Do you believe in God? Options

[beau99]

in my opinion it's ridiculous to say that we evolved from monkeys...but hey...you never know i guess

Then why is there proof that evolution exists?

[mrmcpheezy]

I don't quite know how to tell you this Pheezy, but there's no Santa Claus either.

Exactly.

[Lively Chick]

in my opinion it's ridiculous to say that we evolved from monkeys...

Yep, I agree. And my question to the scientists is why haven't the other monkeys evolved. Why did the evolution of monkeys end with us. C'mon primates! Whats taking y'all so long. Come join us in evolution
Utterly ridiculous!

[Senghe]

Yep, I agree. And my question to the scientists is why haven't the other monkeys evolved. Why did the evolution of monkeys end with us. C'mon primates! Whats taking y'all so long. Come join us in evolution
Utterly ridiculous!

This is a common misconception about evolution. Chimpanzees are NOT unevolved human beings. We had a common ancestor a couple of million years back and because of our differing environments/geographical location, one group of apes turned into humans, another the chimpanzee and another the bonobo etc... Simply, chimpanzees didn't need to evolve as they've stayed in the same environment all this time where our ancestors moved out onto the grasslands meaning we had to work harder for food and perfect standing on two legs to see above the grass for predators - the smart ones survived long enough to breed and pass on their genes, the others... lion food. Look at crocodiles - they have been the same for a hundred million years as they are so perfectly adapted to their ecological niche, there is no advantage for the species for them to change.

Evolution isn't a straight line with us sitting at the front of it, rather it's like a tree with many branches. To say that the other monkeys should evolve is as stupid and arrogant as saying when are black people going to evolve into white ones as white people are obviously more evolved - an argument that has sadly and shamefully been used more recently than we'd like to think.

My advice is find out about the Galapagos islands and read up on Charles Darwin. You'll be surprised to find out that Darwin at one point studied Theology, was at the beggining of his travels on the Beagle a deeply religious man and was frightened to share his theories as he was afraid he'd be ostracised as a heretic.

This post has been edited by Senghe: Oct 11 2006, 7:39 pm

[sandkind]

contrary to popular belief, evolution is not contrary to christianity.

[ladylakini17]

Then why is there proof that evolution exists?

there isn't proof that evolution exists..i wasn't saying there was either....there isn't proof that christianity is right either...i guess it just depends on what ridiculous statement you are going to put your faith in....for me christianity...for others evolution or jewish or whatever they choose

This post has been edited by ladylakini17: Oct 11 2006, 8:55 pm

[ladylakini17]

LOL
I'm sorry - sorry. But actually, we DO know.

Guys help me out here. I can't do it. Can somebody please slide a 3th grade science book in her direction?

no im sorry but we DONT know....and i dont need a third grade science book because last year my NINTH grade teacher even told the class that evolution cannot be prooved exactly and that alot of it is just guesses backed by little evidence...so if you have a problem..take it up with him...not me...thank you

[burd]

no im sorry but we DONT know....and i dont need a third grade science book because last year my NINTH grade teacher even told the class that evolution cannot be prooved exactly and that alot of it is just guesses backed by little evidence...so if you have a problem..take it up with him...not me...thank you

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww that's the cutest thing I have ever heard!

[Wambangalang]

Even doing good deeds is only performed for the goal of personal salvation (rather selfish motivation). Being on the "right" side of God and getting access to heaven whereas others are condemned unless they believe what they believe. .

exactly. They say they are loyal out of love. They are loyal to the lord out of fear of burning in hell for eternity. Just like the muslims are fanatical because in the end they get sex for eternity. Its all about sex. Do you think some teenage arab living in the dust walking for miles a day to get water and isnt allowed to hook up with chicks is gonna pass up the opportunity to screw hot young chicks forever? Having said that, I bet Osama, as rich as he is, fly's a jet full of california babes over to his little cave every now and then for an orgy. If you think that is far fetched, you're naive.

one day, not in our lifetimes, mankind will not look to the divine for answers. We will evolve beyond what we know, we will become immortal, no one will have to work, no one will care about blowing shit up or about shouting "allah allah" for 9 hours while dancing in circles, and everyone will be happy. Until then, theres alcohol and drugs.

[Lively Chick]

This is a common misconception about evolution. Chimpanzees are NOT unevolved human beings. We had a common ancestor a couple of million years back and because of our differing environments/geographical location, one group of apes turned into humans, another the chimpanzee and another the bonobo etc... Simply, chimpanzees didn't need to evolve as they've stayed in the same environment all this time where our ancestors moved out onto the grasslands meaning we had to work harder for food and perfect standing on two legs to see above the grass for predators - the smart ones survived long enough to breed and pass on their genes, the others... lion food. Look at crocodiles - they have been the same for a hundred million years as they are so perfectly adapted to their ecological niche, there is no advantage for the species for them to change.

First of all where in my quote did I mention chimpanzees? I used the term monkeys loosely as well as the term primates, which scientifically describes us humans and other mammals with the same characteristics shared. So apparently you were the one with the "misconception" seeing the word "chimpanzee" and not the word primates'

Evolution isn't a straight line with us sitting at the front of it, rather it's like a tree with many branches. To say that the other monkeys should evolve is as stupid and arrogant as saying when are black people going to evolve into white ones as white people are obviously more evolved - an argument that has sadly and shamefully been used more recently than we'd like to think.

