COMMENTS:
Running out of ballot ideas, aren't you?
has it? no one told me. are you sure about that claim that its lost all (all) credibility to scientists and historians? i think the series of specials on the history channel just last week tells otherwise.
Of course there are reasons for believing in the Bible, or any holy book for that matter. These books all try to answer three important questions, which science cannot reach:
1. Where did we come from (in the eternity behind us)?
2. What are we doing here (in this inexplicable confusion and seeming chaos)?
3. What happens when we die (in the eternity before us)?
And even if religions cannot prove their version of answers to these questions, it is important to remember that absence of proof is not proof of absence.
Scientific, or empirical knowledge can deal only with what can be observed and measured to be true.
And there is so much beyond what we can experience with our senses. The essential questions of human life -- the ones I've listed above -- cannot ultimately be answered by science.
So, for those who need them (a vast number of people), religion fills up that void where science cannot go. It is infinitely valuable to believers.
And remember most people of faith have EXPERIENCES that their religion is true. And though I have no such experience in my life so far, if it came, I would be forced to believe -- or to know -- no matter what science said.
I cannot imagine that something incomprehensibly miraculous is not going on here. And whether a particular religion has it right or wrong does not concern me. ALL religions orient man toward the miraculous and turn his head to the stars. So, they all "work" one way or another.
So, yes religions and their holy books are infinitely valuable and give believers a reason to carry on.
THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION AND SAD THAT IT HAS TO BE ASKED, AS THE RETURN OF THE LORD APROACHES IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE WORLD TO BE DECIEVED. SO JUST BECUASE IT HAS LOST CREDIBILITY WITH SCIENCE AND HISTORIANS AND A LOT OF SO CALLED CHRISTIANS DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE SHOULDN'T BELIEVE IT. IT HAS ONLY BEEN IN THE LAST 20 YEARS OR SO THAT THE MAIN STREAM SCIENTEST AND HISTORIANS HAVE STARTED TO REJECT IT AND DISCREDIT IT. THIS IS HOW AND WHY THE WORLD HAS COME TO HATE ANY TYPE OF CHRISTIANITY. BECAUSE IF THE BIBLE IS TRUE TO THEM THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO SAY HOW THEY ARE LIVING IS WRONG. IT TAKES FAITH AND BELIEF AND GRACE AND LOVE TO ADMIT WHEN YOU ARE WRONG. BELIEVING THE ONE AND ONLY GOD HAS BEEN HARD FOR PEOPLE OF ALL TIME TO DO. TO SERVE GOD MEANS YOU HAVE TO ADMIT THAT HE WHO YOU CAN NOT SEE IS IN CONTROL IF YOU GIVE HIM CONTROL. THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD AND THE ONLY WAY TO NOT HAVE TO LISTEN TO IT IS TO DISCREDIT IT.
^Why are you yelling? ;-)
"IT HAS ONLY BEEN IN THE LAST 20 YEARS OR SO THAT THE MAIN STREAM SCIENTEST AND HISTORIANS HAVE STARTED TO REJECT IT AND DISCREDIT IT." - Trebor about the bible
20 years? really? is that all? how old are you? do a bit of research. the majority of people have known the bible is largely a work of fiction ever since it was written. and especially since the churches adapted great chunks of it for their own benefits - power and money being the aims, not truth or faith.
I think griffon said it well.
Keith, trebor is a new young user. Lighten up.
yes because it serves a big need that most people still have.
(Even if it stops them from knowing how important the planet is and taking care of sickness and hunger and animals and little stuff like that.)
by Jyl on Tue May 23, 06 7:39pm
[+]
1. Where did we come from (in the eternity behind us)? Hydrogen and Helium were created at the Big Bang. All the other elements were synthesised in stellar cores and supernovae. Life arose as a matter of probability given the vast expanse of time since the Big Bang.
2. What are we doing here (in this inexplicable confusion and seeming chaos)? Living organisms serve one purpose only. We are biological machines whose sole purpose is to replicate and propagate DNA. Anything else is superficial and immaterial.
3. What happens when we die (in the eternity before us)? Our constituent elements are recycled and returned to the environment where they can be used again.
Anyone who doubts that the bible is nothing but pure nonsense should read "Misquoting Jesus" by Bart Ehrman. And before you start whining - the guy is a christian professor of the New Testament who is fluent in Greek (the language that it was written in), Hebrew, Latin and Aramaic. Aside from anything it is simply a great book.
Just because science hasn't proven some things yet doesn't mean you have to go and idolize a hate mongering non-entity.
Life after death is identical to life before birth.
Ah, my friend Wide, but where did the helium and all those "other elements" come from? And assuming there was this "big bang" (and I assume that there was) where did it come from, where was it, and what did it expand into, and why? Hmmmm. The "big bang" doesn't have answers, it just stops the argument for scientists and substitutes as their "God." Christians stop the argument at God, and scientist at the "bang." Equally satisfactory, or unsatisfactory, answers.
And what we are doing here may well include "replication and propagation of DNA," but do you really think that this is all there is to
this thing we call life?
