What's your religious affiliation?

[Mr.Yos0]

I believe that a supreme being created the universe.. All the objects, processes in the universe are just amazingly intertwined with each other. It seems like each has its own purpose. Everyone and everything is benefiting from each other.

[judE_Law]

I think everyone deserves to know who created the universe. Malabo naman yun pag walang creator di ba?

It could be created, it could be just there. Or it could be created by a natural process. They are still looking for the answers.

there is an answer.. they just don't want to buy it. 

[carpediem]

I think everyone deserves to know who created the universe. Malabo naman yun pag walang creator di ba?

It could be created, it could be just there. Or it could be created by a natural process. They are still looking for the answers.

there is an answer.. they just don't want to buy it. 

I for one do not 

of course, Universe is created naturally. Ang labo naman ata yung pag nanggaling sa evolvement because of thousands of light years.

How about the people? How can you say where it all started? That a man came from Ape? You really believe in the Evolution of man? If you believe man came from Ape, bakit yung ibang Apes hinde naging tao 

I think it is more acceptable that there is a supreme being who creates the universe and the people to take care of the universe and other living things.

The evolution of man and ape diverged eons ago.

[judE_Law]

The evolution of man and ape diverged eons ago.

uh... and so you're open to the possibiity, that us humans and other living things will/might still evolve into something ellse in the next 200,000 years??? lol!
if you believe in charles darwin theory of evolution, do you think we are still in the process of evolving?
do you possibly think that something more intelligent specie might evolve from human beings?

"the missing link" is a big HOAX!
coz untill now.. that missing link is still missing!!!
I mean, have you ever seen an ape that could be taught to do algebra?  No!  Other than the most basic skills (which a dog can also be taught), an ape does not have the capacity to learn anywhere near the human level.  Apes are dumb!  You can say a dog is smart (and it might be), but it can't logic like a human being can. 
if we evolved from a lower species, then why is it that the apes didn't evolve in the evolutionary process?
Where are all those half man/half ape fossils which should be abundant in the earth's soil layers?  They don't exist. 

Evolution are for people who do not acknowledge the word of God in their life.

Even today, this world is filled with simple one-cell structured living organisms.  Why didn't they evolve?
if evolution were true, then you would think that different groups of animals could naturally breed.  A horse and a giraffe cannot breed offspring.  A cat and a dog cannot breed offspring.  Only through modern genetic DNA tampering can scientists play god and create monsters.

On the contrary, thousands upon thousands of scrolls of the Bible have been discovered throughout the holy land.  They all agree with each other.  The Bible and history accurately coincide.  How could one book written by 40 men over a 1,500 year time period be so accurate.
Most of those men didn't know each other.  The Bible is a perfectly interlocking prophetic puzzle, a masterpiece of literature.  Further, the Bible is the ONLY book on the face of this earth which addresses the sinfulness of mankind and our need for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
It's been said that man wouldn't write the Bible if he could, and couldn't if he would.  There is no book which even compares.  The Qur'an contains NO prophecy.  The Qur'an is obviously biased against Christians and Jews.  The Word of God is not biased against anyone. 

Evolution is in direct opposition to the Bible.

The earliest man is said, by the evolutionists, to have existed one or two million years old.
Oddly enough, man has accomplished more in the last 6,000 years than he did in the previous million years. This would be true in light of the fact that we have not one shred of evidence that man did anything in that previous one million years!

[joshgroban]

agree ako jude...

[carpediem]

uh... and so you're open to the possibiity, that us humans and other living things will/might still evolve into something ellse in the next 200,000 years??? lol!
if you believe in charles darwin theory of evolution, do you think we are still in the process of evolving?
do you possibly think that something more intelligent specie might evolve from human beings?

Yes, what is the problem with that?

I mean, have you ever seen an ape that could be taught to do algebra?  No!  Other than the most basic skills (which a dog can also be taught), an ape does not have the capacity to learn anywhere near the human level.  Apes are dumb!  You can say a dog is smart (and it might be), but it can't logic like a human being can.

