| Author | Thread |
|
|
12/25/2010 08:06:51 PM · #901 |
| Did you non-believers have a nice FESTIVUS ? |
|
|
|
12/25/2010 08:10:45 PM · #902 |
Originally posted by David Ey:
Did you non-believers have a nice FESTIVUS ? |
I don't know, seeing the Celtics and Lakers both lose on national TV may force me to reconsider the existence of Divine Justice after all ... ;-) |
|
|
|
12/25/2010 11:29:02 PM · #903 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by David Ey:
Did you non-believers have a nice FESTIVUS ? |
I don't know, seeing the Celtics and Lakers both lose on national TV may force me to reconsider the existence of Divine Justice after all ... ;-) |
...and to think that the Cowboys just lost too!!!... you may be right GeneralE
Ray |
|
|
|
12/26/2010 11:32:18 AM · #904 |
Da Boys didn't deserve to win....defense sucks, offense line sucks, the fg kicker sucks and coaching sucks.
They should have gone for two and tried to tie the game when they had the chance. If I had a showboating mother carrying the ball with one hand out in front of him 15 yards before the goal I would fine him 100K. What a bunch of jerks.
Message edited by author 2010-12-26 11:32:49. |
|
|
|
12/27/2010 02:52:23 AM · #905 |
Originally posted by David Ey:
Did you non-believers have a nice FESTIVUS ? |
Hehe. No. I like festivus all through the year.
However, I did have a nice secular christmas, thank you.
|
|
|
|
12/28/2010 12:17:08 AM · #906 |
Doesn't look like Festivus to me!
|
|
|
|
12/31/2010 08:43:10 PM · #907 |
Originally posted by Matthew:
Originally posted by Nullix:
How do I reconcile these with a monotheistic religion? Simple, I don't think Saint Nicholas, a tree, a log nor mistletoe are gods to give worship to. If you did think mistletoe was a god, then that would be something else. |
Don't get me wrong - I'm glad that puritanism and extremism isn't more prevalent. But it just astonishes me that people claim to believe wholeheartedly and yet introduce pagan paraphernalia into their homes, or have enough cash to buy expensive cameras when they have neighbours who are more needy. |
As a Christian, I fear not the pagan paraphernalia in my home nor the pagans I count as friends. As far as I can read in the Christian rule book, there's nothing against having these items in my home. Now if I put them or anything before God, that's a different story.
Happy New Year!!! (Isn't the new year celebration a pagan thing?)
BTW, with my adopted kids from China, we also celebrate Chinese New Year which happens on the lunar new year. This also is very pagan. But it's more of a culture thing. I'm sure my kids will understand the difference.
|
|
|
|
01/11/2011 08:39:11 PM · #908 |
A friend sent this to me in an e-mail......no claims as to its veracity, but it's an interesting read....
Subject: God vs. Science
'Let me explain the problem science has with religion.'
The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.
'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'
'Yes sir, 'the student says.
'So you believe in God?'
'Absolutely.'
'Is God good?'
'Sure! God's good.'
'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'
'Yes'
'Are you good or evil?'
'The Bible says I'm evil.'
The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!â₉„¢ He considers for a moment. 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'
'Yes sir, I would.'
'So you're good...!'
'I wouldn't say that.'
'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'
The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Can you answer that one?'
The student remains silent. 'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. 'Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?'
'Er..yes,' the student says.
'Is Satan good?'
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'
'Then where does Satan come from?'
The student falters. 'From God'
'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'
'Yes, sir..'
'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'
'Yes'
'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'
Again, the student has no answer. 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'
The student squirms on his feet. 'Yes.'
'So who created them?'
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them?' There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. 'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'
The student's voice betrays him and cracks. 'Yes, professor, I do.'
The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'
'No sir. I've never seen Him.'
'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'
'No, sir, I have not..'
'Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'
'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'
'Yet you still believe in him?'
'Yes'
'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist... What do you say to that, son?'
'Nothing,' the student replies.. 'I only have my faith.'
'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'
'Yes. â₉„¢
'And is there such a thing as cold?'
'Yes, son, there's cold too.'
'No sir, there isn't.'
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. 'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit down to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'
'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation.. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'
'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'
'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'
'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains.. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought.' 'It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.' 'Now tell me, professor.. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'
'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.'
'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided. 'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.' The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter. 'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.' 'So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I Guess you'll have to take them on faith.'
'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'
Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it Everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'
To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'
The professor sat down.
PS: the student was Albert Einstein.
Albert Einstein wrote a book titled God vs. Science in 1921...
Message edited by author 2011-01-11 20:42:03.
|
|
|
|
01/11/2011 09:18:03 PM · #909 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
A friend sent this to me in an e-mail......no claims as to its veracity, but it's an interesting read.... |
Urban Legend |
|
|
|
01/15/2011 10:37:54 PM · #910 |
Okay, Doc and others. I just read about these biblical riddles. What are your answers?
What biblical saint died and was buried twice?
Who was the first man that broke all Ten Commandments?
What biblical character killed one quarter of the population?
What prophet anointed two kings who lived simultaneously?
Born once, die twice; born twice, die once. What does it mean? |
|
|
|
01/16/2011 12:21:52 PM · #911 |
Originally posted by Nullix:
Okay, Doc and others. I just read about these biblical riddles. What are your answers?
What biblical saint died and was buried twice? Lazarus
Who was the first man that broke all Ten Commandments? Moses
What biblical character killed one quarter of the population? Cain
What prophet anointed two kings who lived simultaneously? Samuel?
Born once, die twice; born twice, die once. What does it mean? |
One must be "born again" to inherit eternal life.
