What I have noticed about these debates...

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Originally posted by Ten-sai:
WE will peer review it right here!!

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What qualifies you to be my peer, mister potty-mouth?db

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Originally posted by jcgirl92:
... just so that you know, there are also geologists out there who believe in the Bible!!!!

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Hello JCGirl,Have you considered what it means to "believe in the Bible"?When someone asks me whether I believe in the Bible, I never know what they are really asking. There are more than 600 denominations of Christianity out there, all of which have a different take on "what the Bible says," and what it means.Many people can say they "believe in the Bible," even though they may vehemently dis-believe what you and others believe about it.When one says s/he "believes in the Bible," does it mean that one believes the Bible is a message from God? If so, then God seems to have a problem communicating. Seems to me that a supreme deity would be able to communicate unequivocally.Bible study is my principal pastime. There are parts of it which, if specified, I could say "I believe." Seems to me that the requirement, which some pose, - that one must believe it all or reject it all - is on a par with requiring ones spouse to be perfect or suffer total rejection. Everyone chooses what s/he wants to believe of the Good Book. Any what thinks otherwise is kidding itself.There are people in this forum who love both, Darwin and the Bible.db

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Originally posted by jcgirl92:
Sir Issac Newton was around before Darwin, but this great scientist once said, "I must profess I know no sufficient natural cause of the earth diurnal motion."

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There are now very good theories to explain earth's diurnal motion.That's the Great thing about science. It evolves.

I first studied college level biology at State college where evolution was considered a matter of fact. I openly and vocally ridiculed the idea (I was raised creationist and had attended church operated High Schools). The professors at State college were tolerant and compassionate but I was not persuaded to their opinion.Later, joyfully enrolled in a Christian College, I found myself horrified at what passed for Creation Science. My poignant questions were apparently embarrassing and I was soon alienated from my major professor who happened to be head of the department. I lost all confidence in so-called "scientific" creationism and began to consider the implications of an opposing point of view.Since then I have witnessed the repressive, anti-intellectual nature of the denomination in which I was raised. I have taken the tools I received with which to study the Bible and attempted to understand it for myself. I have exercised the investigative method which I was taught in theological, biological, and other disciplines, and applied it to this question. And I have become convinced that -a. - No one really knows what happened in the beginning of the universe, andb. - Bible writers apparently agree with me.It seems that creationism is built upon a number of assumptions which are unsupportable from holy scripture.And yes, never once did an evolutionist professor belittle me or my pet belief in the god of creation. I am sorry that I cannot say the same for creationists following my dissent from that view. db

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Originally posted by zipzip:
Probability items with associated consequences:

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1)Bible is true and I reject it -- I miss out entirely.
2)Bible is false and I reject it -- Big deal, probably no afterlife anyway.
3)Bible is true and I accept it -- Good, I'm saved.
4)Bible is false and I accept it -- Big deal, probably no afterlife anyway, also most other religions not exclusive.

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How about -5) Bible is a Jewish book and I accept that -- Good, I'm informed.

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From a strictly mercenary, probabilistic, gambler's viewpoint, the smart choice is to bet on the Bible being true.

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From a strictly sensible viewpoint, an all powerful, all knowing and everywhere present deity does not need ancient Jews to take dictation for modern Christians.
---------(I find it interesting that you consider the mercenary viewpoint!)---------

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God talks to Christians through the Bible, ...

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There.
That's what I'm talking about.
Ya know what I mean?db