Huh? What do these have anything to do with evolution?

if we evolved from a lower species, then why is it that the apes didn't evolve in the evolutionary process?

Even today, this world is filled with simple one-cell structured living organisms.  Why didn't they evolve?

At least read up on evolution. It is not like everything should evolve to the same species.

if evolution were true, then you would think that different groups of animals could naturally breed.  A horse and a giraffe cannot breed offspring.  A cat and a dog cannot breed offspring.  Only through modern genetic DNA tampering can scientists play god and create monsters.

Hmm. I do not know where you get the idea that evolution allows arbitrary breeding of different species.

On the contrary, thousands upon thousands of scrolls of the Bible have been discovered throughout the holy land.  They all agree with each other.  The Bible and history accurately coincide.  How could one book written by 40 men over a 1,500 year time period be so accurate.
....

I'm no Bible scholar. But there are tons of materials in the Internet that discuss the contradictions of the text in the book.

The earliest man is said, by the evolutionists, to have existed one or two million years old.
Oddly enough, man has accomplished more in the last 6,000 years than he did in the previous million years. This would be true in light of the fact that we have not one shred of evidence that man did anything in that previous one million year

And your point is?

Evolution are for people who do not acknowledge the word of God in their life.

Actually, there are a lot of Cristians who accept evolution.

[judE_Law]

I'm no Bible scholar. But there are tons of materials in the Internet that discuss the contradictions of the text in the book.

[

haha... hindi mo pa nga nabasa yata ng buo ang Bible inalam mo na agad ang contadictions, ano naman yun?
i suggest basahin mo muna ng buo ang Bible..

half of human pains find no remedy except through science.. but man has other pains which constitute his 'human' suffering, the suffering which relates to his human dimension. Here science provides no help, and the scientists, when they reach this point, declare that science is neutral and indifferent; it is a means and it does not prescribe any goal for mankind. Science does not elevate human objectives, and does not provide a direction. Rather, it must be said that man uses science as an aid in the direction which he selects in life.

When the predictions of the Theory of Evolution and the Theory of Creation are compared to the real world, Creation's predictions are found to be much more accurate than Evolution's predictions. Evolutionists have found ways to explain contradictions but support for the theory is weakened because so many explanations are required.

When taken as a whole, the real world gives evidence that belief in a Creator is a reasonable faith and that belief in evolution is not as scientific as it claims. And, once you accept the possibility that the creation had an all powerful and wise Creator, then the creation story is not preposterous at all. In fact, it is quite uplifting to realize that mankind was God's final and greatest creation since God put some of his own creative ability into mankind.

The final prediction of evolution is that humankind will eventually become extinct after we are succeeded by a superior animal or we make the earth uninhabitable. On the other hand, the final prediction of the creation story is found in the last chapter of the Bible. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. People will dwell together in peace in the presence of the Creator.

[carpediem]

i suggest basahin mo muna ng buo ang Bible

And I suggest you read more about the Theory of Evolution, and not just listen to just the conventional theists' views of it because they are grossly inaccurate.

Given the scientific view versus any other view, be it religious or otherwise, I'd choose the scientific view.

If science proves a theory wrong someday, it would gladly accept its new findings. Science never stops its search.

Just imagine, if the scientists back then who declared that Earth is not the center of the universe succumbed to the religious community, we would still be in the Dark Ages. And oh by the way, why was it called the "Dark Ages" during that time?



Anyway, I do not want to continue this. As I have mentioned since the start, the thread is at risk of becoming a debate.

Let's just end it here and agree to disagree.

[judE_Law]

i suggest basahin mo muna ng buo ang Bible

And I suggest you read more about the Theory of Evolution, and not just listen to just the conventional theists' views of it because they are grossly inaccurate.

Given the scientific view versus any other view, be it religious or otherwise, I'd choose the scientific view.

If science proves a theory wrong someday, it would gladly accept its new findings. Science never stops its search.

