The Bones of Jesus
February 26, 2007
The Lost Tomb of Jesus,” which the Discovery Channel will run on March 4, argues that 10 ancient ossuaries — small caskets used to store bones — discovered in a suburb of Jerusalem in 1980 may have contained the bones of Jesus and his family, according to a press release issued by the Discovery Channel. Not that I buy into it, but it is alarming that so many people are up in arms about this. Don’t get me wrong; that fundamentalists hate this kind of thing is WELL documented. The question you should be asking is “why.”
From ideologies concerning justice to teaching our children not to lie, we have always been told (and continue to pass down) that, no matter what, the truth will present itself. In that line of reasoning, why would someone get so upset about claims that go against the grain of their religion? What will people find if they truly search for the answers? Read more
The Watch Maker
February 25, 2007
While walking through the park, I found a watch. Watches (in my experience) do not simply spring into existence alongside the path. Someone of fairly high intelligence must have made the watch, then left it there. Wondering why someone might do such a thing, I decided to find the Watchmaker.Luck was with me. On the way home I saw an advertisement for similar watches available free (with the purchase of a meal) at a popular fast-food chain. I went to the nearest franchise and asked to see the Watchmaker. The counter-person was not helpful. “Dude, there’s no Watchmaker here, we just pull ‘em out of a box.” Read more
One More Point For Darwin
February 24, 2007
“Chimpanzees in Senegal have been observed making and using wooden spears to hunt other primates, according to a study in the journal Current Biology. Researchers documented 22 cases of chimps fashioning tools to jab at smaller primates sheltering in cavities of hollow branches or tree trunks.
The report’s authors, Jill Pruetz and Paco Bertolani, said the finding could have implications for human evolution.” (Read more.)
I guess the Creationists were right all along. ;p
Homosexuality
February 20, 2007
I am just so pissed off at these right-wing, conservative religious groups that have their sphincters clentched so tight about this subject that it amazes me that their heads are able to fit in there! This is just rediculous. Let’s get this “straight,” homosexuality can be found in multiple species in the animal kingdom. With all the irrefuteable proof out there, how in your God’s name can you claim that homosexuality is against nature? And don’t give me the line, “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” A gay person can no sooner change their sexual orientation than a straight person could “go gay.” In this instance, the sinner is the sin. But just for you Bible thumpers out there (and Islamics who feel the same way), here is a little something written by a friend of mine:
In the late 1700s some people wanted democratic rule. Conservative elements of the church pointed to the Bible and said it proved that the king ruled by God’s will.
In the mid 1800s some people wanted to end slavery. Conservative elements of the church pointed to the Bible and said it proved that God approved of slavery.
In the early 1900s some people wanted to give women the vote. Conservative elements of the church pointed to the Bible and said it proved that God made women inferior to men.
In the mid 1900s some people wanted to end segregation. Conservative elements of the church pointed to the Bible and said it proved God wanted to keep the races separate.
When you look back at how your parents and grandparents dealt with these things, are you ashamed or proud?
Now some people want to allow gay marriage. Conservative elements of the church are pointing to the Bible and saying it proves God hates homosexuality.
When your children and grandchildren look back at how you deal with this, will they be ashamed or proud?
5 rational proofs that Jesus is not God
February 20, 2007
Below are 5 rational proofs that Jesus (pbuh) cannot be God:
1)He that is distinguished from God is not God.
Jesus (pbuh) is distinguished from God.
Therefore, Jesus (pbuh) is not God.
2) He that is taught is not God.
He that hears from another what he would speak is taught.
Jesus (pbuh) speaks what he is told (John 8:26).
Therefore, Jesus (pbuh) is not God.
3) In John 16:14 Jesus says: “God is He that giveth all things to all”.
He that receives from another is not God.
Therefore, Jesus (pbuh) is not God.
4) He that is sent by another is not God.
Jesus (pbuh) is sent by God.
Therefore, Jesus (pbuh) is not God.
5) He that is not the giver of all things is not God (Acts 17:25).
He that is the gift of God is not the giver of all things.
He that is the gift of God is himself given.
The gift is in the power and at the disposal of the giver.
It is absurd to imagine that God can be in the power or at the disposal of another.
Therefore, Jesus (pbuh) is not God.
What has caused more harm to humanity, religion or science?
February 16, 2007
I ask this question for a particular reason. The basis and the pursuit of religious and scientific endeavors is based on the same false promise of a deeper understanding and knowledge of the universe. We have people in both the religious and scientific communities each scratching their heads over how the other is approaching the promise and failing.
While both religion and science offer the same promise, they do it very differently. Religion offers a promise of a better way of life that will ultimately end in being “saved”. The problem with the religious promise is twofold. First it’s difficult to tell if they really keep it, second, it has spawned all sorts of fanatics that have killed millions in the past centuries. We don’t need to look to far to find a religious conflict, there is one in every country costing people their lives. Science on the other hand offers a better way of life right now and unlike religion it actually produces answers. The problem is the answer usually brings up more questions which will only be solved by more science, etc. We all know what a bounty it was for humans to unlock the secrets of the atom providing nearly unlimited access to power. Unfortunately, like pandora’s box, it also unleashed an unlimited amount of destruction and death to millions through nuclear war, not to mention countless waste that we still really don’t have an answer for. As science looks for answers they continually produce more problems.
