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These are really odd questions in my opinion. I don't see deep spirituality or devotion to God as having anything at all in common with religious fanaticism. To me, the extent to which I try to be obedient to God's commandments has everything to do with my relationship to Him and nothing at all do do with an any attempt to outdo someone else. It has always struck me as odd that anyone would be upset about the possibility that someone less devout might make it to heaven. To God, we're all family. He loves all of us equally and wants to see us all return to His presence. I pray several times each day and certainly do try to live my religion, but it is not for the reasons you suggest.AtheistAJ said:
Well, I'm more devout than some Orthodox Christians (and less than many, to my shame) but there's absolutely no sense that I'm trying to get to heaven before the others. My motivation is to live the best life I can and the second I start comparing myself favourably to others I will be suffering from spiritual pride, which is very dangerous. I cannot judge what's in another's heart, so how do I know why some pray less than me (or even if they do), or seem to keep less (or more) strictly to the fasts. Maybe they are less in need of their 'medicine' than I am. I am devout because I am trying to work out my own salvation and am aware how far away I am from my destination. I am often lax because it's hard and I can get lazy. I suspect that those (at least in my Church) that are the most devout are those that most clearly see the flaws in themselves and are working to overcome them. One-upmanship plays absolutely no part in our faith. All we can do is look to our own hearts for only God can see what is in the hearts of others around us.AtheistAJ said:
Evolution?Ronald said:
Just about the same reason you think, follower of Christ! Or the same reason there isn't two snowflakes alike.michel said:
Couldn't animal husbandry have something to do with? Duet.Deut. said:
Ronald said:
Actually not wishing to be pedantic, (tho' wishing not to be has never stopped me before) that is an answer to 'how' not why (I'll neglect the fact it's a question answering a question) i.e. the evolutionary process is 'how' it occurred. From an evolutionary perspective the answer to 'why?' would be that the colouration made fit said ducks in their environment enabling them to reach reproductive age.Deut. 10:19 said:
It has been my experience that those who are more devout in their faith are such because that is what they feel is required of them. Those that are not so devout plain just don't care, it seems to me. Maybe they will go to heaven too, maybe they won't. I don't know.AtheistAJ said:
Well 'evolution' doesn't answer why, as I said it describes a process, which as I said would be a 'how'. As a part of the process and answering the specific of 'why' in relation to colouration a more correct answer would be 'adaptation' i.e. The reason some ducks are brown etc. is because their colouration made them more succesful in reproductive success. This would answer the reason why 'some ducks..' etc. To extend the question this would also answer why the demographic and ratio of said ducks varies in different environments. The underlying cause is not a singularity, it is a complex of environmental factors, thus 'why' would not be fitting for the 'underlying cause', as the likelihood is that the factors are multiple. The cause is not evolution, evolution is what occurs due to causation.Cynic said:
