The bible; Godly knowledge; leads us to do the things that we ought to be doing
I disagree. I think that if we would organize society according to biblical rules, it would resemble current islamic theocracies more then it would free western secular democracies. There's quite a few "oughts" in that book that I would heavily oppose. And to be honest, I think you'ld oppose some of them as well.
This is the moral component often missing that makes problem solving difficult. You cited cancer, among other illnesses. The question is, can cancer be reduced by simple lifestyle changes, mainly diet? Doctors seem to think so. Same with heart disease.
Some cancers can, others can't. Lots of cancers are also caused by human activity, regardless of life styles. Take asbest... Used to be a common construction material. It causes cancer. Once that was discovered (through scientific means), did regulation come to limit or even forbid using it.
So how did the bible suggest to deal with this problem? How come bible reading folks didn't warn people of the dangers of asbest before science discovered it?
You say "doctors seem to think so". Doctors base there findings on medical science - not on the bible, you realise that right?
Is the absurdity of your claim starting to sink in yet?
So why don't people change to a more healthful diet? If you know that simple changes are beneficial why not change. This is not a scientific question, but a moral one.
So your claim is that without the bible, people have no reason to try being and staying healthy?
Your questions are leading down a rabbit hole.
It seems to me that you are the one trapped in a hole.
But consider this. Many problems suffer from lack of funding, caused by the funding of other problems that take precedence......like crime for example. Do you see the greater moral component? Add to that that the criminal justice system is a mess and you have problem upon problem, caused by sinful human nature. Even the diseases you mentioned have a moral component.
That's a whole bunch of claims. And then there's the implicit claim that all this is because people neglect the bible.
I say it's a combination of factors - none of which have anything to do with the bible.
Factors like bad education, discrimination, poverty, bad health care, bad luck, mental problems, ... and at the back of the line just bad people who'll engage in crime no matter how good they have it or not.
Some of these factors can be addressed, some can't. You can't address bad luck, for example. But you an provide safety nets for people that encounter it.
None of this requires a bible.
Lots of it will be done, in spite of the bible though.
Consider the spread of ebola, through the ritual touching of the infected person by others, who refuse to comply with the clear instructions of science not to do so. Another moral component.
Of science, ey?
Peel back the layers of any problem and you'll find the morally weak and sinful nature of man. Science doesn't have a chance against that.
So, really, you're just making the moral argument here, with your claims about "solutions to problems". Essentially, your claim is that without the bible, there is no morality.
That's obvious nonsense.
I don't require a biblical motivation to act morally. And I certainly don't need it to instruct me on what is and isn't moral, nore do I even agree that what it instructs is actually moral.
A final word about disease. Isn't it curious that as we find cures for one disease another quickly takes it's place?
Not if you understand how evolution works. ;-)
We are never free of disease, despite our best efforts.
Sure. What's your point?
This is just as bad as theft, telling another to take something that doesn't belong to them. Got an "AI" for that?
