us women are considered the root of all evil only cuz that stupid apple but I don't even think it was the apple that lured Eve it was the "Color Red" I'm sure when they tasted it they never finished eating the whole thing...

Doreen hates apples ack!

Anything that bleeds for a week and doesn't die has got to be evil

Or divine...SC
[Message Edited]
[Message Edited]

The watch analogy is fundamentally flawed as a context for evolution. Unlike watch parts, atoms and molecules have an innate characteristic that helps them to form into more complex substances.

Without boring everyone to death with the fundamentals of chemical interaction, atoms forming molecules is not a completely random event. For each type of atom, there are only so many ways that they can interact with another given atom. The same is true of molecules. As long as there is enough energy in the system to allow the molecules to move around and brush up against one another, the odds are relatively good that some will brush together and form something more complex. And so on.

Given enough time, very complex forms can occur.


As for faith, at some level, we all take things on faith. Unless you personally investigate and verify every single thing you're exposed to and accept, there is some level of faith involved. The problem that I have with what most people call faith is the idea that you aren't allowed to question it, especially as regards faith in God.

Being unwilling to question the basis of your faith is laziness. Being told you can't question the basis of your faith is immoral.

No matter what you believe, if you're unwilling to critically examine the fundamentals of that belief, you are doing a grave disservice to the object (or subject) of your belief, because without critical examination, you will ultimately allow yourself to believe almost anything.

I have faith that my car is outside. Can't see it from my bathroom whilst taking a shower though...

Guess its not there

Go look and see ...thats not faith,thats assumption and expectation.

refering to #179, everything in the bible was added by "man"

Aleatoric -...you say pretty much exactly what I think...only gooder.

There is concrete proof that we evolved

Sorry, but I beg to differ. There has never been any concrete, or any other type, proof that the theory of evolution has ever occured. There has been much proof of mutation within a species line, but no credible documention/studies/proof that a new species has ever "evolved" from another.

I have faith that if I jump off a roof I will hit the ground.



I choose not to investigate that one!

Yes, I think blind faith is not a good idea. In fact, I think it is rather unwise to do and does not offer too much in the way of meaningful enlightenment.

You have to doubt and question and be able to openly do it as well.





So what have we learned today?
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I.R.

Thats still not faith,faith is believing in something you cant prove.

#186 by Skinner I.R. Brainiac - 9/13/2003 10:24:41 AM Go look and see ...thats not faith,thats assumption and expectation.

Your right! I looked it up. Isn't the internet wonderful!
=====================================
Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.

Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. See Synonyms at belief. See Synonyms at trust.

Loyalty to a person or thing;

allegiance: keeping faith with one's supporters.
often Faith Christianity. The theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will.

The body of dogma of a religion: the Muslim faith.

A set of principles or beliefs
[Message Edited]

oops ... refering to #187, thats supposed to be refering to # 175

cosmo,

The available evidence demonstrates that evolution did indeed take place.

As for species evolving into a new one, you have to remember that what we call a species is merely an arbitrary distinction for the most part. Its primary purpose is to provide a criteria for cataloging.

The basic, fundamental characteristics of all life on earth indicates a profound interrelationship, and there is an essentially linear time->complexity relationship in the examined history of that life. That is the definition of evolution.

The main issue for evolution is, what is the mechanism? We can argue that God is the driving force of evolution, and that it occured to His design. We could argue that natural selection is the organizing principle of evolution. We can even argue both at the same time, in that it is possible that God guided evolution via the process of natural selection. It could also be something we haven't thought of yet.

It is not a disservice to God to try to understand the mechanism of life on earth.


joetheblow,

I actually did test gravity in that respect once, falling off of a garage roof when I was a kid. The conclusion of that improptu experiment was that, yes indeed, gravity does work