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We also have varies scientists who have lied over the years to prove evolution. And you want me to trust them?
rmwilliamsll said:we have how many Christian denominations?
how many religious teachers have gone to jail in just my lifetime for financial sin or lost their pulpits for sexual sins? and that isn't even looking at the problems of heresy.
Religion seems to have no corrective procedures to it's epistemology at all.
science has a remarkably good intersubjective and public means of self-correction.
i'd propose that anyone using this argument as you do here, that science lies and Genesis or the Bible or some subset of these myriad Christian denominations teach truthfully, ought to get his head examined for something is seriously wrong, being so very unobservant of how the two systems actually operate.
Critias said:When did sin come into the world so that creation is held in bondage, even today? When did original sin happen?
Critias said:Wasn't it Satan who said 'did God really say...' Same line is used by TEs today.
I see evolution as a contradiction to what is written in Genesis 1-3. Furthermore, it puts all of the New Testament writers into speculation because each touches on events within Genesis 1-11.[/
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It only puts those authors writings into speculation if they were only referring to those passages in their literal sense instead of what those passages say about Gods relation with man. The allegorical and deeper meaning of those early passages in Genesis is what is most important and is what was being referenced. Indeed, if those passages did not have something to relay about God they would not be referenced.
Tell me how you know that Genesis 1-11 is an allegorical myth of our origin? Is because of what scientists say today, or because of Genesis itself? And if it is Genesis itself, lets talk about what specifically in Genesis makes you believe this.
I dont necessarily accept naturalistic abiogenesis. But I view Genesis 1-11 as allegory for two reasons. 1.) Our investigation of the world and universe show us a history that tells otherwise and is very convincing. Also, archaeology and history of other cultures extends far beyond that time and contradicts many of those claims and 2.) Those passages were written in a manner to relay a story that goes far beyond the literal meaning of the passages.
For instance we see God as Creator of man in His image. It shows us to have freedom that we use to disobey God and it shows the existence of our disobedience when Cain kills Abel. We have a theodicy of what would happen if God intervened to rid the world of evil (it is no coincidence that evil existed before and after Noahs boatride). In short, these passages are clearly telling a story about God and His relationship with the world and are setting the stage for Gods covenant with Abraham. Because of the deep allegorical meaning to these passages I find no reason to view them as anything but allegory.
I don't accept that God wants us to be apart from Him. I believe the work on the Cross was to draw us to Him as well as the countless acts throughout history that He has done to waken His people to turn to Him. I just cannot accept that God doesn't want us part of Him. I believe the Bible says be holy as God is Holy. We are to strive and be like Christ, not be different than Christ.
Thats not really what I meant when I said that the freedom of the creative process allowed us to become an other. Love is best expressed toward someone else. We needed the freedom of creation to become someone other than God so that we could share in a loving relationship with Him and each other. Christ showed us how to best accept Gods love and love each other at the same time. I agree we should all strive to be Christ-like although at times it seems like an impossible task.
As long as you don't let an evolutionists examine your head you should be ok. I find it wise to have an objective mind when it comes to all scientific claims. Most of the scientific papers are probably wrong.Critias said:I don't see where I justified sins of those who are Christians. Mind pointing that out for me?
I appreciate your concern for me needing to get my head examined, but I am doing alright.
I wasn't actually talking of a denomination, I was talking of the Holy Spirit, but if you feel I need my head examined for following the Holy Spirits teachings, fine by me.
stumpjumper said:Let's look at what Genesis tells us. Genesis says that Adam and Eve fell from the Garden of Eden because of an action of their doing. It does not, however, say why they ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The Hebrew word for to know is yada and it is an all encompassing verb. It means to reach for universal knowledge or create our own rules and become like gods. Each of us live out this sin every day when we try to determine what is good and what is evil instead of turning to God and following the good of what we know to be the proper action. It is actually evading the truth of good and evil and turning from God. This is universal to all humans and it is a result of freedom in our situation.
