understandable to the audience of the time, ideas like take the gospel message everywhere - to the ends of the earth.

You have many preassumptions that are grossly false. I'm a christian for spiritual reasons first and intellectually second.

Science such as intellectual design and creationism - make my faith even stronger. I'm a scientist and darwinism is more of an athiest/agnostic philosophy. Just one example out of many is that darwinism claims things improve within time. Genetically, this is false. Genes get copied the same or they make mistakes but they never improve a species. Mutations are genetic mistakes. Also, the survival of the fittest is false - a lion goes after the closest deer not the weakest or strongest.

In addition, the bible has more circumstantial evidence than anything in world. Its not because I said so, but with objective research and homework you will find this to be the case. Read the Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell (it contains circumstantial evidence that can't be refuted in a court of law). Also, Examine the Evidence by Muncaster(a former athiest), The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel (a former athiest)

Biblical Circumstantial Evidence (Scratching the Surface Only)

Internal Evidences
Prophesies that are confirmed within Bible

- Life of Christ
The Tribe of Judah, Gen 49:10 - Luke 3:23-28
(Genesis was written 4004 BC to 1689 BC)
(Luke's time period is 60-70 AD)

Royal Line of David, Jer 23:5 -Matt 1:1
(Jeremiah 760 to 698 BC)/(Matthew 60-70 AD)

Born of a Virgin, Isaiah 7:14/Matt 1:18-23
(Isaiah 760 to 698 BC)/(60-70 AD)

**I can list at least 20 more of these.
-Rise of Empires
In the book of Daniel, Chapter 2 - four kingdoms are described in the interpretation of the dream of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greek - Daniel 8:21, 10:20) and a fourth great kingdom to follow - part iron and clay - which is the Roman Empire - during this empire Christ came and the church was established - Daniel 2:44.

-Historical Accuracy
The Bible is loaded with historical statements concerning events hundreds of years ago, yet has not been proven incorrect on any.
(Bible compared to other ancient documents):
New Testament - starts at 25 years - between original and first surviving copies
Homer - starts at 500 years
Demosthenes - at 1400 years
Plato - at 1200 years
Caesar - at 1000 years

Number of Manuscript Copies
New Testament - 5,686
Homer - 643
Demosthenes - 200
Plato - 7
Caesar - 10

Consistency
Written by at least 40 men over a period of time exceeding 1400 years, and has no internal inconsistencies.



Claim of Inspiration
It claims to be spoken by God, 2 Tim 3:16-17). No other religious book makes such claims.

External Evidences
(Prophesies Outside the Bible)
These cities were prophesied to be destroyed and never be built again.
Nineveh - Nahum 1:10, 3:7,15, Zephaniah 2:13-14
Babylon - Isaiah 13:1-22)
Tyre (Ezekiel 26:1-28)

Bible before Science
He hangs the earth on nothing - Job 26:7
(Job was written at least 1000 years ago - some scholars think it could be even 3000 years ago)
Note: Man only knew this for 350 years
Earth is a sphere, Isaiah 40:22
Air has weight, Job 28:25
Gravity - Job 26:7, Job 38:31-33
Winds blow in cyclones, Eccl 1:6

Documents that Prove Bible is True
Gilgamesh Epic, The Sumerian King List, Mari Tablets, Babylonian Chronicles

Archealogoical Finds
Excavations of Ur, Location of Zoar, Ziggurats and the foundation of Tower of Babel

Isn't our true purpose in life to expand the knowledge of the human race and use it to our advantage? I mean, why should we rely on Mesopotianian theories that are thousands of years old? They barely had the intelligence of a 8 year old, lived for 20 years, and most of them couldn't read or write.

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So how many generations do you think it will take before the mighty minds of our generation are compared to that of the ramblings of a future eight year old? How long before The Greatest facts we currently have are proved wrong, and these currently held corner stones, are relabeled as "theory?" Can you list one scientific Fact that has stood the test of time? Can you name even one that that has not be changed or has been modified in any way for the last 200 years?

If our religious beliefs changed like the tides of "popular science" have, then I'm sure you or someone who believes as you do would undoubtedly point out how unstable and unreliable religious belief was, and if something were to continually change like our religion that it would be very foolish to keep putting our faith into those shifting sands.

..But as it is Our faith has not changed, and yours has. (again and again) The Faith you herald in facts, is a faith based in popular theory and corporate gain, yet we who have a faith in something besides what others are paid to believe to be true about yet another mans (ever changing) work are considered to be foolish..

Perhaps you should turn that great gift of yours on what you believe as well as what others believe, and see if what you have been taught to think will truly stand on it's own Merritt. Learn to look beyond the boundaries you been taught to look past. Take the same scale you would use on our religion, and look at your beliefs as if it were yet another religion and see how far you get.. That is If you can get past all of the mental conditioning.. If you do, you may find yourself lost.. If that is the case then, simply reach out here and someone will gladly help you find your own way. Whatever that may look like.

Religion is based on faith not science or reasoning.

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No, it isn't.

Isn't our true purpose in life to expand the knowledge of the human race and use it to our advantage?

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No, it isn't.

I mean, why should we rely on Mesopotianian theories that are thousands of years old?

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I don't know. Why should you?

They barely had the intelligence of a 8 year old, lived for 20 years, and most of them couldn't read or write.

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Are you from ancient Mesopotamia yourself? (I'm just judging from your spelling and the certainty with which you make your silly assertions.)

dasspeil said:

Religion is based on faith not science or reasoning. Isn't our true purpose in life to expand the knowledge of the human race and use it to our advantage? I mean, why should we rely on Mesopotianian theories that are thousands of years old? They barely had the intelligence of a 8 year old, lived for 20 years, and most of them couldn't read or write.

Science FTW

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I would say religion (or religious traditions) includes reason and faith. I'm not sure what you mean exactly by it not being based on science. But no, religious faith or practice has nothing to do with how gravity works, for example. And I'm not sure what you mean by relying on "Mesopotianian theories". It's not correct to say the ancients had the intelligence of an 8 year old. You probably mean they didn't have as much scientific knowledge as we do today, which is true. However, this doesn't mean they were wrong about the meaning of human life and how humans should live.

One more thing, I wouldn't dispute that humans can expand our scientific knowledge and use it to our advantage, if scientific knowledge is what you're talking about. But it's interesting that most atheists/agnostics attack religious faith as not being able to "compete" with science. Accumulating scientific knowledge is not the point of religious faith (at least not the Christian faith). The life humans are called to live by the Christian faith is the point of life. Why don't we talk about that?

dasspeil said:

Religion is based on faith not science or reasoning. Isn't our true purpose in life to expand the knowledge of the human race and use it to our advantage?

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Is it? Or is it to be the image of God in and for creation?

I mean, why should we rely on Mesopotianian theories that are thousands of years old?

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Scripture isn't a theory, it's a story. The story of God acting in and through creation to put right all that is wrong with creation. And an invitation to become part of that story.

They barely had the intelligence of a 8 year old, lived for 20 years,

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Do you seriously believe that?