Why all the history? (ritual, Creator, Earth, dinosaur, experience)

[Super Universe]

Originally Posted by Phasmid

If I'm honest with myself... I think there probably is a God. I've had religious experiences, which manifest themselves as moments of total peace and joy and an understanding that this world is just the surface of a much grander reality.

I know that's as clear as mud and probably makes some of the non-believers here cringe, but it's hard to describe. I also can't describe how I know it's linked to God.

I've tried to rationalise it away... but when it comes down to it, reason isn't always right. I don't think universes just happen... and I don't think the theist belief that "God did it" is as redundent as a lot of militant atheists make it seem. If God created the universe, He's far beyond our intellectual scope... we should try to understand, by all means, but I can understand and respect, the theistic perspective.

The reason I left Christianity, is I'm a nit-picker. Christianity leaves me with so many questions, which I haven't been able to find satisfying answers to. God is in my heart, metaphorically or otherwise. I miss the love I felt as a Christian... strange... as I typed that I felt love in my heart... anyway, I can't just jump right back into Christianity. That'd be dishonest. I'm still questioning... and forever will. Right now I'm just going to accept that love is what keeps my hope in God alive. And I honestly hope to find God... whether that means a literal relationship with Him, or a concept in my mind, which I can relate to and draw strength from.

Atheist or not, I believe everyone has a spiritual side. A part of us, which is linked to something deeper than that which we can see and experience with our senses.

I didn't actually mean for this post to go on for so long... my main question was going to be one of the things I've struggled to understand.

Why, if there is a God, did He create such a huge amount of archaeological, biological and general natural history? Why dinosaurs? Why Neanderthals? Why the Ice Age? Why such a huge universe?

This idea that science is against God is incorrect. God is the original scientist. He created the universe His way, not the way the pope says it is or should be. God is not afraid of anything any scientist discovers because nothing can disprove Him. When the scientists find another clue to how the universe works I always say "So that's how God did that!"

Don't look upon the earth and universe as being stagnant. They're not. They are evolving at their own pace. This is necessary to ensure survival and expansion of the earth and universe. You are not more important than either. All of humanity is not more important than the earth or universe. They will change as they must in order to continue their progression.

[Tau]

Originally Posted by Super Universe

This idea that science is against God is incorrect. God is the original scientist. He created the universe His way, not the way the pope says it is or should be. God is not afraid of anything any scientist discovers because nothing can disprove Him. When the scientists find another clue to how the universe works I always say "So that's how God did that!"

I concur.

Science does not in any way contradict the belief that God created/is the universe, because Science can only answer How? (The galaxies formed..and everything else, to a point anyway) not Why? which is a question in the domain of Philosophy and Religion.

[Khale]

Originally Posted by Tau

(The galaxies formed..and everything else, to a point anyway)

If the galaxies and the universe were conceived and formed entirely without any sort of deity wouldn't that contradict the belief that God created/is the universe.

Originally Posted by Tau

Science does not in any way contradict the belief that God created/is the universe, because Science can only answer How?

Originally Posted by Tau

not Why? which is a question in the domain of Philosophy and Religion.

The how and the why of the mechanics are tied very closely to each other and are something that science can answer. If you are asking for what reason/purpose the universe was created you may be in contradiction with science. Without a deity there is no reason. Things just happened.