[Moderator’s Note: this post is a reponse by PhilsGT500 to some comments made by someone who used WitchyMari’s username without his/her permission. At WitchyMari’s request, I have deleted the imposter posts, but I have left the responses to it since removing all trace of them looked like it would cause more confusion than leaving them. --Gaudere]
Lib,
I’m personally a fan of our friend’s use of the “whatever” argument.
It’s always done an excellent job of convincing me of being incorrect. Maybe I should try it myself. Witchy…WHATEVER!
I disagree with you in very many particulars that I’ve already posted here. But I do appreciate your willingness to offer a chain of reasoning and make assertions that are actual logical propositions. With your first and only post, you’ve already earned my respect. Welcome to Straight Dope Great Debates.
Mean Girl,
If I were to say “I love you” it would be an understatement. Do be prepared to come under fire though. There are some very respectable arguments against us. Lib here is a Christian who has more than impressed me but absolutely diagrees with my opinion. Also, if you see anything posted by Polycarp, chances are it’s very insightful. And far be it for me to say that there aren’t non-believers who have valuable opinions. I’m sure I’m leaving someone out but GrimPixie comes to mind.
This is a hard, hard topic. For me it’s been very difficult to cut through my presuppositions and get to what scripture actually says. I am not at all confident I’ve reached the ‘right’ or ‘best’ conclusion. I’m only saying what I have concluded based on what I know so far.
Teleology (the study of purpose) is always difficult. When I can’t get any farther, I go back to what I am bound to as a christian: Romans 9 says ‘who are you, o man, to reply against God’ (ultimately the defining verse for me as I struggled with predestination) and the verses in Isaiah that say God’s purposes are higher than mine.
Anyway, deep personal struggle here about it. V much appreciate the thread.
And I do believe I know Polycarp. The Greek definition of his name, if I remember right, is ‘multiple fish.’
Mean Girl - I agree with your opinion and appreciate you bringing it to this forum. It’s great to see Christians with a simple, straightforward approach to a practical faith. We need to focus on the fundamentals that unite us as Christians rather than nit pick over topics that will tear us apart.
One other thing… God can reveal himself through his creation. The Theory of evolution is coming under more and more fire by modern scientists as they see holes in the theory. These people are asking “why, how, and from where” about life on earth, and science simply cannot answer all the questions, in fact evolution stands against simple scientific principles. For example, the intricasies of optical organs and the balance of weather systems call out of a Creator. The design in nature and the discoveries of natural law (as many 18th and 19th century philosophers found) call for some sort of great Designer.
Jep,
Another interesting way to look at evolution is that it doesn’t contradict the bible to begin with. I see it as God’s method of creating man. Granted we haven’t figured out everything there is to know about the aptly named “theory of evolution”, but I have yet to find a view of it that counters what I read in the bible. As intricate and precise as evolution is claimed to be, personally I would expect there to be a divine designer of the very process.
Mean Girl,
Just out of curiousity (and parting ways with the last few posts), have you come to a conclusion on the subject of predestination? I ask because I struggle with it daily. I certainly cannot disprove that we might be predestined but neither can I disprove the possibility that God gave us free-will. Any insight you have will be much appreciated.
Please ignore any posts that have come from this account prior to this one. I have only ever posted twice, once to a question about dragons, and once to a question about the proper use of the American flag. I saw my name as a recent poster to this topic and it wasn’t me who posted. This is what happens when you leave your computer logged on and trust people around you. I have no idea what all they said but whatever it was Please don’t hold it against me. I tried to go and delete the fraudulent posts but this forum doesn’t allow that.
Please, I apologize for any harm that was done.
I don’t know what to do now, should I change my name? I don’t want to be associated with that jerk and I don’t know how to prove to people from now on that it’s really me at the keyboard. What do you suggest I do?
Make sure to log off every time you visit the forum, if you do not trust the people who use your computer; there is a link to do that on the main forum page. If you want your name changed, email lynnbodoni@hotmail.com and TUBADIVA@aol.com and ask them to cancel your old account and set up a new one under a different name. If you want me to delete the previous posts under your name in this thread, let me know and I shall. My email is sburch@elnet.com.
Yes, please delete the posts. I am going to email them and ask to change to a new account. I’m embarrassed, hurt and angry at myself for being so stupid.
god can do no evil?
but god stands by when evil actions are perpetrated by his own creations.
if i stood by someone who was killing another person and i had the power to stop the murder but i didnt, would that not be evil?
actually scrap that i dont care, all i want to know is that why god, if he is omnipotent, is letting my father die? why to bad things happen to good people?
Explain to me how you can reasonably compared to God and I will humbly change my opinion and my faith. You have a moral code. It is established. Perhaps you don’t believe God established the code for you, but something has. To say that God can do wrong is to esablish a moral code for God. This would put some force above Him. It is my opinion that there is nothing greater than God.
My mother’s death was one of the most beautiful and wonderful experiences of my life. Why would you want to deny your father the attainment of perfect knowledge and peace?
