maadmax

If your God created everything and evil is something than your God created evil ... The spiritual beings God created in His image can create reality like God. Evil is a reality created by free will beings. God's reality is incompatible with evil realities.

That's not necessarily true though is it. It could be argued that an atheist might have just as much "personal experience" for no god as the believer has for a god. If you are to give credit to one set of personal experiences you should also give it to the other. Unfortunately, neither set are useful for discerning the truth as halucinations and delusions are very common. Which is why actual physical evidence is the best way to tip the balance. But in the case of god, there is no evidence and the usual response to outlandish stories that have no supporting evidence is skepticism. If you can't prove a negative , how can you experience a negative? ....

. >None of them addresses the concept of an absolute universal evil. --Right, because there is no such thing. There are people (and animals) who are cruel, unjust and selfish. But the expression of evil (and the expression of good) is just that; the expression of those characteristics. You can't fill a beaker of evil and test it, and you can't dispel evil with chicken bones, incense or holy water. It is a verb, not a noun. Your description explains why many people find science incomplete in its depiction of reality. Evil is both a noun and a verb. The inadequacy of science in this area, is why many people, with open minds, seek answers else where. If things were so clear cut we would be like the rest of the animal kingdom, totally unconcerned about the metaphysical nature of reality. We are products of our environment with just a dash of free will. ...

How does science explain evil? --Depends on which branch of science! Game theory? Behavioral evolution? Sociology? (one of the 'softer' sciences) Take your pick. They all study different aspects of what you'd call good and evil behavior. I have picked all of them, but they only explain evil in reference to a particular observers perspective. None of them addresses the concept of an absolute universal evil. Which is the same as saying evil does not really exist, it is only an inconvenience to some people at certain times. ...

But for those who want to understand what's really going on, religion doesn't compare to science.Quote How does science explain evil? Or scientificially speaking, does it even exist?

You're obviously not a student of evolution. Looking around, I can see how you could possibly mistake evolution for selecting for the inept and least fit. But actually, believe it or not, every living thing here stands the test of time and selective pressure. We are the best nature could produce up to this point. Thanks be to God though, He did step in and give us a leg up on being all He planed for us to be. ...

QuoteQuoteI came across a rather interesting website, which claims 'New Scientific Evidence for the Existence of God' so I figured I'd stick up a link and see if it's worthy of discussion. I'm amazed the discussion lasted this long. The web site and theories are garbage.Quote But certainly you have observed the phenomenon of one man's garbage becoming another man's treasure. "The Wisdom of God is foolishness to those who consider themselves wise" ...

Has anyone seen the History Channel special on books left out of the bible. It's amazing. Like three TOTALLY different depictions of hell, nothing like what we know of now. By the way there is no justification for hell. it's sadism, ego-mania and it eliminates the one true thing we evolved with and thats free will. Hell is just a scare tactic. A antagonist to a story. The show also talks about the last book revelation. How there were like 4 other versions and they were completely different. I have said it before: you think if there was truly a heaven and hell and God looking down on us there wouldn't be so much guesswork. There would be one way and not thousands of different ways. People need there to be a God, afterlife, etc. It gives them hope. People are not self-reliant. If the thought process known as faith, religion, etc. never evolved and every person took matters into there own hands and dealt with it then and there, then this world would be a better place. Actually if society never came about it would truly be a better place, but oh well. i guess it was inevitable.Quote Now, if you are a student of evolution, you know that our current reality is the best possible outcome of all the interactions & possibilities that have preceded us. If God was not real and an essential part of our lives, He would have died out long ago. Quit fighting evolution, you won't win. ...

Then that's not death, is it? Resurrection maketh not a sacrifice. What did he lose? Fuck all. So why the big hullabaloo? It's pointless. You are predictable, I have been waiting for that outburst. The Bible says that His sacrifice for sin was monumental. I do not know the full extent of it but I believe it was real, and because of it, I can know God. ....

So in other words you don't know why either. There are many things about God that I don't understand. His Word says to have faith and trust that He is good and works everything out the best way possible. And that He loves us. That is all I need. I know it is true. ...

My question is why would a loving God require the death of a creature that he created in the first place. Bloody ridculous, doesn't make any sense and no one has ever been able to give me a good answer as to why. My first inclination would be to agree with you on this. All I can say and hope for is that God is loving and that all things will work together toward that purpose. Otherwise we are doomed indeed. But I firmly believe God is good and loving and that we now only see in part, but some day we will see fully just as we are fully known, by God, and loved. ...

--But what was his "spiritual sacrifice"? He didn't lose anything by taking judgement, he wasn't punished in any way, he went to live in heaven! I can't begin to imagine what the spiritual sacrifice of Christ on the cross entailed. All I know is that He was sinless and therefore uniquely qualified to offer Himself to take the judgement for our sins. His sacrifice apparently resulted in His spiritual death, like it does in us who practice evil. God accepted His sacrifice, resurrected Him and restored His spiritual life. Because of that we no longer have a barrier keeping us form knowing God. We can enjoy a personal relationship with Him, now and for eternity. ...

--So basically regardless of what particular religion I follow I will end up in heaven as your god will just "sort it out"? Keep in mind, I will not be the one making decisions regarding this issue, but if you want to be on the right side I would just do what He says to do. ____________________________________ ____________________________________ --Perhaps if you had read the bible then you will have no doubt noticed that your god is far from loving, fair and just. To name but 5 examples that spring to mind…. Either you are right in your assessment, or God defines loving different than you. Why do you always consider physical death that is a part of Gods plan a bad thing. It is a very natural part of our experience here. ________________________________ ________________________________ --Now the doctrine of the Original Sin where children are punished for the sins of there parents. Children are born like their parents, spiritually dead (separated from God). Gods plan is for us to be spiritually alive, capable of having a personal relationship with Him. _______________________________ _______________________________ So god will erase my memory? That’s basically what you are saying isn’t it? Seem’s a little dodgy to me, It is my understanding that your memory will remain completely intact. Probably with more clarity than you have now. ...