I had some trouble with two and I'm not suer if 1 and 4 are right because there's probably a pun I'm not getting. :)
Message edited by author 2011-01-16 12:22:05. |
|
|
|
01/16/2011 08:25:04 PM · #912 |
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
Originally posted by Nullix:
Okay, Doc and others. I just read about these biblical riddles. What are your answers?
What biblical saint died and was buried twice? Lazarus
Who was the first man that broke all Ten Commandments? Moses
What biblical character killed one quarter of the population? Cain
What prophet anointed two kings who lived simultaneously? Samuel?
Born once, die twice; born twice, die once. What does it mean? |
One must be "born again" to inherit eternal life.
I had some trouble with two and I'm not sure if 1 and 4 are right because there's probably a pun I'm not getting. :) |
Yep. I got them from Catholic-Convert
I didn't know Lazarus was a saint. And Samuel anointed Saul before God told him to anoint David. |
|
|
|
01/16/2011 08:46:24 PM · #913 |
Originally posted by Nullix:
Yep. I got them from Catholic-Convert
I didn't know Lazarus was a saint. And Samuel anointed Saul before God told him to anoint David. |
It probably depends on its exact use. "Saint" was originally a generic term for believer. It usually gets used that way on this side of the protestant fence. I can't tell you if Lazarus fits the more specific Catholic usage. I would assume they would consider most of the biblical characters in the NT to be saints. |
|
|
|
01/16/2011 09:17:26 PM · #914 |
The argument can be made that Adam was the first to break all ten commandments, although it's a pretty arcane argument:
//www.puritanboard.com/f40/did-adam-break-all-10-commandments-eating-fruit-58001/
R. |
|
|
|
01/16/2011 09:19:11 PM · #915 |
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
Originally posted by Nullix:
Okay, Doc and others. I just read about these biblical riddles. What are your answers?
What biblical character killed one quarter of the population? Cain |
|
I thought Cain and Abel were both married -- their wives don't count? Or had Adam and Eve both died? What about Seth? |
|
|
|
01/16/2011 11:09:09 PM · #916 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
Originally posted by Nullix:
Okay, Doc and others. I just read about these biblical riddles. What are your answers?
What biblical character killed one quarter of the population? Cain |
|
I thought Cain and Abel were both married -- their wives don't count? Or had Adam and Eve both died? What about Seth? |
I was just giving the answer they wanted. :) |
|
|
|
01/16/2011 11:16:45 PM · #917 |
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
Originally posted by Nullix:
Okay, Doc and others. I just read about these biblical riddles. What are your answers?
What biblical character killed one quarter of the population? Cain |
|
I thought Cain and Abel were both married -- their wives don't count? Or had Adam and Eve both died? What about Seth? |
I was just giving the answer they wanted. :) |
Even though according to infallible scripture it's wrong? Boy, I thought I was confused before ... :-( |
|
|
|
01/17/2011 01:11:00 AM · #918 |
I'm not sure Catholic-Convert is infallible... :)
Message edited by author 2011-01-17 01:29:23. |
|
|
|
01/17/2011 10:33:57 AM · #919 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
Originally posted by Nullix:
Okay, Doc and others. I just read about these biblical riddles. What are your answers?
What biblical character killed one quarter of the population? Cain |
|
I thought Cain and Abel were both married -- their wives don't count? Or had Adam and Eve both died? What about Seth? |
I'm not certain they were married at the time. Eve counts, so I would think wives count.
EDIT:
Seth came later. Genesis 4
Message edited by author 2011-01-17 10:42:40. |
|
|
|
01/17/2011 11:01:44 AM · #920 |
Presumably Abel didn't get married after he was slain, and unless Seth was the product of incest Adam was still alive, so I think the population exceeded four at the time of the murder.
Of course, I've never heard a good explanation of where Cain and Abel's wives came from anyway ... |
|
|
|
01/17/2011 11:27:08 AM · #921 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
I've never heard a good explanation of where Cain and Abel's wives came from anyway ... |
Ocean City, Maryland. |
|
|
|
01/17/2011 01:05:53 PM · #922 |
| Oh, I was under the impression that Christian sects were pretty much unanimously opposed to human cloning ... :-( |
|
|
|
01/17/2011 02:07:52 PM · #923 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Oh, I was under the impression that Christian sects were pretty much unanimously opposed to human cloning ... :-( |
I'm not certain where that came from.
But if human cloning goes the same way as IVF, I would be against it. IVF: Lets fertilize 7 eggs then throw them in the womb and see which ones stick. If more than one sticks, we can always kill it off. Infact, you could choose which one you like, boy or girl. We don't have to use all 7 eggs either, we can freeze your children or give them away to be ripped apart for stem-cell research.
As long as clones are given human dignity, I don't see a problem. But in this day and age, fetus aren't given even that.
Then there's cloning for therapeutic reason (spare parts). That's horrible. Here's DOCUMENT OF THE HOLY SEE ON HUMAN CLONING.
WORMS...out of can, must put them back...can't!!! |
|
|
|
01/17/2011 02:13:49 PM · #924 |
Originally posted by Nullix:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Oh, I was under the impression that Christian sects were pretty much unanimously opposed to human cloning ... :-( |
I'm not certain where that came from. |
As a response to Shannon's facetious link, implying that the women in question were derived from an excised portion of their husbands' costal anotomy (ribs). A new person generated from the tissue/stem cells of another is cloning as I understand the process ... |
|
|
|
01/22/2011 07:34:37 PM · #925 |
I just wanted to make a book recommendation for people who enjoy the topics of these conversations but perhaps do not enjoy the drama of them. I'm reading The Reason for God: Belief in the Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller and have found it to be immensely enjoyable. I'm only 31% into it (Kindle geek alert), but he has already addressed nearly every conversation that comes up in Rant about religion.
Anyway, just wanted to pass on the title. |
|