Just imagine, if the scientists back then who declared that Earth is not the center of the universe succumbed to the religious community, we would still be in the Dark Ages. And oh by the way, why was it called the "Dark Ages" during that time?



Anyway, I do not want to continue this. As I have mentioned since the start, the thread is at risk of becoming a debate.

Let's just end it here and agree to disagree.

i've read a lot about it.. we even studied it in my biology and zoology class..

[pinoybrusko]

Dark Ages is the period after the decline of Roman Empire where there are cultural and economical deterioration. This got nothing to do with the theory of evolution 

Well based on what you said, if scientists discover that the earth is not the center of the universe blah blah. What difference that it makes to us as a person? We we're just informed based on scientific views. That doesn't convince me that God doesn't exist. It is the same thing before that someone claims that the world is flat but found out that it is round  It didn't change a thing, right. Scientific views are more of theories with basis but no confirmation that it really happened just like the Big Bang theory, dinosaurs era. Those informations just added knowledge to us to make our lives meaningful but that doesn't change a thing that God doesn't exist.

[carpediem]

^ Science does not aim to prove that God does not exist. My point is just that look how the Christian teachings must change to be compatible with science.

If you lived in the Dark Ages, when Christianity dominated the West and the clergy was more powerful than the court, and you declared that the sun is the center of the universe and the earth revolves around it, and the universe is billions of years old, you would surely be burned alive as a heretic.

[judE_Law]

"LET ME EXPLAIN THE problem science has with Jesus Christ." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand. "You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"

"Yes, sir."

"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

"Yes."

"Are you good or evil?"

"The Bible says I'm evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Ahh! THE BIBLE!" He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help them? Would you try?"

"Yes sir, I would."

"So you're good...!"

"I wouldn't say that."

"Why not say that? You would help a sick and maimed person if you could... in fact most of us would if we could... God doesn't."

No answer.

"He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?" No answer.

The elderly man is sympathetic. "No, you can't, can you?" He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. In philosophy, you have to go easy with the new ones. "Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"

"Er... Yes."

"Is Satan good?"

"No."

"Where does Satan come from?"

The student falters. "From... God..."

"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he?" The elderly man runs his bony fingers through his thinning hair and turns to the smirking, student audience. "I think we're going to have a lot of fun this semester, ladies and gentlemen." He turns back to the Christian. "Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"

"Yes, sir."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? Did God make everything?"

"Yes."

"Who created evil?"

No answer.

"Is there sickness in this world? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All the terrible things - do they exist in this world?"

The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."

"Who created them?"

No answer.

The professor suddenly shouts at his student. "WHO CREATED THEM? TELL ME, PLEASE!" The professor closes in for the kill and climbs into the Christian's face. In a still small voice: "God created all evil, didn't He, son?"

No answer.

The student tries to hold the steady, experienced gaze and fails.

Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace the front of the classroom like an aging panther. The class is mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues, "How is it that this God is good if He created all evil throughout all time?"

The professor swishes his arms around to encompass the wickedness of the world. "All the hatred, the brutality, all the pain, all the torture, all the death and ugliness and all the suffering created by this good God is all over the world, isn't it, young man?"

No answer.

"Don't you see it all over the place? Huh?" Pause. "Don't you?" The professor leans into the student's face again and whispers,

"Is God good?"

No answer..

"Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor. I do."

The old man shakes his head sadly. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen your Jesus?"

"No, sir. I've never seen Him."

"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"

"No, sir. I have not."

"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus... in fact, do you have any sensory perception of your God whatsoever?"

No answer.

"Answer me, please."

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

"You're AFRAID... you haven't?"

"No, sir."

"Yet you still believe in him?"

"...yes..."

"That takes FAITH!" The professor smiles sagely at the underling. "According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son? Where is your God now?"

The student doesn't answer.

"Sit down, please."

The Christian sits...Defeated. Another Christian raises his hand. "Professor, may I address the class?"

The professor turns and smiles. "Ah, another Christian in the vanguard! Come, come, young man. Speak some proper wisdom to the gathering."