Pretty empty, I'd say, and absolutely no proof whatsoever that you are right, or wrong. It is ultimately just as sane, or insane, to believe that the "purpose" of life is procreation, as it is to believe that there is an underlying purpose to all of this.
And I do not argue against the fairly obvious facts that our physical constituent elements rejoin the ebb and flow of energy in the universe. But might there be more to it? Of course. And why shouldn't souls who find meaning and solace there be given the benefit of the doubt?
My beliefs (and I'm not confused about the difference between belief and knowledge), are that somehow all of this is ALIVE, and absolutely connected -- and it has some MEANING beyond our mean little existences here on the planet.
And I absolutely respect your position on this subject. As you know, I'm no true believer in any religious system. I think that your view is shared by a lot of unhappy people.
However, I CHOOSE to believe that this inexplicable mystery and miracle which surrounds us; this consciousness we have of self and others, is a demonstration of another, infinitely larger consciousness.
Some call this consciousness God.
What a lie. It has not lost credibility. I was just watching the history channel on how Noahs ark did happen. Dont make up facts.
I think the problem stems from some fundamentalists' insistenc eon taking the book as literal and unquestionable fact rather than as a collection of inspired metaphors and parables, mixed in with a goodly amount of all-too human biases and perceptions.
Many parts are good in showing us how we can best approach life -- to out benefit and others. Culling these parts and understanding the message is still worthwhile.
But that also transcends any one religion, IMO.
There does appear to be some historical fact in there, as well as alot of questionable stuff. I know one should not unquestioningly accept everythinh as Truth, but I'd hesitate to discard all as false.
The bible hasn't lost any credibility. Granted, there are only some scientist that do not believe in it, but the bible is still credible. There are many scientists and historians that still believe in the bible. I know some myself. For some, it is not that they have FOUND the bible to have lost its credibility, but they just dismiss it as being foolishness, or creations of oppressed imaginations. There has yet to be scientific or historical evidence suggestive enough to disprove the words in the bible. You may have been too hasty in wording that question. Please choose your words carefully.
counciltucky sorry about the all caps. I find it easier for me to use just caps didnt mean anything about it thanks for the heads up
keithsheen yes you are right the enemies of God have always downed and riduculed his word because then they would have to admit their way of serving him or that their way of living is wrong. but as far as here in america and europe it has been only in the last 20 years or so that science and history has started to discredit the bible. in fact for the longest time they tried to say that moses didn't ever exist but it was science back in the 70's that proved that he did. yes i have reasearched it but not as an enemy of God but as one of his chosen. so i know very well how people have been against the bible and against his people. that is why people hate israel so much becase they are his chosen people and have done every thing in the world to destroy them. stop and think to discredit the bible you discredit the whole history of the Jews and the history of the true christians. also one more thought does it it mean that something it wrong just because science and history says it is? there was a saying back in the 70's that went like if th majority of people do a wrong thing does it stop being a wrong thing? just because the majority hate the bible doesn't mean that it should not be believed. thanks for the thought
According to skepdic.com 90% of the worlds scientists do not believe in a personal God (i.e. the one many Christians, Jews and Muslims believe in). If that isn’t a clear indication of just how much credibility the Bible has in the scientific community I don’t know what is! I noticed more people were desperate to refute that fact than actually answer the question and for that I can only assume that they didn’t have a good answer.
"What a lie. It has not lost credibility. I was just watching the history channel on how Noahs ark did happen. Dont make up facts."
by hurricane on May 24, 2006 4:22am
There are over 800,000 species of insects on this planet. Are you honestly going to tell me that Noah collected 2 of all those creatures and put them on a giant boat? How did all the world’s vegetation survive being under water for 40 days and nights? I can’t put a slip ‘n slide down for more than five minutes without killing a strip of grass on my lawn.
A manatee is a fresh water creature if the world flooded with salt water it would die. I saw an episode of National Geographic where they showcased a patch of weeds that will die if you step on it. How did it survive the flood?
The Bible is a story of parables...it even says thats the best way to teach due to the complex nature of life
There are over 800,000 species of insects on this planet. Are you honestly going to tell me that Noah collected 2 of all those creatures and put them on a giant boat?
Robin first of all keep in mind that Science has proven that the world was flooded. they do not know what the water consited of. also keep in mind God made his creation with the ability to adapt and science has also shown that all the different breeds of dogs for example started from one one type of dog and that through the years it now has many hundreds of breeds same with insects and anything else. please keep in mind that plants are the best at mutating and adapting to it's enviroment so why couldn't noah have had all the animals that existed at that time on board. also keep in mind it was a pretty big Box that carried them through the flood.
trebor Sounds like you support the theory of evolution. I guess that brings into question the whole idea of original sin and whether or not Jesus died to eradicate it or not.
No actually it increases the point of original sin Because before sin there was no need to adapt or as you put it evolve. in fact if Adam had not sinned we would not die at all. but for as by one man sin entered into the world and death through sin. paraphrased. :-)
I think this ballot was not researched properly before its' posting. Where did you get your information? i have heard and read quite a bit in the past few years that indicates historians and scientists are, in fact, tending to lean towards the facts stated in the bible.
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