rockymt wrote:
> I can understand that many of you who frequent these newsgroups expect
> scientific proof/evidence and no less.
>
I deliberately removed alt atheism from the this thread. I have learned
from experience it's virtually impossible to communicate. They demand
physical proof of the existence of a non-physical being - the creator.
Personally, I see evidence of the "hand" of the creator in the design
we see all around us. From the universe, to life itself and especially
the reproduction process. But for most, atheist _cannot_ see design.
But ironically some apparently do.
Richard Dawkins, for example referred to design as "apparent" design.
As a corollary, I see a beaver dam as evidence of of a dam builder, even
though I've never seen a beaver. Similarly, I see design as evidence of
a designer although I never seen the designer. I reject the notion of
"apparent" design. Design is real, and I see design as evidence of a
designer.
I find it curious that unbelievers demand scientific proof of the deity,
yet science is _not_ in the business of proof. I quote Stephen Hawking,
Any physical theory is always provisional, in the sense that it is only
a hypothesis" you can never prove it. No matter how many times the
results of experments agree with some theory, you can never be sure that
the next time the result will not contridict the theory. On the other
hand you can disprove a theory by finding even a single observation that
disagrees with the predictions of the theory.. If ever a new observation
is found to disagree, we have to abandon or modify the theory. At least
that is what is supposed to happen, but you can always question the
competence of the person who carried out the observation.
I also understand how many of you
> would perceive your 'reality' world and those who embrace the
Christian or
> a Monotheistic faith to be in complete opposition. A lot of what I'm
> hearing, at a much deeper level is that it is just too painful...
>
I do not subscribe to the Genesis account. I think it lacks specificity.
>
> impossible for me to listen to you let alone believe in a god with the
state
> this world is in.
>
I challenge the notion that the deity is a micro-manager.
>
Apart from those who do not believe in God, we'd probably
> tolerate each other, maybe even agree on other topics, such as hobbies,
> literature, s****ts travel etc. Maybe even come to enjoy each others
> company( outside of this newsgroup or in person), and even like one
another.
> Who knows. What bothers me is that most are not just disagreeing,
they're
> offending, insulting, making those that disagree, feel unwelcome, and
> carrying on as though there were more than this one major difference(
like
> people born in nations that are in political turmoil).
>
Theist are not welcome on atheist newsgroups. And atheist often use the
fact that some theist infringe in their space to justify attacks on
Christians and other religionists.
Work associates (
> for example) whom after I've come to know personally,(over a year or
so)
> begin discussing the deeper thing, to even religion and faith in a god.
>
I not presently a church goer, but when I did attend Methodist services,
I do not recall anyone ever claiming to _know_ anything for a fact.
Or making any claims to know for a fact that God exist. Everything, as I
remember was a said to be a matter of _faith_. Is this still true?
>
Our
> differences surface, yet we don't stoop to degrading, offensive
language.
> This is most likely because we've come to accept and respect one
another.
> There is a foundation built of mutual respect.
> beneath all this 'tit for tat' dialogue, there is something more... much
> more we can offer one another. It's to bad it has to be like this so
much-
> wish it'd tone down. I know this is not a friend****p newsgroup, but at a
> deeper level I feel for each and everyone of you, good bad or
indifferent.
> And I know we don't really mean those hurtful things we say.
>
When "Christians" say hurtful things, I question their sincerity. This
was not part of the teachings expressed in the Methodist Church.
Regards,
Dana Wood
>
> take you all,
> rockymt
>
>
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