Comments on: Start a New Thread http://askanatheist.wordpress.com ...you might not get the answer you expect! Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:19:08 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: The Atheist http://askanatheist.wordpress.com/start-a-new-thread/#comment-14225 The Atheist Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:57:17 +0000 #comment-14225 Hello, "How Could It Be". Thanks for the question! See the discussion <a href="http://askanatheist.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/evolution-vs-intelligent-design-a-stalemate/" rel="nofollow">here</a> Hello, “How Could It Be”. Thanks for the question! See the discussion here

]]> By: Durzal http://askanatheist.wordpress.com/start-a-new-thread/#comment-14165 Durzal Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:23:08 +0000 #comment-14165 (response moved to <a href="http://askanatheist.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/evolution-vs-intelligent-design-a-stalemate/" rel="nofollow">Evolution vs. Intelligent Design – a stalemate?</a>) (response moved to Evolution vs. Intelligent Design – a stalemate?)

]]> By: How Could it be? http://askanatheist.wordpress.com/start-a-new-thread/#comment-14162 How Could it be? Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:34:57 +0000 #comment-14162 Evolution and intelligent design are tied. Would you evolutionist agree that evolution and intelligent design are in a stand still if you look at it from a scholarly perspective. Yes, evolution has become the leading theory in society, but science has done as much to prove it as it has intelligent design. They both have one major flaw that prevents them from being fact. Evolution can't explain how you get life out of no living chemicals; and intelligent design doesn't have a designer. Untill the answer is solved they will both only be theories. No matter how much you want them to be fact its just not possiable without the proof. Evolution and intelligent design are tied.

Would you evolutionist agree that evolution and intelligent design are in a stand still if you look at it from a scholarly perspective. Yes, evolution has become the leading theory in society, but science has done as much to prove it as it has intelligent design. They both have one major flaw that prevents them from being fact. Evolution can’t explain how you get life out of no living chemicals; and intelligent design doesn’t have a designer. Untill the answer is solved they will both only be theories. No matter how much you want them to be fact its just not possiable without the proof.

]]> By: The Atheist http://askanatheist.wordpress.com/start-a-new-thread/#comment-14137 The Atheist Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:29:28 +0000 #comment-14137 <b>apologia</b>, Thanks for this very candid description of your journey and for asking this delicate question. See your new post <a href="http://askanatheist.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/how-do-i-leave-christianity-without-hurting-anyone/" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Even though this is an atheist blog and I and other atheists are happy to respond, I hope some of the Christians who post here will offer their perspectives as well. apologia,

Thanks for this very candid description of your journey and for asking this delicate question. See your new post here. Even though this is an atheist blog and I and other atheists are happy to respond, I hope some of the Christians who post here will offer their perspectives as well.

]]> By: apologia http://askanatheist.wordpress.com/start-a-new-thread/#comment-14107 apologia Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:36:31 +0000 #comment-14107 Well, I can't believe that I am writing to an Atheist website for insight. You see, I've been a theist my whole life, although for the most part that was by default because I was not a part of any faith community. My belief in intelligent design extrapolates naturally to a creator(s), ergo; God! I have flirted with various religions at different times, particularly when they seemed to offer answers to my deepest questions. Unfortunately, when my questions became too awkward, I was generally told that I had been given the answer and must accept it by faith - not a very critical form of deliberation. Eventually, I stumbled upon some very learned, contemporary Christian apologists and my path to Christ was gradually laid. These 'scholars' were very convincing in their arguments for Christianity and after commiting to that faith I was soon immersed in learning and teaching (at the lay-level). I even taught a course on how to debate with atheists. This was done with the assumption that their objection to theism was either philosophically or scientifically based. I tell you this because I don't want to come across as a gullible nutcase (as many Christians are perceived by those outside the faith). My primary instruction in the atheist course was to tell those attending to put away their Bibles because they might as well bring a copy of Bram Stoker's Dracula for all the credibility it will carry with an atheist. Well, that's enough history, where I am now (philosophically) is what is germain. The answer in a nutshell is that I am still a theist but my faith in the Bible as 'inspired' and my belief in the claims of Christianity are unravelling at an alarming rate. The problem is that I am still active (spiritually, socially, etc) within the faith. A group of us who were teachers and lay leaders within the church split away because of the institutional church's lack of motivation to do the social work required - taking care of the disenfrancized, etc. As a result we formed a house church with no leader, denominational affiliation, established doctrine or theology, etc. We each naturally take leadership in areas where our talents lie. Despite what the institutional church members who oppose us believe (and there are many) it works beautifully and we are making a difference in our community. The trouble is that I now feel like a fraud due to my ever-widening disconnect with the Christian theistic position. So here's the $64.000 question - how do I gently break away without damaging a lot of people? As a teacher I was very effective in rationalizing the faith of others so that they grew in confidence. My change of perspective has the potential to effect a lot of people, including my wife. Please don't offer platitudes such as be true to your conscience, because I know that's what I should do - and damn the consequences - but I just can't. I need to find a way to do it gently. Your insight will be greatly appreciated. p.s. I came here because it would be impossible to get realistic advice from a Christian forum. Well, I can’t believe that I am writing to an Atheist website for insight. You see, I’ve been a theist my whole life, although for the most part that was by default because I was not a part of any faith community.
My belief in intelligent design extrapolates naturally to a creator(s), ergo; God!
I have flirted with various religions at different times, particularly when they seemed to offer answers to my deepest questions. Unfortunately, when my questions became too awkward, I was generally told that I had been given the answer and must accept it by faith – not a very critical form of deliberation.
Eventually, I stumbled upon some very learned, contemporary Christian apologists and my path to Christ was gradually laid. These ’scholars’ were very convincing in their arguments for Christianity and after commiting to that faith I was soon immersed in learning and teaching (at the lay-level).
I even taught a course on how to debate with atheists. This was done with the assumption that their objection to theism was either philosophically or scientifically based. I tell you this because I don’t want to come across as a gullible nutcase (as many Christians are perceived by those outside the faith). My primary instruction in the atheist course was to tell those attending to put away their Bibles because they might as well bring a copy of Bram Stoker’s Dracula for all the credibility it will carry with an atheist.
Well, that’s enough history, where I am now (philosophically) is what is germain. The answer in a nutshell is that I am still a theist but my faith in the Bible as ‘inspired’ and my belief in the claims of Christianity are unravelling at an alarming rate. The problem is that I am still active (spiritually, socially, etc) within the faith.
A group of us who were teachers and lay leaders within the church split away because of the institutional church’s lack of motivation to do the social work required – taking care of the disenfrancized, etc. As a result we formed a house church with no leader, denominational affiliation, established doctrine or theology, etc. We each naturally take leadership in areas where our talents lie. Despite what the institutional church members who oppose us believe (and there are many) it works beautifully and we are making a difference in our community. The trouble is that I now feel like a fraud due to my ever-widening disconnect with the Christian theistic position.
So here’s the $64.000 question – how do I gently break away without damaging a lot of people?
As a teacher I was very effective in rationalizing the faith of others so that they grew in confidence. My change of perspective has the potential to effect a lot of people, including my wife.
Please don’t offer platitudes such as be true to your conscience, because I know that’s what I should do – and damn the consequences – but I just can’t. I need to find a way to do it gently. Your insight will be greatly appreciated.
p.s. I came here because it would be impossible to get realistic advice from a Christian forum.