--But what does the dying have to do with it? And what was his "spiritual sacrifice"? He took the judgement for the worlds sin. "He made Him who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" II Cor 5:21 Who can explain why things are the way they are? Why are the hadrons that compose matter made up of subatomic particles & force carriers described in the standard model. Some things just are. You can accept reality as it is, or just create your own. God does provide guidance to those who ask. ...

Because if it is, I don't get it. What was the sacrifice?*** The sacrifice was the undeserved spiritual & physical death on the cross which neutralized the penalty for the worlds disobedience(sin). " The wages of sin is death,( spiritual & physical) _______________________________ ________________________________ This makes no sense what so ever... so to put it another way, i have committed a crime (sin), i am on death row, but at the last minute some stranger comes along and takes my place, is killed and i am a free man!!!!! how is that justice, how does that free me of anything? *** It makes a lot of sense to me. You are right it is not justice. The term for it is Grace. Justice is what we deserve, separation from God. Grace is what Christ has made available to those who believe. ...

So that's supposed to be the great sacrifice he made so he could take the weight of our sins, right? Because if it is, I don't get it. What was the sacrifice?*** While nailed to a cross He, as the sinless God/man, was judged by God for our sins, neutralizing the penalty generated by the sins of all who have lived. Before He died physically , He said " it is finished, into Your Hands I commit My Spirit", indicating that His spiritual sacrifice had been completed, removing the sin barrier between man and God. "For Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God" ...

"There are about 2.1 billion Christians in the world today, where are the other 4 billion going when they die??????*** God is loving, fair and just, He will sort it all out perfectly. It is not something we need to worry about. You will need to do better than that if you want to expose a logical fallacy, that will cause one to question their faith in God. _______________________________ _______________________________ As a father what if im a Christian however my son decides to choose atheism or perhaps one of the many other religions available, how am I supposed to enjoy my time in heaven when I now my beloved son is eternally burning in a lake of fire???? Will god erase my memory?????? Can you at least answer this one? *** Anyone missing the mark and spending eternity apart form God will be regrettable, son or not. All will be known, there will be nothing hidden. But for the elected of God " He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall no longer be any death, there shall no longer be any mourning or crying or pain, these old things will pass away." ...

1. Please supply an detailed description of the anatomical location of the part of me that is not a chemical reaction, as I would like to chop it off.*** It is dorsal or rostral to the first cervical vertebra. Although I would advise against amputation, unless you are ready to meet your maker. That procedure would be contraindicated in all cases apart from capital punishment. _________________________________ _________________________________ 2. please explain why I am self aware and other primates are not. I think it's pretty obvious that most primates are self aware. If they are, do they go to heaven? or do they just go straight to hell because they commit sins like FORNICATION (my new favourite activity) without regret?*** I did not say that humans have a monopoly on the life force. We do seem to have been given a unique sensory awareness of good and evil. And no one goes to hell for committing sins. Christ removed the penalty for sin, once and for all. If you want to spend eternity with God, you must become one with God. Sin is just an outward manifestation of evil. Evil must be cleansed from the mind if you wish to see God. When you are ready, Christ is the way. ...

Codswallop! Attributing sustained self-awareness to a fortuitous set of chemical reactions is to much of a stretch. What makes life special is the spirit of the being that came from the Hand of God. You are totally ignoring the part of us that is not a chemical reaction. (Edited for spelling) ...

Very informative summary on cults. Thanks!

--- Do you not think that being dead will be very much like it was before you were born? If we have an eternal soul, then why cant I remember anything from before I was born? Where was I ? If I am supposed to spend eternity in Heaven, then why do I have to be trapped in this body that looks , sounds, feels, and acts like a monkey? why cant I just go straight to the pearly gates? what is the point if being here at all? If I choose to switch to another belief and this is the wrong one, then where do I go then? Do I burn in hell? Is it like hell in South Park? If it is , can I request a fast track ticket without being judged?? Good, that is one big hurdle out of the way. May your spiritual journey be nothing but blue sky from here on out. ...

No harm done!!!!... its dumb ass ignorant and stupid comments like that which I think explain how the believers can mindlessly meander their way through life expecting to wake up one day sitting on a cloud playing a harp!!!!! No harm done!!! tell that to : Quote The individual pursuit of spiritual awareness and Truth is different than what is offered by most religions. Religions are a man made power structure. Their evil deeds are not relevant to the Truth of God. ...

Not at all, that is Christianity. Which is made up. Unless you'd care to provide a shred of evidence that what you said is actually true? Sorry, currently the information I gather and test by life experiences, is acquired through faith and spiritual perspicacity. Since, for the time being, there really is no other way to accumulate it. In the next phase of life, after the death experience, I will be glad to supply all the proof you desire. ...

. Our culture forgets that we used to be hunter gatherers (for 190,000 years) and we have gone from animism, to paganism, to other polytheistic faiths and now what we have today. Like I said before. Religion is an idea and it evolves as we do. The time line of the bible and other religious works date to about 2,500 B.C, a few hundred years to a thousand years after we developed the earliest form of writing: cuneiform. What your are referring to is a very interesting area of theology called Dispensations. I have spent many hours researching this topic. The way we interact with God has changed over time. Really though, all that is important is how you interact with God in this present life. ...

I must say that sounds very nice and all, but the problem is that you just made it up, didn't you? Not at all, that is Christianity.