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Once Upon A Time
December 14, 2008 at 10:55 am
Once upon a time there was a man who believed in God. He didn't know much about him but he did know that one should listen to the Preacher at church and believe in God.
His children saw through this and so once upon another time his children believed in science much the same as their dad had believed in God.
So once upon a third time their children believed in God.
Once upon a time they will see past what they want to believe. A machine will show them.
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RE: Once Upon A Time
December 14, 2008 at 11:28 am
Yes. We don't believe things because we 'want to'. Belief is not a matter of policy. We believe something because the evidence shows it to be true. We don't believe something when there's no evidence of its truth or existence. And no reason to believe it.
Right?
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RE: Once Upon A Time
December 14, 2008 at 11:54 am
To put it another way:
#1, Evolution tells us we are the result of billions of mutations that were passed onto ancestors who survived, and that we are simply one of many branches on an ever growing tree that contains all life on Earth. We are technically speaking no more "special" or "important" than any of the other creatures on the ends of the branches, because they are all (like us) at the most recent evolutionary event of their branch.
#2, The Bible tells us that God made us all perfect in his image, and that he loves all of us and has created the entire universe for us. We have dominion over all animals and are separate from them because we are his chosen people.
And you think I "want to" believe #1?
Trust me, I'd love for #2 to be true, but it simply isn't. All the evidence points to #1 because it is a scientific explanation that was born of the facts, not out of an already written book.
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RE: Once Upon A Time
December 14, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I wouldn't want #2 if its without evolution. I would find it boring if we were all 'created' so easily and instantly. If there is a God I'd rather he used evolution anyway. It would be better that he could do it without the suffering somehow (don't ask me how, he's God he should know).
I find it boring and pathetic if he just goes "alakazam!" and we're all here. Thats pretty damn boring. I think evolution is much more inspiring. And partly BECAUSE its not perfect and so easy to do. Its the process that is fascinating. There's nothing fascinating about the process of "alakazam", instant creation etc. If it could be called a process at all - as far as I'm concerned.
I think it would be best if there was evolution and a loving God somehow WITHOUT all the suffering in evolution. Nevertheless evolution is still inspiring. Its more interesting and inquisitive. Unlike instant 'alakazam' like creation.
That is, if I have understood you correctly?
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RE: Once Upon A Time
December 14, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Because he wanted to? I dunno. Wishful thinking and/or indoctrination? Pascal's wager?
Fear?
Hypothetically speaking of course.
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RE: Once Upon A Time
December 14, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Trust blindly in science? If science has evidence you would believe it as long as you're not ignorant of it and you don't deny it. Thats not really "trust". Belief is not a matter of policy. If evidence is shown or found and you believe it then you believe it.
Trust in "God" however IS based on faith. It doesn't matter if there's no evidence you pretty much either consider faith itself as evidence of your belief in God. Or you fake belief.
Faith itself isn't evidence because faith itself is lack of evidence.