It is clear to me that unless people realize the promise is false we are ultimately doomed.
Origins of Man; Quran
February 14, 2007
It is the goal of this site to engage our audience in discussion and debate about all beliefs and religions, not just Christianity. In that vein, I will pose a question for our Muslim users. From what was man created? These are the corresponding verses that I could find so far in the Quran:
Man was created out of water:
25:54 And He it is Who hath created man from water, and hath appointed for him kindred by blood and kindred by marriage; for thy Lord is ever Powerful.
24:45 Allah hath created every animal of water. Of them is (a kind) that goeth upon its belly and (a kind) that goeth upon two legs and (a kind) that goeth upon four. Allah createth what He will. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.
Man was created from a clot:
96:1-2 Read: In the name of thy Lord Who createth, Createth man from a clot.
Man was created from clay or mud:
15:26 Verily We created man of potter’s clay of black mud altered,
32:7 Who made all things good which He created, and He began the creation of man from clay;
38:71 When thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to create a mortal out of mire,
55:14 He created man of clay like the potter’s,
Man was created from dust:
30:20 And of His signs is this: He created you of dust, and behold you human beings, ranging widely!
35:11 Allah created you from dust, then from a little fluid, then He made you pairs (the male and female). No female beareth or bringeth forth save with His knowledge. And no-one groweth old who groweth old, nor is aught lessened of his life, but it is recorded in a Book, Lo! that is easy for Allah.
A Broken Promise
February 12, 2007
So, the Israelites are wandering through the wilderness eating mana. I am sure that after a while, this got to be quite boring to the palette. Naturally, they call upon Moses and ask when they would be able to eat some real food (of course, when strolling through the wilderness fo 40 years, you would think that someone would have learned how to hunt or forage). So, Moses goes before God and God says,
“Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?” (Num. 11:16-20)
Great! Finally, some meat! And from the sounds of it, a lot of it! In fact, enough to eat for not 1,2,5,10 or 20 days; but at least enough for a month! Sounds like a great promise. And did God deliver? You bet he did!
And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day’s journey on this side, and as it were a day’s journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth. And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. (Num. 11:31-32)
Now, a cubit is about 1.5 feet (a man’s elbow to fingertip) and a day’s journey is about 7 miles. That’s a lot of quail! But wait, didn’t God promise them that they would eat the quail for a month? Until it was “loathsome” to them? Sure did! (Num. 11:19-20) Let’s see what happens next:
And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague. (Num. 11:33)
So much for that promise!
Why Believe?
February 8, 2007
I recently had a question posed to me that went something like this, “What is the problem with just having belief?” What an excellent question! We actually have to tackle this by differentiating between belief and the desire to believe.
While I believe that when I flip the switch on my wall the light will come on, my belief is not shaken if it does not. I know that there is a rational explanation as to why the light failed; a) the light bulb needs to be replaced, b) the wiring is faulty or c) I need to quit procrastinating and pay my bill. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a belief that is supported by evidence. If I had believed, however, that there was some magic involved in the process simply because the previous owner told me so, NOW I have a problem.
The desire to believe is a different beast. Due to the fact that we are aware of our impending death, we desire to believe that some part of us will live on. Belief based in fear is usually disastrous. Racism and prejudice, for example, are beliefs built upon fear. The idea of a soul and eternal life are no different. Fearing death, we desire to believe that there is more afterwards. There is no scientific evidence to support it, but we want to believe it. We want to believe that we will see our loved ones again and that the “next life” will be more peaceful than this one.
This is just one of the problems that I have with most organized religions. First, discard your ability to reason; you need only to believe because we tell you it is so and so does this great book we have put together. And secondly, don’t focus on this life, focus on the one to come. To me, this seems like quite a waste of this temporary gift we have called life.
Pulling it Together
February 7, 2007
Just a quick post tonight. First, I hope everyone finds that the redesign is a little easier on the eyes.
This post is simply to tie together In the Beginning parts 1 and 2 as well as Original Crime and Punishment. In the Christian realm, you have the Fundamentalists: the Bible is God’s word as it is. Then you have more liberal Christians: yes, it is god’s word but some of it is allegorical. Many of today’s Christians believe that the creation story(s) found in Genesis are allegorical in nature. If this is true, then there truly is no such thing as “original sin” and, hence, no need for a savior.
However, if you are to go with the fundamentalist view, creation happened just as laid out in Genesis. If this is the case, one has to question certain attributes that we have assigned to the Biblical god. Example: if God is indeed omniscient, surely he knew how the events were going to unfold. Now, before people scream, “FREEWILL,” the fact that God knew what was about to happen before he even created the Earth is evidenced by 1Peter 1:19-20:
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
So, do we go with the idea that God knowingly created a world which would be forever in turmoil due to sin, or the idea that some parts of the Bible are allegorical? If we go with the former, why isn’t God held up to the same scrutiny that we would examine a case of any pre-meditated crime? If the latter is true, how do we distinguish the literal from the allegorical?
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