Faith?

See: http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=1804&page=8

Posted by Oliver, Sunday, 18 May 2008 8:26:56 PM

Well! That's all we have left. "IS FAITH":! "That's the living". But you want more from me.

Give me your Questions.

EVO

You seem like a bright guy BOAZ_David so I assume you understand that the opinion (regarding god) of one person, despite their standing in the scientific community, means little to me. I mean no offence but another prominent scientist (other than prof McMready) has called religion a delusion and some of the greatest minds ever have been blind to, or unwilling to accept certain facts. I agree with Dawkins view and believe that religion stands in the way of science. Science is the search for truth. Some areas where truth is sought have already been “accounted” for in the bible. My main problem is that when you begin an investigation with preconceived notions, conformation or denial is predetermined. It annoys me that people still deny evolution. Common arguments include things like “even its proponents call it a theory” and yes even “this famous scientist” or “that famous scientist” disagrees with it. For the latter, these scientists are a small minority and for the former science is fluid and, unlike religion, will not set anything in stone. It is a theory as it is waiting for anyone with sufficient evidence to improve it.
I apologise that this post is so all over the place but I have had maybe one wine to many.
Oh and there have been some good posts so far. Thanks to all.

Look! I will pick this up tomorrow. going too bed.

Good night.

KatieO
I am familiar with praying. I was raised a catholic (I went to mass every Sunday and confession every second Friday for the first 18 years of my life) and truth to tell, I believed it all for a fair while.
I suppose you are looking for a little more than Descartes famous words (as proof of my existence). I do think it is interesting though that the first part is “Dubito” ie “I doubt”. To me, physical evidence is enough. I suppose I am a little like Thomas. Thomas’s experience would do it for me, but until this happens I will continue to doubt. My mother has all these videos of Fatima, medjugorje, Lourdes etc. One of them speaks of a warning that is coming. This would probably do it for me as well. But I have no faith in any of these prophecies. If I was God (remembering god is supposedly all powerful) I could think of many ways to prove my existence, and all of them would be undeniable. Anyway when you pray has god ever talked back. Actually don’t answer that. My mother would tell me that “yes” he answers her all the time, but I don’t believe it, so probably won’t believe you.
In the end I can’t answer your prayers to prove my existence, as you believe god can. Physical evidence is all that is left to me. If this doesn’t suffice then I’ve got nothing.
But remember that this discussion was about empirical evidence. Meaning experience and sensory perception

PUSS.... :)

I quite agree... personal opinions of scholars..or..that game we all seem to love to play "My scholar can beat up your scholar" is rather futile.

I hope you bear this in mind, when I generally avoid such debates, and simply post 'Bible verses' at times when I feel they connect to the subject matter.
No offense taken :)

MY REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH.....

I didn't realize that CSTEELE had called me an "unintended servant of satan" (aaaahl get ya 4 that *swats csteele with a huge King James*:)

But..there is hope.. theCat says

"You seem like a bright guy BOAZ_David" (if only wall had the degrees to prove it :)

AAh.. its all good.. if we give, we must also take.

FOXY..I quite agree with what you said about cell complexity etc. I just don't think such arguments (good as they are) will bring someone from the 'broad way which leads to destruction' and onto 'the narrow way which leads to life', as much as a good dose of Gospel truth will.
I think it's a process.. so there is great value in raising such things.

CJ... you are a pest arn't u :) (WOOPS.. "personal attack". yikes)

Picking on me in the Kaysar thread about picking on Puss' spelling. (Done in light hearted jest of course and you knew it)

I note that neither you, Kaysar nor even FH actually refuted the claim I made.

All I got was

"denial" from Kaysar (+attack the Bible)
"you are still on that same page" from beloved FH
"You pick on peoples spelling mistakes" from you :)

I live in hope that people will bring down an ARGUMENT with ARGUMENT rather than denial or abuse.