Posts by PelicanBeach

44

22 questions from creationists to evolutionists, taken from the Nye/Ham debate

by adamah in

here's 22 questions asked by creationists of evolutionists, on the night of the nye/ham debate: we've got alot of people who can help these creationists out, right here on jwn, so it seems the neighborly thing to do, right?.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/messages-from-creationists-to-people-who-believe-in-evolutio.

i'll take the easy one..... #22: if we come from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?".

PelicanBeach

Cofty,

"Why do you think the big bang theory is deficient?"

The big bang theory starts in the middle of something. It starts after the existence of whatever you believe existed at that moment, but it does not answer the real question: Where did the matter/energy (or however you choose to characterize it) which existed just at the moment of the big bang come from?

There was "something" at the beginning. Did that "something" exist in an eternal state? If so, then eternal states are possible. If not, then how did that "something" come to be?

44

22 questions from creationists to evolutionists, taken from the Nye/Ham debate

by adamah in

here's 22 questions asked by creationists of evolutionists, on the night of the nye/ham debate: we've got alot of people who can help these creationists out, right here on jwn, so it seems the neighborly thing to do, right?.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/messages-from-creationists-to-people-who-believe-in-evolutio.

i'll take the easy one..... #22: if we come from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?".

PelicanBeach

Cofty,

"...it is ridiculous to insert theism into the gap of cosmic origins."

I've made two posts on this thread. On the first I said I learned something from Bill Nye. On neither post did I "insert theism into the gap of cosmic origins," I kept my remarks limited to the Big Bang theory and its dificiencies.

44

22 questions from creationists to evolutionists, taken from the Nye/Ham debate

by adamah in

here's 22 questions asked by creationists of evolutionists, on the night of the nye/ham debate: we've got alot of people who can help these creationists out, right here on jwn, so it seems the neighborly thing to do, right?.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/messages-from-creationists-to-people-who-believe-in-evolutio.

i'll take the easy one..... #22: if we come from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?".

PelicanBeach

Below is a quote from the Wikipedia article, "A Universe From Nothing" by Laurence Krauss:

"Samantha Nelson for The A.V. Club gave A Universe from Nothing a B grade, she writes "as bizarre as the spontaneous creation and destruction of particles might seem, Krauss argues that there’s scientific proof of the phenomenon, which makes it better than any creation myth." [ 3 ] Michael Brooks for New Scientist writes "Krauss will be preaching only to the converted. That said, we should be happy to be preached to so intelligently. The same can't be said about the Dawkins afterword, which is both superfluous and silly." [ 4 ] David Albert for The New York Times criticizes the book for failing to live up to its title, and criticizes Krauss for dismissing concerns about his use of the term nothing to refer to a quantum vacuum instead of a "philosopher’s or theologian’s idealized 'nothing'" (i.e. instead of having the meaning "not anything"). [ 5 ]"

Redefining what "nothing" means in order to force a belief is quite a religious exercise. Something (redefining a term to fit their theology) which believers are accused of doing and have done. This is evidence that atheism, for some, is a belief that, like the belief in God, causes the holder to go to whatever lengths necessary to prove their belief even to stretching the truth and redefining commonly understood terms. Yes, "nothing" MUST be redefined because if it is not then the whole house of cards stands on...wait for it...Nothing!

As defined in the Wikipedia article, Vacuum State: "In quantum field theory, the vacuum state (also called the vacuum) is the quantum state with the lowest possible energy."

Again, where did this "lowest possible energy" come from? Or are we talking eternal existence here? Really?! Interesting.

44

22 questions from creationists to evolutionists, taken from the Nye/Ham debate

by adamah in

here's 22 questions asked by creationists of evolutionists, on the night of the nye/ham debate: we've got alot of people who can help these creationists out, right here on jwn, so it seems the neighborly thing to do, right?.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/messages-from-creationists-to-people-who-believe-in-evolutio.

i'll take the easy one..... #22: if we come from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?".

PelicanBeach

I thought both Nye and Ham did a good job at presenting their side of things except for the respective great walls neither was able to climb.

Ham was hindered by his insistence on a literal 24 hour creative day which made his whole historical science argument moot.

Nye attempted to quickly turn an atheist's unfathomable chasm into a bright star when he, with a smile, said that to answer the question of what existed just before the big bang is another great quest that scientists are on. Problem is, science cannot answer how nothing gave rise to something. How does matter arise from nothing? Science cannot answer that which is why most atheists prefer to jump over that question by using straw man arguments.

Both men worked hard to present their case and I learned something from both of them.

Pelican

31

Alleged Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

by JanH in

jw
friends

most exjws are familiar with the claims that the gospel accounts about jesus "fulfills" around 300 prophecies in the old testament.

this claim is taken verbatim from christian fundamentalists.

checking out these so-called prophecies will reveal that they do not stand up to scrutiny.

PelicanBeach

JanH,

The Bible is a religious book. It is not a history book, nor a science book. Though it has elements of both elementary science and history it is first and foremost a religious book. It is a book written in the language of religion and until we accept that we will not be able to understand it.

Understanding why Matthew applied Hosea 11:1 to Christ requires that we step back and take a careful look at the history of Israel and why they went into Egypt and then left Egypt and what their final destination was; the promised land. Then compare that to Christ's life.

2596

The Pastor of my Old Church Tried to Re-Convert Me Yesterday

by cofty in

yesterday evening my wife and i were invited to friends house for new year's eve.

we met them when i was a christian and we have kept in touch.

they had a few other friends there as well, including the new church pastor and his wife.

PelicanBeach

If believers are faulted for believing in the unseen are atheists to be credited for believing the unseen does not exist?

Which side can be said to have an open mind?

2596

The Pastor of my Old Church Tried to Re-Convert Me Yesterday

by cofty in

yesterday evening my wife and i were invited to friends house for new year's eve.

we met them when i was a christian and we have kept in touch.

they had a few other friends there as well, including the new church pastor and his wife.

PelicanBeach

Good night and thank you, Maeve.

Pelican

2596

The Pastor of my Old Church Tried to Re-Convert Me Yesterday

by cofty in

yesterday evening my wife and i were invited to friends house for new year's eve.

we met them when i was a christian and we have kept in touch.

they had a few other friends there as well, including the new church pastor and his wife.

PelicanBeach

Viviane,

Do you believe that the belief in a superior being who exists outside of our physical boundaries is a danger to mankind?

Do you believe there is nothing that exists outside of the physical that we can see and touch?

Are you certain about your beliefs?

2596

The Pastor of my Old Church Tried to Re-Convert Me Yesterday

by cofty in

yesterday evening my wife and i were invited to friends house for new year's eve.

we met them when i was a christian and we have kept in touch.

they had a few other friends there as well, including the new church pastor and his wife.

PelicanBeach

Simon,

"No one would talk about god were it not for the existence of theists who just won't shut up."

Now, that's something I can agree with!

2596

The Pastor of my Old Church Tried to Re-Convert Me Yesterday

by cofty in

yesterday evening my wife and i were invited to friends house for new year's eve.

we met them when i was a christian and we have kept in touch.

they had a few other friends there as well, including the new church pastor and his wife.

PelicanBeach

Let's say that I'm black. Now, let's say that I am comfortable with being black. Let's also say I'm proud of being black. Why then should I attempt to prove the beauty of my blackness to whites? No reason to do so.

When atheists are comfortable in their skin they do not need to prove believers wrong, they simply don't care. What is this based on? Personal experience.