Introducing race into this argument just shows your stupidity and arrogance sweetie. And the question still stands why one type of primate evolved, and the others havent. The question still stands unanswered because not you nor any scientist can give a real reason for this. You arrogantly proclaim that the animals that did not evolve, simply did not because they didnt have to. I'm sure it would benefit most animals to be faster. How come the tortouise hasnt caught up yet? Evolve tortouise evolve! What is it waiting on! In truth, there is no real answer.

My advice is find out about the Galapagos islands and read up on Charles Darwin. You'll be surprised to find out that Darwin at one point studied Theology, was at the beggining of his travels on the Beagle a deeply religious man and was frightened to share his theories as he was afraid he'd be ostracised as a heretic.

Ah, I already know about the Galapagos islands and Charles Darwin. Its doesnt mean I have to accept his theory/beliefs 100%. I believe some animals might have evolved. But humans, no way. We are too advanced, we have too much emotions. We are much more than just science.There are some mysteries in this world that just will never be solved. Personally, I can live with that, others cannot.

[Wambangalang]

There are some mysteries in this world that just will never be solved

they can be solved. and they will, eventually

[Tabucky]

no im sorry but we DONT know....and i dont need a third grade science book because last year my NINTH grade teacher even told the class that evolution cannot be prooved exactly and that alot of it is just guesses backed by little evidence...so if you have a problem..take it up with him...not me...thank you

Dude, you live in fucking Nebraska. I wouldn't expect anything different from your teacher.

[FishOutaWater]

This is the problem with religion and the dialogue that people have who say they are religious. It's always about - evolution didn't happen, gays are an abomination, sex is bad, divorce is wrong, abortion of a fetus is killing a human being, we shouldn't end life-support of a brain-dead person, you have to go to church on Sundays and you have to convert to Christianity and "believe in" Jesus to be saved. What does any of that have to do with God? Nothing if you really think about it. That is just talk that separates people based on different views which are totally dependant on beliefs you've formed. They are all just one way of thinking, but there is so much common ground among religions and the important thing is not what you believe to be true but rather how you live.

Who gives a crap if God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th, or if there was evolution, or if Adam and Eve actually existed or if the first man crawled out of King Kong's asshole? I don't see what that has to do with spirituality.

People get hung up on defending the fact that everything written in the bible is true. And then they go beyond that and concern themselves with the idea that everything their church says is true.

All of these beliefs just have to do with ideas that people cling onto and grab ahold of with all their might in order to try to stake a claim to whatever is beyond this life. But those beliefs just divide people, create judgement, hatred and separation.

What is a belief? A belief is formed when a person accumulates enough reference data in his life to support a proposition, and the more reference data, and the stronger it is reinforced, the stronger the belief becomes. Being told that if you don't believe something you will burn in hell for eternal damnation is pretty fucking strong leverage (fear) to place on some reference data. Having a belief is the result of neuro-cognative conditioning. I could get a person to believe there is no such thing as light if I locked the person in a closet frm birth. So how can having a particular belief be the lynch pin to getting access to heaven? Doesn't that seem silly? What about those who didn't get the right reference data to form that belief because they were born in India? What about those who had their reference data shaken because they were molested by a priest as a child? I guess they are just shit out of luck - for all of eternity!

I may believe that God exists in some form that I can't comprehend, but I sure as hell am not a big supporter of religion, especially those that don't offer the possibility that other religious paths might also be valid. I think there is no black and white. It's all grey. And at the end of the day, what matters is love, altruism, charity, and compassion and the way you live should come from that place as opposed to ego-based behavior. I could support a gay couple, premarital sex, divorce, or practicing a religion other than christianity if that was based on those things and I think that is congruent with Godliness.

This post has been edited by FishOutaWater: Oct 12 2006, 4:16 pm

[Mercury46]

At this point in the game, I'd say a definite lack of proof IS proof. And uh ... ever hear of Charles Darwin? Evolution? Biology? Science?

"at this point in the game" -- Are you suggesting that we've reached our highest level of being already? Is this the best we can do? Have we maxed out our capabilities?

Don't forget that there was a time when everything we now know through scientific research was NOT known to be true. Science is making new discoveries every day. Everything from wheels to light bulbs to general relativity was at one time nothing more than a fairy tale.

That's all fine - but none of that has anything to do with god.
I'm not disrespecting anyone - I just think it's really fucking sad that people would rather believe in an unknown rather than themselves.

You've unwittingly touched on one of the major concepts of Ed's kind of spirituality, which is the connectedness of us to the rest of the universe. Everything is God, and God is Everything (including us!).

[mrmcpheezy]

And the question still stands why one type of primate evolved, and the others havent. The question still stands unanswered because not you nor any scientist can give a real reason for this. You arrogantly proclaim that the animals that did not evolve, simply did not because they didnt have to. I'm sure it would benefit most animals to be faster. How come the tortouise hasnt caught up yet? Evolve tortouise evolve! What is it waiting on! In truth, there is no real answer.

lol.

You appear to know even less about evolution than I do.