About fossils -- would you say this is true?

[Subduction Zone]

Your comment does not make that much sense to me because if I thought all those calling themselves Christian were truly Christian then I'd follow your question .

The problem is that you won't let yourself understand the concept of evidence. And be careful. I could make a very good argument that you are not "truly Christian".. You do not need to believe all of the myths of the Bible to be a Christian. Surely you do not believe the Noah's Ark myth.

 

[YoursTrue]

The problem is that you won't let yourself understand the concept of evidence. And be careful. I could make a very good argument that you are not "truly Christian".. You do not need to believe all of the myths of the Bible to be a Christian. Surely you do not believe the Noah's Ark myth.

I don't understand everything. I know to a good extent what the Bible says. I didn't say I am a good Christian. I hope I'm not a bad one, but that is my relationship with the One I consider is God.

 

[YoursTrue]

The problem is that you won't let yourself understand the concept of evidence. And be careful. I could make a very good argument that you are not "truly Christian".. You do not need to believe all of the myths of the Bible to be a Christian. Surely you do not believe the Noah's Ark myth.

I do understand the concept of evolution. Regardless of the number of teeth etc I find it more than extraordinary that this all came about by natural selection.

 

[Subduction Zone]

I don't understand everything. I know to a good extent what the Bible says. I didn't say I am a good Christian. I hope I'm not a bad one, but that is my relationship with the One I consider is God.

You were talking about others being "truly Christian". As a Christian the most important part of the Bible should be the teachings of Jesus. What it says in Genesis should not really affect that at all.

 

[Subduction Zone]

I do understand the concept of evolution. Regardless of the number of teeth etc I find it more than extraordinary that this all came about by natural selection.

Why do you think that it is extraordinary? When people make this claim it tells me that they probably do not understand evolution.

 

[YoursTrue]

You were talking about others being "truly Christian". As a Christian the most important part of the Bible should be the teachings of Jesus. What it says in Genesis should not really affect that at all.

Hmm is all I can say right now. I won't go into that now although I appreciate the effort you made to help me better understand the concept of evolution. So then, yes, a decision must be made. And since I don't know everything I choose to go along to the best of my humble and limited ability with the Bible as I understand it. And accept what it says. I hope for a resurrection, if I die. That is a choice because I have faith. Further, yes...I believe that scientists themselves say the odds are astronomical to the beginning of life here, either way you look at it. Whether abiogenesis or after that. Do I believe species made changes? Seems so and I don't want to get into a discussion of what forms a species now rather than kind. So we can leave it at that. You have been very kind to put up with me and for that I thank you.

 

[YoursTrue]

Why do you think that it is extraordinary? When people make this claim it tells me that they probably do not understand evolution.

Oh boy here we go again.

 

[YoursTrue]

Why do you think that it is extraordinary? When people make this claim it tells me that they probably do not understand evolution.

I was at the supermarket recently and a small child was talking to the person behind the fish counter. The clerk was talking to her and her father that the clams in the display could be alive. The girl about 9 years old was very bright and started talking to the customer service person about the tongue that comes out of a clam. I was fascinated and after the child left with her father I mentioned to the clerk how fabulous God's creations are. The clerk agreed and went on to talk to me about natural healing. Ok, I didn't get into a big discussion about that and I believe by this time you know I will take antibiotics etc. I mentioned to her that Revelation speaks of the trees that will heal. I believe to a large extent that is symbolic and I hope to be there to be see the fulfillment. She said she'll ask her pastor. My point--life is fabulous and will get much much better. Take care.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Hmm is all I can say right now. I won't go into that now although I appreciate the effort you made to help me better understand the concept of evolution. So then, yes, a decision must be made. And since I don't know everything I choose to go along to the best of my humble and limited ability with the Bible as I understand it. And accept what it says. I hope for a resurrection, if I die. That is a choice because I have faith. Further, yes...I believe that scientists themselves say the odds are astronomical to the beginning of life here, either way you look at it. Whether abiogenesis or after that. Do I believe species made changes? Seems so and I don't want to get into a discussion of what forms a species now rather than kind. So we can leave it at that. You have been very kind to put up with me and for that I thank you.