The Christian looks around the room. "Some interesting points you are making, sir. Now I've got a question for you. Is there such thing as heat?"

"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."

"Is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."

"No, sir, there isn't."

The professor's grin freezes. The room suddenly goes very cold. The second Christian continues. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that.

"There is no such thing as cold, otherwise we would be able to go colder than 458 - You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."

Silence.

A pin drops somewhere in the classroom.

"Is there such a thing as darkness, professor?"

"That's a dumb question, son. What is night if it isn't darkness? What are you getting at...?"

"So you say there is such a thing as darkness?"

"Yes..."

"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something, it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, Darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker and give me a jar of it. Can you...give me a jar of darker darkness, professor?"

Despite himself, the professor smiles at the young effrontery before him. This will indeed be a good semester. "Would you mind telling us what your point is, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with and so your conclusion must be in error...."

The professor goes toxic. "Flawed...? How dare you...!"

"Sir, may I explain what I mean?" The class is all ears.

"Explain... oh, explain..." The professor makes an admirable effort to regain control. Suddenly he is affability itself. He waves his hand to silence the class, for the student to continue.

"You are working on the premise of duality," the Christian explains. "That for example there is life and then here's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science cannot even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism but has never seen, much less fully understood them. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, merely the absence of it."

The young man holds up a newspaper he takes from the desk of a neighbor who has been reading it. "Here is one of the most disgusting tabloids this country hosts, professor. Is there such a thing as immorality?"

"Of course there is, now look..."

"Wrong again, sir. You see, immorality is merely the absence of morality. Is there such thing as injustice? No. Injustice is the absence of justice. Is there such a thing as evil?" The Christian pauses.

"Isn't evil the absence of good?"

The professor's face has turned an alarming color. He is so angry he is temporarily speechless. The Christian continues. "If there is evil in the world, professor, and we all agree there is, then God, if he exists, must be accomplishing a work through the agency of evil. What is that work, God is accomplishing? The Bible tells us it is to see if each one of us will, of our own free will, choose good over evil."

The professor bridles. "As a philosophical scientist, I don't vie this matter as having anything to do with any choice; as a realist, I absolutely do not recognize the concept of God or any other theological factor as being part of the world equation because God is not observable."

"I would have thought that the absence of God's moral code in this world is probably one of the most observable phenomena going," the Christian replies. "Newspapers make billions of dollars reporting it every week! Tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor makes a sucking sound with his teeth and gives his student a silent, stony stare.

"Professor. Since no-one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a priest?"

"I'll overlook your impudence in the light of our philosophical discussion. Now, have you quite finished?" the professor hisses.

"So you don't accept God's moral code to do what is righteous?"

"I believe in what is - that's science!"

"Ahh! SCIENCE!" the student's face spits into a grin. "Sir, you rightly state that science is the study of observed phenomena. Science too is a premise which is flawed..."

"SCIENCE IS FLAWED..?" the professor splutters.

The class is in uproar. The Christian remains standing until the commotion has subsided. "To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, may I give you an example of what I mean?"

The professor wisely keeps silent. The Christian looks around the room.

"Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?"

The class breaks out in laughter. The Christian points towards his elderly, crumbling tutor. "Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain...felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain?" No one appears to have done so.

The Christian shakes his head sadly.

"It appears no one here has had any sensory perception of the professor's brain whatsoever. Well, according to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says the professor has no brain."

The class is in chaos. The Christian sits...

Because that is what a chair is for.

[Mr.Yos0]

^ forwarded e-mail to a.. 

[judE_Law]

^ forwarded e-mail to a.. 

i hope mabasa ni carpediem.. hehe..

[carpediem]

^ Old fable. Read it when I was still in college.

Its main argument is that evil is the absence of good. Of course that is false, because there is there is a point called neutral in the scale from good to evil. The world is not in black and white, but in scales of grey.

http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/theodicy_absence.html

While you are at it, also read "The Problem of Evil"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_of_evil