by Lady Liberty 33 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Gopher
As an agnostic, I don't have a problem with holy books.
As an agnostic how can you say that? When in the next breath you say
they're just writings of men.
Isn't that your problem? You don't believe they are Holy.
The existence of God explains or is the origin of life. You start whith the presupposition that there is no God. I said nothing about "holy books".
DD - No problems with the holy books -- by that I mean to the extent that they discuss loving one's neighbor and keeping a positive attitude about life. However, if they are interpreted to be "God's one and only message to man which must be obeyed or else you will be forever damned", then that's a problem.
There are more actual fossils to actually existing creatures than there are actual papyrus or vellum fragments of scripture in existence. That is a fact. Yet, blithe belief hurdles that obstacle without the blink of an eye.
Just as the paleontologists, archeaologists and historians piece things together to create a viable story to match a verifiable "something", so too do we all connect the dots in our rational mind toward a view of reality or fantasy as our personal tastes demand.
MFM replies: Very profound, LL! And a refreshing break from all the insults and nonsense USUALLY spouted on this board!
It DOES appear that God & Christ (whatever his name and title was at THAT time) were experimenting with lifeforms and the environment! I am very GRATEFUL that my Brotherhood sticks with the fact that the dinosaurs are not explained in the Bible. The people before the 19th century had no IDEA of such life, anyway! It IS a fascinating subject- thanks for bringing it up!
Agape!
What sort of thinking filter are we applying here?
How can you isolate dinosaurs as creatures of mere experimental design from what transpired between those self-same creatures?
Would you attend a cockfight or dogfight and marvel at the ingenuity of the owner at getting them to tear each other into bloody shreds?
Were is the MORALITY in such experimentation when it involves pain, suffering and death?
Wake up!
I believe in creation, and also the fossil record. No, I do not have answers, but love to read about all the fascinating creatures that roamed the earth.
Actually, not too long ago, Sue, a huge skeleton, almost complete, of a T Rex was found in the American west. Also, complete skeletons of many dinosaurs have been found on many different continents. More than would fill the back of a truck, I am sure. Also, eggs have been found in China, as well as the numerous footprints on many continents. So there is absolutely no doubt that they were here.
Of course the WTS does not want to get into any detail and just says that the Bible doesn't mention them. Martian is right. They claim that life on earth-animal, and vegetable, was created in days that were 7,000 years long.
This makes the entire span of life on this planet just about 49,000 years old, and we know beyond a doubt the miriad kinds of dinosaurs and other ancient reptiles existed long before then.
I believe in a creator. To say that Genesis was an exact retelling of the events that led to life as it exists today- well I don't think even Genesis claims that.
I don't think the fossil record is a matter of belief or not believing. Fossils are facts. Their interpretation is a field of science. There is not space for "belief or non-belief" in the legitimate consideration of fossils. Its like asking "Do you believe in leaves or not?"
I dont understand - how can anybody not believe in the fossil records -they exist. People should go to the Grand Canyon Museum, they are there for all to see. I suppose if you are a creationist it is possible to have your head stuck up your ass and claim Satan put the fossils there to deceive us.
I believe in the Bible, and also in the fossil record.
An interesting viewpoint on this is expressed by Dr. Kent Hovind at http://www.drdino.com
He's a young earther, and a serioud born again, and I don't personally subscribe to the full range of his beliefs; but his videos are free downloads and he is a very entertaining and engaging speaker.
I found quite a few points that gave me things to think about.
Roller
I can't see any reason why the fossil record disproves the exxistence of a creator, th efact that simpler organisms appear first and get more complex over time doesn't disprove an intelligent creator so I have no problem believing in the fossil record and creationism.
I didn't know that the dubs do not believe dinosaurs existed, a clearly an erroneous idea.
