(March 19, 2010 at 2:32 pm)AngelThMan Wrote: I understand the rules. I wasn't using the bible as evidence. I was stating that the claims made in the bible are corroborated by my evidence. Consider this allegory: Someone finds a diary, and a passage describes that a body was dumped in the dessert. Is it real, or is it fiction? A team goes out to the dessert and indeed finds the body, which corroborates what's written in the diary. Sapient intelligence represents that body. It corroborates the bible's claim that man was created in the image of God, and that animals are inferior.

This is circular reasoning at its best.
The bible was written by men, of course it's going to claim that man is gods favorite.
How is our intelligence corroboration of us saying we are gods chosen?

Joe Bloe Wrote:* I'm obviously dealing with very young people here, because their arguments remind me a little bit of kindergarten.

Just so you know, I'm a father of six and a grandfather to six more.

(March 19, 2010 at 8:10 pm)RedFish Wrote: @Thor... Yep, those first 7 would be an acceptable start in my opinion.
See cannabis and glaucoma articles. Maybe religions using cannabis could demonstrate reduced blindness? A property of the substance though, not their 'belief'.

And this is why I said that I wouldn't instantly believe even if someone could show me these things. First, I would want further study to determine if there is something common to believers that might affect the stastistics. Perhaps believers have a tendency to drive slower than nonbelievers. This could explain a lower accident death rate for believers as well as a longer life expectancy.

Of course, I have to wonder why religion has no apparent bearing whatsoever on your life expectancy, standard of living, cancer rate, etc... You would think that "God" would make sure that the people who pray the right way are rewarded. But where you live is a much larger factor than what you believe. Muslims who live in the US have a much higher standard of living than Muslims who live in a theocracy like Iran. An atheist living in the US has a much better life than a devout Christian living in Somalia. Kind of indicates to me that believing in and praying to a deity are inconsequential as far as your standard of living and level of health care.

Or does it not say something about the US too?...''One nation under God''. More opportunity for the individual to flourish, regardless of their beliefs?

Thor I'm not 100% sure of this but I believe that infant mortality rates for nonbelievers is higher than believers.Here is my reasoning believers have a greater respect for life than nonbelievers,( don't get excited yet ) nonbelievers have more drug problems,alcohol problems,smoking problems and so on. Now I have no stats to back this up.It's from observation and my wife being a nurse that I make this statement.I also believe this to be true because believers are repeatedly being taught the evils of such things.I also lived a life of drug,alcohol and smoking abuse and I've personally seen what women in the same life style do to their unborn children.

Now I'm not saying all nonbelievers live this way nor am I saying all believers treat their unborn with the care they should.Nor am I saying that all nonbelievers have less respect for life than believers only a fool would make such a statement.

---

Thor I should have read through all the replies before posting a reply. God may extend the lives of some people no matter what they believe.However I do not believe that God would play a game of favoritism, that would fly in the face of freewill.God loves all equally I know this because He sent His son to die for all and there are no preconditions set upon believeing the underlined.The rewards for living a faithful life in Christ in the here and now comes in our eternal life.

Quote:Now I have no stats to back this up

So, were you born an asshole or did you grow into the role?

(March 20, 2010 at 11:42 pm)Godschild Wrote: nonbelievers have more drug problems,alcohol problems,smoking problems and so on. Now I have no stats to back this up.

I would advise you to find some and from a much more credible source than the observations of one person.

(March 20, 2010 at 11:42 pm)Godschild Wrote: God loves all equally I know this because He sent His son to die for all and there are no preconditions set upon believeing the underlined.

You do know that there is no historical evidence that JC was a real person.

The rewards for living a faithful are the conditions for recieving God's love. God loves those who allow him in, IMO.

@le0- What about 2... doesn't it make logical sense regardless of statistics. Maybe I should conduct some research at the local abortion clinic and crack houses to back that up?

(March 21, 2010 at 9:53 am)tackattack Wrote: @le0- What about 2... doesn't it make logical sense regardless of statistics. Maybe I should conduct some research at the local abortion clinic and crack houses to back that up?

It does make sense in scientific terms to establish a large enough sample base and a testing methodology without a confirmation bias. You just don't throw out a statement like that without solid statistics to back them up.

(March 20, 2010 at 11:42 pm)Godschild Wrote: Thor I'm not 100% sure of this but I believe that infant mortality rates for nonbelievers is higher than believers.Here is my reasoning believers have a greater respect for life than nonbelievers,( don't get excited yet ) nonbelievers have more drug problems,alcohol problems,smoking problems and so on. Now I have no stats to back this up.It's from observation and my wife being a nurse that I make this statement.I also believe this to be true because believers are repeatedly being taught the evils of such things.I also lived a life of drug,alcohol and smoking abuse and I've personally seen what women in the same life style do to their unborn children.

Now I'm not saying all nonbelievers live this way nor am I saying all believers treat their unborn with the care they should.Nor am I saying that all nonbelievers have less respect for life than believers only a fool would make such a statement.

---

Thor I should have read through all the replies before posting a reply. God may extend the lives of some people no matter what they believe.However I do not believe that God would play a game of favoritism, that would fly in the face of freewill.God loves all equally I know this because He sent His son to die for all and there are no preconditions set upon believeing the underlined.The rewards for living a faithful life in Christ in the here and now comes in our eternal life.