>1. The universe explodes from a singularity >looking just as you would expect if there >was a Creator. Wow, what hindsight. The Creator could create in any way he pleases...how in the world would you know what to "expect"? He could have hauled scraps in from one of this other job sites and you would still say the same thing. >2. The universe is finely tuned for life just >as if you would expect if there was a Creator. If it's so "finely tuned for life" as we would expect from great all knowing Creator, how come we all die? -- surely that wouldn't be an expected outcome...why make us only to have us live short and die painfully - some creator if that's the case. (yeah, we all know where you'll go with this one -- go ahead and get it over with) >3. Universe mysteriously occurs on planet earth >in impossible conditions just as you would >expect if there was a Creator. (I think you mean "life" rather than "universe" and will continue in that vein). Yes, gifts appear for kids under the Christmas Tree as they would expect from Santa. It's a good argument...stick with it. >4. Modern psychological studies show that the traditional >family is best statistically for children exactly as you >would expect if there was a Creator. Now there is a leap. If the Creator had decided that only lesbians should be raising kids and all hetros should give up their offspring for lesbian raising you would then be saying that this would also be what you would expect from the Creator. You are WAY into "after the fact" here Shoe. >5. Planet earth is covered with reports of the >supernatural just as you would expect if there >was a Creator. Again, why would you "expect" that? There is no ruling council that tells this Creator that he must or needs to interact. And the supernatural reports need not come from a Creator -- the theory of evolution could be correct and there still be plenty of supernatural interaction to be reported. I find no correlation here whatsoever. >6. The gospel explodes across the planet >centering in Asia, Southern Africa and Latin >America just as you would expect if there >was a Creator. Yes of course...and if this "gospel" had exploded across say Western Europe and Australia it would have meant what? (Latin America...what's up with that?) >I could go on but I'll stop there. No Please, this is really fun and amazing. >I am not saying any of these proves a Creator. >I am just saying that they fit the theistic model >much better than the "we're all just animals on >a big rock in space" theory. Ok, I'll just pick one... >4. Modern psychological studies show that the traditional >family is best statistically for children exactly as you >would expect if there was a Creator. How can you come up with a better fit then "the two beings that created the third and who thus will on average care more about it than the random others would be the ones to best care for it and prepare it for life on it's own". It's a perfect fit evolution wise to say the "traditional family" is best on average. Please tell me how it is that this fits the theistic model "better"? JB
Um, try reading the bible some time. Or just ask your priest. Or any Christian. Come on Jem, it is well established christian doctrine that FAITH (in jesus/god) is essential for salvation. Those who aren't saved get to burn in hell. It is a SIN not to believe in god, or to "reject" god, as christians put it. I reject god. I reject god because I can see no good reason to believe in him and PLENTY of EXCELLENT reasons not to. I, according to christianity, am therefore scheduled for hell, no? And I'm going to stay there FOR ETERNITY! Does that not seem a BIT EXTREME for such a, let's face it, minor transgression? (We let MURDERERS off with FAR, FAR, FAR less. ) Are you going to deny that this is the case? God, that would be pretty kewl wouldn't it! I get to IGNORE all the crap that comes with christianity and I'm not punished for it? FANTASTIC!
Er, how about, "I don't know"? I don't know whether life "spontaneously" arose from the interaction of mindless, random forces or whether it was purposely created. We do have OODLES of evidence for believing it EVOLVED UNINTELLIGENTLY after it arose, though. If I was going to guess either way, I'd lean towards life being non-created. But I'm more than happy to say I don't know. When it comes to God, what reason do YOU have to believe in him?
>3. Universe mysteriously occurs on planet earth >in impossible conditions just as you would >expect if there was a Creator. And why hasn't this happened on Mars? Surely you have been "expecting" it there as well. After all, its "just as you would expect if there was a Creator". JB
This is just outrageous! 21st Century America folks! Attempts to 'undemonize' girl killed her ATLANTA -- A 6-year-old girl found dead in a motel room had been strangled, stabbed, beaten and covered in pages torn from a Bible, possibly in an attempt to ''undemonize'' her, police said Tuesday. No surprise, really. You convince people there are invisible entities floating around trying to harm them and practically anything becomes possible.
When they were walking with no clothes on, they told the officer theyre doing this because God told them to. Sounds very much like a RELIGIOUSLY MOTIVATED crazy to me.