Duvenoy

I think thsat Scombrid meant that no other animal other than microbes have dominated the world like we have.

Me, I like Quetzacoatl for a deity. If I must worship one. He'll be it. The Great, Feathered Serpent was smart enough to not create ANYTHING in his image, thereby killing the argument before it started.

Beware, O foolish Christian! Quetzacoatl's prophtised return will soon be upon us!

As good a prediction as any.

doov

GeoTheo

So why not be a microbe? How can your woldview bring any nore signifigance to human experience than it can to life as a microbe?

Duvenoy

Interesting thought. But it begs the question of: In the Grand Scheme of the Universe, how is a microbe's "world view" any less significant than anything else's?

It is further interesting to note that certain diseases that were considered eradicated have returned via our own efforts. Most recently, Polio. And Bubonic Plauge is endemic in rodent populations in the western US, demonstrating the value of serpents of the genus Crotalus.



doov

scigirl

Heh, my lab studies the evolution of the immune system, among other things. Good luck getting my job!

scigirl

scigirl

What? I have no idea what you are asking here.

Yes evolution states that we are all equals - all of us are survivors that haven't (yet) been voted off the island. A bacteria is just as fit as a human. Evolution is not a ladder, it's a bush.

But there is no moral statement here.

Are you asking, if bacteria are so successful, than why did they need to evolve? That is a fascinating question, and I would love to delve into it. But that's for another thread I guess. . .

scigirl

DireStraits

GeoTheo said:

Your rediculous assertion that the image of God requires him to have nose hair and testicles has never been the interpretation held by Christianity as a whole.

DireStraits: What? Jesus did not have nose-hair? No testicles? But he is God, right?

You need to look at Revelation in its entirety (the whole Bible) and the Church's interpretation of it in its entirety (the last two thousand years or so)

DireStraits: And WHICH church would that be?

You seem to be a lot more comfortable assuming your little cartoon interpretation of the meaning of the image of God is the one held by the adherants of Christianity. Are you uncomfortable with the ramifications of it when it is put forth intellectually?

DireStraits: You can ask ME when that happens.

Skeptical

So, it's ok to portray Jesus however you want if it makes him seem "more like ourselves"? Does that mean its ok for homosexuals to portray Jesus as a homosexual? Is it ok for KKK members to portray Jesus with a hood? Do you realize the slippery slope you are creating for yourself?

If Jesus was a real person, it is not reality to portray him as anything other than what he was, a mid-eastern Jew. Letting people believe whatever they want about things which are susceptible to objective evidence is the beginning of sophistry and extensive sociological problems. This sort of "fuzzy thinking" is what lead to ideas like those promoted by creationists.

Philosoft

<strong>GeoTheo's thoughts on the "image of God":

It relates to Personhood; mind, will and emotions. It is for the purpose of communication between God and Man.</strong>

I thought you might say this.

If this is true, why are we told so often that there are things that God does for reasons we cannot possibly understand?

DireStraits

Philosoft said:

If this is true, why are we told so often that there are things that God does for reasons we cannot possibly understand?

DS: Pretty obvious isn't it? Any time something good happens it is because God wanted it to happen. Anything bad, and we cannot understand God's intentions. Psalm 23 has us sneering at our enemies because our God looks after us. Job has us having to face up to the harsh fact that bad things happen to good people, and that God takes bets with Satan.

Philosoft

Obvious to us, yes. But, since I'm minoring in mental gymnastics, I thought I'd try to get an answer for the question I've never gotten an answer for.