Sin came into the world when humanity was formed. In the Genesis story it is a free act of man that brought sin in the world. Without a literal Garden of Eden it is still the freedom of man that is the cause of our original sin. Either way God being omniscient knew that our physical existence would cause an estrangement from Him. He has reconciled that estrangement with the resurrection.
stumpjumper said:
It only puts those authors writings into speculation if they were only referring to those passages in their literal sense instead of what those passages say about Gods relation with man. The allegorical and deeper meaning of those early passages in Genesis is what is most important and is what was being referenced. Indeed, if those passages did not have something to relay about God they would not be referenced.
stumpjumper said:I dont necessarily accept naturalistic abiogenesis. But I view Genesis 1-11 as allegory for two reasons. 1.) Our investigation of the world and universe show us a history that tells otherwise and is very convincing. Also, archaeology and history of other cultures extends far beyond that time and contradicts many of those claims and 2.) Those passages were written in a manner to relay a story that goes far beyond the literal meaning of the passages.
stumpjumper said:For instance we see God as Creator of man in His image. It shows us to have freedom that we use to disobey God and it shows the existence of our disobedience when Cain kills Abel. We have a theodicy of what would happen if God intervened to rid the world of evil (it is no coincidence that evil existed before and after Noahs boatride). In short, these passages are clearly telling a story about God and His relationship with the world and are setting the stage for Gods covenant with Abraham. Because of the deep allegorical meaning to these passages I find no reason to view them as anything but allegory.
stumpjumper said:Thats not really what I meant when I said that the freedom of the creative process allowed us to become an other. Love is best expressed toward someone else. We needed the freedom of creation to become someone other than God so that we could share in a loving relationship with Him and each other. Christ showed us how to best accept Gods love and love each other at the same time. I agree we should all strive to be Christ-like although at times it seems like an impossible task.
Smidlee said:As long as you don't let an evolutionists examine your head you should be ok. I find it wise to have an objective mind when it comes to all scientific claims. Most of the scientific papers are probably wrong.
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7915 said:Most published scientific research papers are wrong, according to a new analysis. Assuming that the new paper is itself correct, problems with experimental and statistical methods mean that there is less than a 50% chance that the results of any randomly chosen scientific paper are true.
John Ioannidis, an epidemiologist at the University of Ioannina School of Medicine in Greece, says that small sample sizes, poor study design, researcher bias, and selective reporting and other problems combine to make most research findings false.
Critias said:http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7915 said:Most published scientific research papers are wrong, according to a new analysis. Assuming that the new paper is itself correct, problems with experimental and statistical methods mean that there is less than a 50% chance that the results of any randomly chosen scientific paper are true.
John Ioannidis, an epidemiologist at the University of Ioannina School of Medicine in Greece, says that small sample sizes, poor study design, researcher bias, and selective reporting and other problems combine to make most research findings false.
And what was God's purpose to speak in myths instead of history? The Israelites understood what history was in their time.
So what is your perspective on why God inspired Moses to speak of myths instead of the history in which God works?
artybloke said:I'm not an expert on God's purposes but then neither are you. But the second statement does not accord with reality. They had an idea of history - and, like every other nation around them, including the Babylonians, Greeks, Moabites, Egyptians, etc. that idea included mythology and legend. The history of Rome included the story of it being founded by two people who were raised by wolves. The history of Babylon includes the Epic of Gilgamesh, and the history of Sumeria includes its myths and legends. For the ancients, history and mythology/legend were one and the same thing.
artybloke said:Apart from anything else, they had no way of recovering past histories; there were no archives of documents (if they were, they'd be the first to go when the next invasion came), they had no notion of what archeology or historical evidence was, the only way they recorded things was by carving them on steles. All history was written from the point of view of the victors, and was therefore inevitably distorted and biased. They had no basis for a truely scientific view of history, and probably felt no need for it.
