Wallace and Darwin are examples, apparently coming up with much the same conclusions independently.
According to the Bible, they each reached a conclusion that came from outside their own thinking.....each was influenced by the same idea....so you are right....this idea would have surfaced sooner or later as men mulled over the possibilities that adaptation might lead to......no God.
Initially it was thought that God might have used this evolutionary process, but as they advanced their ideas even further, God gradually disappeared altogether for the majority.
Stick to religion then, since that is precisely what you have described - the piece being in your case, the very existence of God, where if this was not true then your whole argument falls flat on its face.
It doesn't take much intelligence to see God's hand in the workings of nature. All it takes is 'eyes' to see and a mind that is not blind. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
I haven't looked at language learning in our closest primate cousins for some years but I believe it was Kanzi that did demonstrate the last thing mentioned - initiating a communication, as in sentence structure rather than just associating symbols with objects.
Again, nothing that apes would have come up with on their own. Monkey see, monkey do. They do have a measure of intelligence but the chasm between us and them, is unbridgeable.
The creator has taken 13 billion years to produce the universe, and just for us (or to initiate the seeding of further life)? I have serous doubts about this, and hence my view that we actually are just not that significant. We are the only example of intelligent life that we know of so it is entirely understandable why we would think we were the centre of the universe - perhaps we are just not.
Time is irrelevant to a Being who inhabits a timeless realm. What is time to an earth dweller? Isn't it merely the rotation of the planet and its journey around the sun? What does that have to do with extra-terrestrials?
Good design comes from good knowledge and good design principles.
Exactly.....good design is not explainable without that knowledge and principles. If there is purpose for the design, then intelligence directed it. How is that not logical?
The handbook was written when knowledge was not something easily available, and hardly to all. We were essentially ignorant in most ways and no doubt many had their reasons for producing the Bible, but why then did we need so many other conflicting works? Hardly makes sense. I have disappointment written on my face constantly - and I think many would realise why.
The handbook was not written as a science textbook. But when it touches matters of science, it is very accurate....that is knowledge that humans could not have gained on their own. The Bible as a message from the Creator is designed to help us to make decisions in life. His interaction with Israel shows us his patience and commitment to a promise, despite the fact that his chosen nation broke their agreement many times.
What other "conflicting works" did God give to mankind? There is only one Bible and it has one message for all.
If you are disappointed with what "Christendom" is doing, then don't you think his own disappointment is worse?
History is repeating because humans are stubborn and will not take correction. There is a reason why Jesus said we had to be like "young children".....they are meek and teachable with no pre-conceived ideas of their own to get in the way. We are our own worst enemies.
You have the same 'faith' in science as I do - it's just that you have an additional, and unnecessary one.
It is only 'unnecessary' to those who do not know God, and who don't want to know him.
Those who genuinely seek him out on his terms, will find him.
God made the Earth in seven days - why not quote that bit - after all, the Bible is completely correct.
God made the earth and all the universe in one "big bang"....science knows this. How long it took God to choose this planet when he could have chosen any other is not stated....but we know it had all the things necessary once he prepared it for habitation.
The creative periods were not literal 24 hour 'days'. The word used in Hebrew can mean an undetermined period of time, with a stated beginning and end....and since time is irrelevant to the Creator, his 'project' could well have taken millions of years. Without time constraints, creation could well have been a slow and very deliberate process.
The Creator gave this earth an atmosphere and planted vegetation early in the process to provide oxygen for other living things that would come later. Each "day" had its own agenda and each one was concluded with a measure of satisfaction with what was accomplished. It is all accomplished in logical order.
The Bible is often either cited as being essentially factual or as an allegory so that the messages are more guidance than to be held to be factual. Which is it? The splits in all the various faiths point to the fact that when they were written there was no essential truth - just a lot of theories.
When the Bible is read apart from Christendom's teachings, you would be surprised how much sense it makes.
The "splits" in the various faiths was foretold long ago. What happened to Judaism, was predicted to happen also in Christianity....most people don't know that. Corruption is never far away when men deviate from the word of God and inject their own ideas.
If God was to manifest him or herself in the near future I might have some questions to ask. Like why all the rest of life, that often is determined to survive and in the process bring about our death. And what makes us so deserving to live when by doing so we almost certainly have to trample all over the rights of other life - by eating either plants and/or animals.
Looking at things from God's perspective is enlightening. He created a food source for all living things. Material beings, (unlike spirit creatures) need food and water to replenish their bodies and to sustain their lives. They need air to breathe and mates to perpetuate their species. They need sleep to recharge their 'batteries' and all of these things are a natural part of their existence. None of them have to force themselves to do any of it. What they needed to live was provided long before they got here.
PS I was born shortly after the end of WWII.
I am of a similar vintage.
My body is reminding me of my age but my mind is sharp because I am constantly researching things....in both the spheres of science and religion...or should I say the Bible, as I prefer to separate what the churches teach from what the Bible teaches. Never the twain shall meet.
I have been reading and researching many areas for much of my life, not in the religious arena so much but I have done enough, such that many areas will not exactly be fresh in my memory.
So you dismissed religion quite early in your life then...? For what reasons may I ask?
I still follow those areas that seem important to me, especially advances in science, but as might be expected of someone my age, I'm not
that keen to go over that which I imbibed many decades ago - especially rereading stuff that is not in my possession. Plus the fact that I'm an oldie and trying to preserve as much of my brain as possible given the deterioration to be likely.
I hear you. My first exposure to evolution in the early 60's at high school had a great impact on my life. It led me to question what I was taught in church and at Sunday School which I attended every week.
A tragic event led me to question everything, and I began a quest to make sense of all that I had been taught, both in science and in religion. I explored many religions as well as peering into the "evidence" for science's version of events. What I discovered was amazing.....all of it was nonsense. There was no truth to be found in either...so I found myself feeling very lost and confused..... completely disillusioned.
Very soon after there was a knock at my door, and you can guess who was there. I felt somewhat angry and hurled sarcastic questions at these people who had turned up uninvited to tell me about God. But every question I asked, they turned up the Bible to answer. I was so intrigued by their answers that I allowed them to come back and I ended up studying the Bible in depth with them for two solid years before I committed myself to become one of them.
Things are not always as they seem.....and sometime the truth hides in places we never think to look.
Our age should not get in the way of finding the truth.....I believe that these are exciting times from the Bible's perspective, but I see nothing good happening to godless humanity, and science is not addressing the problems it has caused through its thoughtless actions. This planet is in a sad and sorry state because of science's contribution. Pollution of the air, oceans, soil and water has a reached a point where it is not reversible. Man is making no real effort to clean up his mess. This planet is treated as a dumping ground for man made poisons.
Our food is not nourishing us and the western world is drowning in its own fat. Where will science take us? Anywhere we really want to go? Are we jumping or are we being pushed into a future that is somewhat frightening especially for us older ones?
What future do you see realistically?