Free Will and Religion

[Railroad]

UNA, please check out the link I posted for you. Also, please think about the Higgs Boson and other things that seem to point to our Creator. This is not a pride thing, but an honest search for the truth. If you still disagree, I'm cool with that and will "duel" with you in a nice way until the last.

[UNA]

Originally Posted by PsyOps

And I suppose you believe in man-made global warming, and alien life, and alternate universes, parallel universes, and that matter breaks down in a black hole, and that it doesn't, and that the universe did not begin with a single big bang but with millions of big bangs?:

Why do you keep accusing him of believing in theories?

For the sake of it, lets say that I say "Alien life exists and they've been here". I can't prove it and I understand that, I've just seen some evidence and I think it pretty compelling BUT I STILL KNOW IT'S JUST A THEORY and I don't try to convince people that it is a FACT and that I have proof because the Great Pyramid exists!***

Figuring that a THEORY might be true and insisting that the existence of God is a FACT are not comparable. Non-theists are OK with not knowing everything (in fact its more fun that way) and don't insist on inserting something into every gap.

***I do NOT believe in ancient aliens


View more ancient aliens images

[UNA]

Originally Posted by PsyOps

What? What's philosphical about proving how matter came to exist?

(Sorry, I just can't keep my mouth shut) ...weren't you asking for "why's"? Not "how's"?

[Railroad]

Originally Posted by Railroad

UNA, please check out the link I posted for you. Also, please think about the Higgs Boson and other things that seem to point to our Creator. This is not a pride thing, but an honest search for the truth. If you still disagree, I'm cool with that and will "duel" with you in a nice way until the last.

Please do look at the suggested site. It will take a while because there is a lot there to be studied.

[PsyOps (Premo)]

Originally Posted by UNA

Didn't you just get upset with McGinn for making assumptions about you?

I think there’s a little bit of a difference between questioning someone’s level of knowledge (a personal attack), and assuming how someone will answer a question. And, for the record, I didn't get upset; I was setting him straight.

The rest of your post is getting redundant; on both our parts. Agree to disagree.

[PsyOps (Premo)]

Originally Posted by UNA

(Sorry, I just can't keep my mouth shut) ...weren't you asking for "why's"? Not "how's"?

Yes... because when he answered, my follow up would have been 'why'. You have to give my line dialectics a chance.

[PsyOps (Premo)]

Originally Posted by UNA

Why do you keep accusing him of believing in theories?

Because he does? Believing the phenomena occurring in certain points of space are black holes is completely based on theory. McGinn believes they are black holes. He believes in a theory. That was easy.

[Starman3000m]

Originally Posted by UNA

Ever played telephone?

Ever played post office? * lol

As mentioned about Judaism, the Oral Laws and historical accounts of God dealing with the Jewish people were eventually written down by the scribes and became the verifiable references to turn to for the continued teaching of their faith.

However, unlike the scenario of a gathering of people passing along info where facts change and the story ends up totally different with the last person giving the account, the accuracy of the Word of God was revealed by the Holy Spirit to the Prophets who did not change the message at all. God's Truth to mankind remained as reliable teachings that could be trusted since the Prophets were sent and led by God.

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20-21)

* Now, about playing post office: After the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead and His Ascension to Heaven, His disciples documented their experiences on parchments and even sent letters back and forth among themselves and to the early churches with the Gospel Message that Christ was indeed the Son of God and Jewish Messiah. They shared the accounts of their personal experiences through these letters (epistles). However, as in the case with the Old Testament Prophets, the Holy Spirit of God gave the inspiration to Jesus' disciples of what to write and the accuracy of the accounts of their experiences was brought into their remembrance by God's Holy Spirit, as Jesus said would happen.
The New Testament accounts are the reliable and trustworthy teachings of Jesus Christ that were documented by those who had first-hand experiences and whose writings were led by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In order to keep the record straight and true, Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would be sent to remind them of His teachings that they should write about:

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:25-27)

The Holy Bible contains all the information necessary for mankind to know about God and His Plan of Salvation for mankind through the Atoning Blood of Christ.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)

And as the Holy Spirit gave that inspiration to the Prophets and Jesus' disciples of what to write, so too does the Holy Spirit open up the understanding to those who read from The Word of God:

As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—eternal life.
I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. (1 John 2:24-27)

The New Testament accounts of Jesus' birth, life and ministry are the proof that God is and that God is willing to interact in the personal life of each individual who seeks Him with a genuine and sincere desire to know the Truth - and, yes, There is Only One Truth. (John 14:6)

[UNA]

Originally Posted by Railroad

UNA, please check out the link I posted for you. Also, please think about the Higgs Boson and other things that seem to point to our Creator. This is not a pride thing, but an honest search for the truth. If you still disagree, I'm cool with that and will "duel" with you in a nice way until the last.

The Higgs Boson remains unobserved. It will neither prove nor disprove the existence of God (if it exists). It would merely prove the Standard Model correct (which isn't really mere is it )

Interestingly Peter Higgs (for which the particle is named) is also an atheist and is therefore not pleased with the Higgs Boson being referred to the "God Particle"

[UNA]

Originally Posted by PsyOps

I think there’s a little bit of a difference between questioning someone’s level of knowledge (a personal attack), and assuming how someone will answer a question. And, for the record, I didn't get upset; I was setting him straight.

OK, then "Please stop assuming I don’t have a desire to --take all the evidence into account--. You really know nothing about me. Attacking my --ability to reason--does not make your argument stronger."

Originally Posted by PsyOps

The rest of your post is getting redundant; on both our parts. Agree to disagree.

Seriously? That quickly?

OK, I'll just copy this to be sure you read it clearly as I don't appreciate being told my life is pointless because I don't believe like you...it's a lot like having one's knowledge or ability to reason attacked...

Originally Posted by UNA

My hopes and dreams do not rely on the HOPE and DREAM that there is a higher power waiting to take me away to my eternal salvation. My hopes and dreams are in the here and now, they will live on in the people I touch throughout my lifetime. For many it lives on in their children. I don't expect my legacy to be a great and world changing one, but if I can make one little corner better for someone then I've accomplished something.

By your logic there is no point, no reason to live a good life other than to have a better one after death. Why do anything?! Sell all your possessions, quit your job, stop voting, stop learning, stop discovering, stop talking, stop donating time or money to charities that make the world a better place in the here and now. Go be a hermit in a cave because according to you there is no point to this life except to get to the next one.

I sure hope for your sake that your hopes and dreams are forever because if they're not you sure as hell wasted this life.

Originally Posted by PsyOps

Yes... because when he answered, my follow up would have been 'why'. You have to give my line dialectics a chance.

You differentiated between the "how's" and the "why's" insisting that the "why" questions be answered with science...then asked...again...a "how" question. The "why's" are philosophical (and/or religious by proxy), the "how's" are scientific.

Originally Posted by PsyOps

Because he does? Believing the phenomena occurring in certain points of space are black holes is completely based on theory. McGinn believes they are black holes. He believes in a theory. That was easy.

Didn't you watch the video? Stars circle tightly around an unseen central point, no radiation...we have defined that to be a black hole. You saw it with your own eyes! Do you propose a different explanation? I'd love to hear it and look forward to seeing your evidence.