artybloke said:I don't see what Moses (a legendary figure for whose existence there is no corroborating evidence; but let's suppose for argument's sake he did) has to with the writing of Genesis; but let's look at from the point of view of the writers. They have an experience of God that they wish to pass on; and they wish to establish a justification for the society that they are setting up. What better way than to take ancient myths that were common to that area and rewrite them according to Hebrew principles? Everyone lived in a mythological framework; the scientific paradigm was not to appear above the horizon for over a thousand years: so they told stories, midrashes, allegories because that is what people in those days heard (most of whom would have little or no education, and couldn't read: and that very often included royalty. It's was only usually scribes and priests who could read and write.)
artybloke said:Stories, legends and myths were how both truth and lies were spread in those days. There was no other way of doing it.
Critias said:Then I suppose you think that when Jesus Christ was transfigured on the Mount that was not Moses there? Who was it with Elijah and Jesus then? Or is that just a myth too? So then Peter is a liar when he states he did not make up that story...
Critias said:And what was God's purpose to speak in myths instead of history? The Israelites understood what history was in their time. So what is your perspective on why God inspired Moses to speak of myths instead of the history in which God works?
So when did sin enter the world and who commited it if you don't believe there is an Adam and Eve? And why, if it is the foundation for the reason for Jesus Christ coming to earth to die and be resurrected, do you think God left out the history of it out of the Bible?
And what about the pupils of the Apostles who fought against the Greeks teachings of the earth being very old? What about their teachings that God made one man whom all mankind came from to refute the Greeks naturalistic view point on life?
Is it your perspective that the pupils of the Apostles are just plain wrong? It seems to me, that because of these writing we have of the Early Church Fathers, we can conclude that the Apostles themselves were speaking of a literal history when they refered to the Genesis accounts.
So, you do admit that you allow science to be the main focal point of basing your interpretation of Genesis?
Is God only these things in myths, or is He these things in our very real existence?
Then if one needs to be separate from God to experience God's love, how do you approach the Trinity where the Father does love the Son and the Son does love the Father? Do you take Origens side on this and deny the existence of the Trinity?
stumpjumper said:Because that is the way that stories were told in those times. It is a mythical story about God's creative acts in our world. It is a way to put the incomprehensible into a form in which people could understand. We still don't understand. Man moves ever into mystery without abandoning the world.
stumpjumper said:Original sin is different from actual sin even if you follow a literal account of Genesis. The sin is turning away from God and seeking our own path. Faith and doubt are each one side of a coin. It is our unbelief that makes faith possible yet it is this unbelief that is universal among all people at some times. Can you honestly say that you do not hold doubts?
stumpjumper said:This has been with the created world from the beginning. It is our fault because if we did not exist we would not have this separateness. Only God could reconcile this relationship and He did so on the Cross were our unbelief was crucified.
stumpjumper said:Origen, whom I do not believe that you have a very high opinion of, was considered the first Christian philosopher. He is considered this becuase he make a connection between Greek philosophy and Christian teachings. To the Greeks the universe was eternal not just very old. Through his philosphical writings Origen showed it to have a beginning. He believed in a young earth but that was well before any modern scientific investigation.
stumpjumper said:I look at it from many sides. I believe that the natural world is part of God's revelation as do all theologians. Look at the formal arguments for God's existence the Kalam Cosmological Argument, the Teleological Argument, Anthropic principle etc. These are all based upon our study of the natural world. If you want to use those arguments than you need to let our natural world influence your view of the Bible as well.
The earth and universe may be younger than 13.5 byo and 4.5 byo for earth, but scientific inquiry has dealt a literal reading of Genesis a TKO. There really is no way around that unless you follow that satan buried all those fossils and extinct hominids.
stumpjumper said:I believe that God worked in real history but the myths tell us what we need to know about the nature of God.
stumpjumper said:You are bordering upon the Arian heresy by separating the Father from the Son. God the Father and God the Son are one. We are something "other" than God so that God's love could be expressed. There are so many different formulations of the trinity but this is my favorite: "Man knows God the Father when he knows God as infinitely distant, man knows God the Son when he knows God as infinitely close, and man knows God the Holy Spirit when he experiences God penetrating existence and history." The late great Karl Rahner.
stumpjumper said:We needed the freedom of creation to become someone other than God so that we could share in a loving relationship with Him
Critias said:With evolution, when did the knowledge of evil come into the world?