]]> By: Xela777 http://askanatheist.wordpress.com/start-a-new-thread/#comment-13908 Xela777 Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:47:37 +0000 #comment-13908 DNA, Now What? Ok, so, let's pretend I sit around for a billion years and watch 4.1 million A's and G 's match up to their T's and C's and all those pairs amazingly find each other. I now have a strand of DNA. (4.1 million might be a little too many for the first organism, but that's how many pairs E. coli has. http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/02_01/Sizing_genomes.shtml) Again, a strand of DNA. We have a randomly assembled bit of DNA code that somehow works (because if I hit a keyboard consisting of only 1's and 0's 8.2 millions times, and try this for 1 billion years, I will get a functioning program), and is capable of reproducing itself. I have two problems/questions about this. 1. How does the DNA reproduce? Ok, sure, it splits in half somehow. It just gets and inkling to do that. So let's pretend it splits in half. Now what? How do the two halves get their corresponding parts back? We do this now because we have RNA in our bodies that goes around and finds the letters from the nutrients we get, and brings it back, we have mechanisms to accomplish this. But what does that single strand of DNA have? Or are we going to jump ship and say we started with RNA? Then how does the RNA copy itself? It's not as if carbon also happens to form around this code at the same time and we have an amoeba. 2. Since there's no carbon coming to form around the DNA code, (no skin, no encasing, no protection) how is this precious code protected from the swirling water, the radiation from the sun, and wind? DNA, Now What?

Ok, so, let’s pretend I sit around for a billion years and watch 4.1 million A’s and G ’s match up to their T’s and C’s and all those pairs amazingly find each other. I now have a strand of DNA. (4.1 million might be a little too many for the first organism, but that’s how many pairs E. coli has. http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/02_01/Sizing_genomes.shtml)

Again, a strand of DNA. We have a randomly assembled bit of DNA code that somehow works (because if I hit a keyboard consisting of only 1’s and 0’s 8.2 millions times, and try this for 1 billion years, I will get a functioning program), and is capable of reproducing itself. I have two problems/questions about this.

1. How does the DNA reproduce? Ok, sure, it splits in half somehow. It just gets and inkling to do that. So let’s pretend it splits in half. Now what? How do the two halves get their corresponding parts back? We do this now because we have RNA in our bodies that goes around and finds the letters from the nutrients we get, and brings it back, we have mechanisms to accomplish this. But what does that single strand of DNA have? Or are we going to jump ship and say we started with RNA? Then how does the RNA copy itself? It’s not as if carbon also happens to form around this code at the same time and we have an amoeba.

2. Since there’s no carbon coming to form around the DNA code, (no skin, no encasing, no protection) how is this precious code protected from the swirling water, the radiation from the sun, and wind?

]]> By: Durzal http://askanatheist.wordpress.com/start-a-new-thread/#comment-13504 Durzal Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:23:27 +0000 #comment-13504 ???? ????

]]> By: Plutjeterce http://askanatheist.wordpress.com/start-a-new-thread/#comment-13498 Plutjeterce Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:01:14 +0000 #comment-13498 What's up, is there anybody else here? If there's anyone else here, let me know. Oh, and yes I'm a real person LOL. Later, What’s up, is there anybody else here?
If there’s anyone else here, let me know.
Oh, and yes I’m a real person LOL.

Later,

]]> By: The Atheist http://askanatheist.wordpress.com/start-a-new-thread/#comment-13407 The Atheist Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:41:48 +0000 #comment-13407 Thanks for another good question, Green. <a href="http://askanatheist.wordpress.com/2009/07/30/how-many-atheists-what-is-up-with-these-agnostics/" rel="nofollow">Here</a> is your thread. Thanks for another good question, Green. Here is your thread.

]]> By: The Atheist http://askanatheist.wordpress.com/start-a-new-thread/#comment-13406 The Atheist Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:39:16 +0000 #comment-13406 Hi Lee, Thanks for the question! You can see your new thread <a href="http://askanatheist.wordpress.com/2009/07/30/is-deism-tenable/" rel="nofollow">here</a> Hi Lee, Thanks for the question! You can see your new thread here

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