Freethought & Rationalism Archive

malookiemaloo · 02-26-2003, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Godless Dave
A note? How about a whole symphony!

Personally I've heard or read vague "scientific" assertions so many times I figure Xtian preachers (and new age wingnuts) are behind some of them:

"I heard there was an expedition to a mountain in Turkey where they found the remains of a boat matching the dimensions of Noah's Ark" (this was actually stated as fact to one Sunday school class that I know of)

"More and more scientists are concluding that the universe must have a designer" (a nominally Christian ex-girlfriend told me this. I never saw "Science", "Nature", or even "National Geographic" or "Scientific American" at her house. Maybe she read it in "People").

"Clinical studies have shown that prayer aids in healing." (actually they've shown the exact opposite)

The thing is it only takes a few people lying for Jesus to spread this around. Most of the people who say these crazy things do not realize they're lying. Someone else told them it was true and they just accepted it without question and spread the misinformation to others.

As for the sun standing still, think about the massive amount of force it would require to stop the earth from spinning and then restart it again.

This is precisely why I raised the matter in the Sec. web-knowing how objective you chaps are!

I have little time for some of the Christian websites who find Noah's Ark in Turkey etc. 'only in America' I suspect!

But IF God exists, you would expect the sun to stand still and other signs beyond our comprehension to be performed.

I suppose it all comes down to belief stance at the end of the day.

Sorry, bit of a lame response but it's the best I can do.

malookiemaloo

Godless Dave · 02-26-2003, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by malookiemaloo
But IF God exists, you would expect the sun to stand still and other signs beyond our comprehension to be performed.

It depends what kind of god exists. Maybe he doesn't perform miracles to awe us or demonstrate his existence. Here's a thought: maybe he doesn't care if we believe in him or not. If he created the whole universe, we may have as much significance to him as mites living on an ant have to us.

Writer@Large · 02-26-2003, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by malookiemaloo
But IF God exists, you would expect the sun to stand still and other signs beyond our comprehension to be performed.

Of course, assuming the Christian deity exists. But until that question is settled, discussion of the Joshua story as anything other than a myth is pointless.

--W@L

Porky Houton · 02-28-2003, 05:47 AM

I'm new here, but I thought that the sun was a stationary object. How can "god" make it stand still?

malookiemaloo · 02-28-2003, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Porky Houton
I'm new here, but I thought that the sun was a stationary object. How can "god" make it stand still?

Why do we talk about the sun rising?

malookiemaloo

joedad · 02-28-2003, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Porky Houton
I'm new here, but I thought that the sun was a stationary object. How can "god" make it stand still?

Hello Porky and Welcome.

The sun does "stand still" twice each year at the Winter and Summer "Solstice," which is exactly what the word means.

Every culture that ever paid attention to the position of the sun in the sky and on the horizon knew this. And most cultures were in tune with the positions of celestial bodies because their survival depended on it. It enabled them to predict seasonal changes and exploit food sources, astrology notwithstanding.

The approved design for the rebuilt WTC will incorporate the position of the sun on 9/11 to mark a specific time of the year. We've been doing this in our construction for a long time.

joe

scombrid · 02-28-2003, 11:39 AM

Quote:

If he created the whole universe, we may have as much significance to him as mites living on an ant have to us.

If god is a scientist he might care. Just think of some guy studying bacteria in a termite gut :P .

Biff the unclean · 02-28-2003, 07:06 PM

Since the Earth is spining at something like a thousand miles per hour, and if there is a God, did the Israelites have seat belts?:banghead::banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Valentine Pontifex · 02-28-2003, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Biff the unclean
Since the Earth is spining at something like a thousand miles per hour, and if there is a God, did the Israelites have seat belts?:banghead::banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

This is supposed to be a miracle: a divine intervention on the natural order. In a miracle, one does not need to worry about such things as the laws of physics since they have been suspended. An omnipotent God, by definition, can do this -- provided that He exists.

Porky Houton · 02-28-2003, 08:16 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by malookiemaloo
[B]Why do we talk about the sun rising?

Ah, that's right! Just like the "four corners of the earth" means the earth is flat.

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02-28-2003, 05:47 AM	#14
Porky Houton Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Mississippi (The People's Republic of Falwell) Posts: 158	I'm new here, but I thought that the sun was a stationary object. How can "god" make it stand still?

02-28-2003, 07:06 PM	#18
Biff the unclean Banned Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: an inaccessible island fortress Posts: 10,638	Since the Earth is spining at something like a thousand miles per hour, and if there is a God, did the Israelites have seat belts?:banghead::banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

02-28-2003, 08:16 PM	#20
Porky Houton Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Mississippi (The People's Republic of Falwell) Posts: 158	[QUOTE]Originally posted by malookiemaloo [B]Why do we talk about the sun rising? Ah, that's right! Just like the "four corners of the earth" means the earth is flat.

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