So do you take the position that God created us to know evil and it wasn't Adam and Eve's choice to know evil?
Very nice turn around to make it look as if I was the one claiming that in order for God to love another, the other must be separated from Him. You stated that in order for God to love another, the other must be separted from Him. So, the logical question to ask, SINCE THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT ARE ONE, (i want to make sure this clear) how does the Father love the Son and the Son loves the Father when you state that God must be separate from what He loves?
So you follow the Bible in believing the Sun goes around the Earth?vossler said:Many evolutionists here have said on numerous occasions that God gave us a brain so that we would use it. Nothing wrong with that, as long as how we use it is aligned with the Word of God. Well, based on the one thing I can claim to possess or be gifted with, common sense, combined with all that God so graciously gave me to understand the world that I live in; is more than enough from which to make an informed Godly decision. No two year minimum studies in biology or theology are required for me to form a basis for this observation. Just the Bible and the Holy Spirits indwelling are necessary.
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As Ive stated here many times before, its Gods Word that determines my beliefs and forms my opinions, not mans reasoning and deductions about what happened supposedly billions of years ago. Once we introduce fallible man and his knowledge as being superior to Gods, well, I think you get the point.
If the Bible told me that the Sun goes around the earth then it would be so. I'd certainly believe it before I would believe some scientist. Since it doesn't tell me that, I'll go with what science says.Robert the Pilegrim said:So you follow the Bible in believing the Sun goes around the Earth?
Do you go to the Bible for your medical knowledge as well?
vossler said:If the Bible told me that the Sun goes around the earth then it would be so. I'd certainly believe it before I would believe some scientist. Since it doesn't tell me that, I'll go with what science says.
So you follow a scientist that says your origins are from an ape or maybe an amoeba? O.K.
Since the Bible doesn't tell me much about medicine it would be rather difficult to go there for medical information. However, it does tell me everything that is essential to my life.
rmwilliamsll said:does your Bible contain it's own Table of Contents?
that is where in Scripture is the list of books that comprise it written?
i would assume that the table of contents is essential.
to be more specific in what book is it written that the book of tobith is not Scripture and the book of Jude is?
stumpjumper said:Unbelief is rebelling from God but that doesn't really matter.
stumpjumper said:Do you believe that evil "exists" as an entity with ontological status or is it a perversion of good. IOW, I believe "evil" occurs when we turn from God and do not follow our moral good sense which we know about because of God.
stumpjumper said:God is one and the trinity is simply a way to explain the different manifestations of God. We are created separate so that God could express His love outwardly toward others. We can love ourself but we are taught "love your neighbor as you love yourself." If one only loved oneself that would lead to spiritual emptyness.
stumpjumper said:What does this passage mean to you?: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
If the Bible told me that the Sun goes around the earth then it would be so. I'd certainly believe it before I would believe some scientist. Since it doesn't tell me that, I'll go with what science says.
So you follow a scientist that says your origins are from an ape or maybe an amoeba? O.K.
Since the Bible doesn't tell me much about medicine it would be rather difficult to go there for medical information. However, it does tell me everything that is essential to my life.
does your Bible contain it's own Table of Contents?
that is where in Scripture is the list of books that comprise it written?
i would assume that the table of contents is essential.
to be more specific in what book is it written that the book of tobith is not Scripture and the book of Jude is?
Critias said:I don't see the table of contents being all that important. I can find the books quite easily without it.
I believe what is in the Bible is Scripture because I have faith that God has preserved His word as He said He would.
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