The theory of evolution does nothing to refute that Christian belief.

You can still believe in the resurrection and accept evolution. It only tells us that the Adam and Eve myth is wrong. It does not say anything about other Christian beliefs.

As to the odds argument. That is often poorly made. The odds of humans being here is almost zero. The odds of some sort of life evolving in the universe and some of it being intelligent is almost one.

Take the lottery as an example. If you plan your retirement using the lottery you will almost surely end up in the poor house. But sooner or later someone somewhere will win the lottery.

When it came to the lottery of intelligent life we were one of the winners. The odds were huge that some organisms would win somewhere. People that do not understand odds often have very difficult time understanding them in the very rare cases when they do win, and they also often misunderstand them when the keep losing.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Oh boy here we go again.

What do you expect when you contradict yourself?

 

[YoursTrue]

@Subduction Zone P.S. OK, I'm still trying to figure about radiometric dating...

 

[Subduction Zone]

I was at the supermarket recently and a small child was talking to the person behind the fish counter. The clerk was talking to her and her father that the clams in the display could be alive. The girl about 9 years old was very bright and started talking to the customer service person about the tongue that comes out of a clam. I was fascinated and after the child left with her father I mentioned to the clerk how fabulous God's creations are. The clerk agreed and went on to talk to me about natural healing. Ok, I didn't get into a big discussion about that and I believe by this time you know I will take antibiotics etc. I mentioned to her that Revelation speaks of the trees that will heal. I believe to a large extent that is symbolic and I hope to be there to be see the fulfillment. She said she'll ask her pastor. My point--life is fabulous and will get much much better. Take care.

That is just a huge argument from ignorance. "I don't know, but it is awfully complicated so God did it". There is no problem saying that life is complex. But that is not evidence for a God.

 

[Subduction Zone]

@Subduction Zone P.S. OK, I'm still trying to figure about radiometric dating...

Okay, Let's go over one concept at a time.

Do you understand half lives? Let's say that we have something that is very radioactive with only a ten day half life. You would seriously not want to get anywhere closes to a large amount of this substance. After ten days you would have only half of the original amount. After 100 days or ten half lives there would be 1/1024 the original amount. Call it one thousandth of the original amount. Does that give you any problems at all?

 

[YoursTrue]

The theory of evolution does nothing to refute that Christian belief.

You can still believe in the resurrection and accept evolution. It only tells us that the Adam and Eve myth is wrong. It does not say anything about other Christian beliefs.

As to the odds argument. That is often poorly made. The odds of humans being here is almost zero. The odds of some sort of life evolving in the universe and some of it being intelligent is almost one.

Take the lottery as an example. If you plan your retirement using the lottery you will almost surely end up in the poor house. But sooner or later someone somewhere will win the lottery.

When it came to the lottery of intelligent life we were one of the winners. The odds were huge that some organisms would win somewhere. People that do not understand odds often have very difficult time understanding them in the very rare cases when they do win, and they also often misunderstand them when the keep losing.

Before I began studying the Bible, I told you I didn't believe in God. I questioned religious leaders as much as possible. Still no answers. But one religious leader told me, "Faith is one of the gifts of the spirit that only God can give." And I said but I don't believe in God. And he repeated that only God can give this gift. I knew I couldn't go beyond that argument because I didn't believe in God. But I finally prayed to a god I wasn't sure existed. I won't go into detail but I now have faith. It was a struggle. I also did not join the religion the preacher belonged to but I believe God knew me and helped me. Goodnight for now.

 

[YoursTrue]

Okay, Let's go over one concept at a time.

Do you understand half lives? Let's say that we have something that is very radioactive with only a ten day half life. You would seriously not want to get anywhere closes to a large amount of this substance. After ten days you would have only half of the original amount. After 100 days or ten half lives there would be 1/1024 the original amount. Call it one thousandth of the original amount. Does that give you any problems at all?

I want to get into this but not now. Asap.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Before I began studying the Bible, I told you I didn't believe in God. I questioned religious leaders as much as possible. Still no answers. But one religious leader told me, "Faith is one of the gifts of the spirit that only God can give." And I said but I don't believe in God. And he repeated that only God can give this gift. I knew I couldn't go beyond that argument because I didn't believe in God. But I finally prayed to a god I wasn't sure existed. I won't go into detail but I now have faith. It was a struggle. I also did not join the religion the preacher belonged to but I believe God knew me and helped me. Goodnight for now.

That is all fine and dandy. But once again there is nothing about Christianity that tells you that you have to believe the clearly false parts of the Bible. You should watch the video that I posted of a paleontologist, still very much a Christian, but no longer a YEC. She now accepts evolution but does not read Genesis literally at all. One of her lines for her reason not to make that error:

"God is not a deceiver". When she was a creationist she did not know enough science to understand how she was calling God a deceiver. When she learned more she had to face facts. Either Genesis is literally true and God is a deceiver, or, if God is not a deceiver then Genesis cannot be literally true. She is still very much a Christian. She still has faith. She just will not besmirch her God by believing a myth.

 

[YoursTrue]

That is all fine and dandy. But once again there is nothing about Christianity that tells you that you have to believe the clearly false parts of the Bible. You should watch the video that I posted of a paleontologist, still very much a Christian, but no longer a YEC. She now accepts evolution but does not read Genesis literally at all. One of her lines for her reason not to make that error:

"God is not a deceiver". When she was a creationist she did not know enough science to understand how she was calling God a deceiver. When she learned more she had to face facts. Either Genesis is literally true and God is a deceiver, or, if God is not a deceiver then Genesis cannot be literally true. She is still very much a Christian. She still has faith. She just will not besmirch her God by believing a myth.

I'm not sure how you feel about the statement that says all scripture is inspired of God. Also keeping in mind that Jesus himself spoke of Noah and the idea that God made the first man and woman. So look, don't ask me to define it since the creation account does not discuss molecules and isotopes. Anyway, thinking about that tells me what the Bible says. "Every house has a builder."

 

[Subduction Zone]

I'm not sure how you feel about the statement that says all scripture is inspired of God. Also keeping in mind that Jesus himself spoke of Noah and the idea that God made the first man and woman. So look, don't ask me to define it since the creation account does not discuss molecules and isotopes. Anyway, thinking about that tells me what the Bible says. "Every house has a builder."

I of course do not accept it. But I am very sure that I understand it better than you do.

The Bible says nothing about the stupid " every house has a builder" argument. The answer to that is:

Yes, man made things were made by man. So what?

 

[YoursTrue]

That is all fine and dandy. But once again there is nothing about Christianity that tells you that you have to believe the clearly false parts of the Bible. You should watch the video that I posted of a paleontologist, still very much a Christian, but no longer a YEC. She now accepts evolution but does not read Genesis literally at all. One of her lines for her reason not to make that error:

"God is not a deceiver". When she was a creationist she did not know enough science to understand how she was calling God a deceiver. When she learned more she had to face facts. Either Genesis is literally true and God is a deceiver, or, if God is not a deceiver then Genesis cannot be literally true. She is still very much a Christian. She still has faith. She just will not besmirch her God by believing a myth.

What I am finding is that 1. The use of the time period day does not have to mean a 24 hour period even in the Bible, and 2. the Earth's atmosphere at the early start of preparing the earth for life was not conducive to growing live organisms, scientists do say that also but then Moses specifically wrote that God enabled sunlight to reach the earth. I feel sure that everything God made has a good purpose. Not what mankind does since Adam took it upon himself to be without God's direction. Right now my focus is on evolution and the realistic account in Genesis. Every house has a builder. Even Einstein couldn't figure everything out, I do understand why some people are atheists or agnostic.

 

[YoursTrue]

I of course do not accept it. But I am very sure that I understand it better than you do.

The Bible says nothing about the stupid " every house has a builder" argument. The answer to that is:

Yes, man made things were made by man. So what?

oh boy...

Ok here it is, Hebrews 3:4
"For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God."

It depends on your concept of what everything is. Another day, though, for that. Meantime, the complexity of DNA and other structures shows me that there is/must be a higher power. With intelligence.