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Jaitea

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Join date
15-Dec-2007
Last activity
13-Mar-2025
Posts
1,516

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Post
#681755
Topic
Doctor Who
Time

Bingowings said:

It made sense to me I just thought the transmission of the regenerative energy was a bit too convenient and it's explosive effect would make Gallifrey a very dangerous place to live methinks.

 ....makes me think...with a weapon like that....if all the TimeLords were to regenerate like that at once they could have ended the Time War in 'Day of the Doctor'

J

Post
#680589
Topic
The merits and shortcomings of religion, spirituality, and nonbelief
Time

Everybody calm.....

The moral issue,.....now the bible says that we get our moral values not just from the scriptures but god gave them to us,....hes in our head helping us to make those choices,.....so a Christian worries that society will fall if our belief in god diminishes?

.....surely god is still connected to our consciousness making us make the right decisions, or would he turn his back on us and disconnect?

The other thing that was said which answer is used time and again (on other threads here also)...._Ender said:

So if you believe in God, you can easily believe there are absolute rights and wrongs, defined by our Creator.  If you don't then in reality I don't see any true way to identify absolute rights and wrongs. 

If all the moral teachings in the bible were taken on board and obeyed the world's moral would step back a couple of thousand of years......rape, treatment of women, slavery etc.....which now in our times are unacceptable, so for morals which are laid down and unchanging,.....have changed with cultural change

Atheists have their own standards, which didn't just come to them as simply self-evident truths, but actually through a process of evolving culture.  And as culture continues to evolve, the standards of mankind will continue to change.  Thus, if there is no God, then there is no absolute right and wrong.  See my point.

I don't see your point.

Morals were laid down as I said in my previous post as a mean of law (and law in my country is still dictated by the church) the moral guide that the bible goes by was spread by christianity all over the world, so yes, the moral code we cling to originates by the good word of the bible.

As the world evolves and we are more aware of the wonders of science, we are slowly finding our place in the universe.

The laws & morals that we learned from the bible (the good ones) are of course still valid as the foundation of society......and we will still follow those laws as we continue to evolve

J

Post
#680511
Topic
The merits and shortcomings of religion, spirituality, and nonbelief
Time

Charles Darwin is to blame.

Survival of the fittest.

Evolution is now accepted by (most) religions, we can trace our common ancestor right back to photosynthesis.

When the first homo sapiens appeared 200,000 years ago in Africa they had evolved behaviours that helped them respond to the challenge of survival.

The first modern humans shared the planet with at least three other species of early humans which eventually became extinct.

Extreme climate change 75,000 years ago almost made our species extinct

40,000 years ago modern humans reach Europe

A close species Neanderthal became extinct 28,000 years ago, a species that we know buried their dead, that had concerns for their young, their sick and their elders.

15,000 humans reach the Americas

The turning point for humans was the discovery that they could control the growth & breeding of certain plants and animals about 12,000 years ago

Farming relied on the Sun to shine, the rain to fall to produce a good harvest

A belief began that if they prayed to the Sun god their crops would flourish

Belief in gods spread through the species as a deal to survive....a promise

Law sprang out of this belief, law being set by the wisemen of the groups,....no stealing,...no killing.....or run the risk of angering the gods

Over 3,500 years ago amongst thousands of other beliefs the Jewish religion explained where we all came from, but not until over 2,000 years ago a man who questioned the teachings and laws set down by the wisemen was put to death, thus resulting in a religion being pushed all over the earth. Naturally being human there are misunderstandings of what happened back then.

....but back to Darwin

He was right of course, we as a species have evolved to where we are by survival, one wrong turn leads to extinction

After he published Origin of the Species world leaders either (1) refused to believe that we are the cousins of all other life on earth, that we were created perfect by god in his image.....(2) decided that there was no god......(3) or worse still, that evolution exists, that god made that happen, therefore god gives his blessing for survival of the strongest

Adolf Hitler fell into that category.

A misunderstanding of Darwin's discovery

Peter Kropotkin argued in his 1902 book Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution that Darwin did not define the fittest as the strongest, or most clever, but recognized that the fittest could be those who cooperated with each other. In many animal societies, "struggle is replaced by co-operation."

It may be that at the outset Darwin himself was not fully aware of the generality of the factor which he first invoked for explaining one series only of facts relative to the accumulation of individual variations in incipient species. But he foresaw that the term [evolution] which he was introducing into science would lose its philosophical and its only true meaning if it were to be used in its narrow sense only—that of a struggle between separate individuals for the sheer means of existence. And at the very beginning of his memorable work he insisted upon the term being taken in its "large and metaphorical sense including dependence of one being on another, and including (which is more important) not only the life of the individual, but success in leaving progeny." [Quoting Origin of Species, chap. iii, p. 62 of first edition.]

While he himself was chiefly using the term in its narrow sense for his own special purpose, he warned his followers against committing the error (which he seems once to have committed himself) of overrating its narrow meaning. In The Descent of Man he gave some powerful pages to illustrate its proper, wide sense. He pointed out how, in numberless animal societies, the struggle between separate individuals for the means of existence disappears, how struggle is replaced by co-operation, and how that substitution results in the development of intellectual and moral faculties which secure to the species the best conditions for survival. He intimated that in such cases the fittest are not the physically strongest, nor the cunningest, but those who learn to combine so as mutually to support each other, strong and weak alike, for the welfare of the community. "Those communities," he wrote, "which included the greatest number of the most sympathetic members would flourish best, and rear the greatest number of offspring" (2nd edit., p. 163). The term, which originated from the narrow Malthusian conception of competition between each and all, thus lost its narrowness in the mind of one who knew Nature.[44]

If the belief in god were to disappear, law will still be there, education in human welfare will still be taught to our children so that they can understand the value of human life

Thats me finished with this discussion, I don't think I can really add any thing else without repeating myself

As I've said before, I've come to a mindset that my time on earth has came about because of my parents and their parents before them, while I'm here it's best to love your loved ones, care for your fellow people, but when I'm gone ......I'm gone..... The only way I'll live on is in the memory of those who knew me and by my DNA that I've passed on to my children.

J

 

 

Post
#680333
Topic
The merits and shortcomings of religion, spirituality, and nonbelief
Time

So that fits in with your understanding of god, the dinosaurs time on earth at being 165 million years and our species barely on this planet?

All those creatures and species living their lives to evolve just for our benefit? just so we can spend a small time on earth so god can decide if we deserve to go to the afterlife?

J

Post
#680320
Topic
The merits and shortcomings of religion, spirituality, and nonbelief
Time

RicOlie_2 said:

Jaitea said:

RicOlie_2 said:

Jaitea said:

Do you think you would be that religion if you were born in another country, say India or Afghanistan?

Depends where. There are a lot of Catholics in India. Of course I could have been born into a different religion, in which case I would probably still belong to that religion. I would be an entirely different person had I been born somewhere else and I cannot therefore speculate as to whether or not I would have stuck with it.

 So probably you would be worshiping a different God with the same enthusiasm,....so really you are a Catholic because of your parents, if you were born in D_E's family you would be a Mormon etc

Thats the way it usually goes, the world over....would you find it unimaginable to switch to another religion?

Not unimaginable, no. Difficult perhaps, but as I said, I don't know how I would behave because I would be a completely different person. If I were the same person and thought the same way for the most part, except for my religious beliefs, I would not likely continue to adhere to those religious beliefs. But of course I would not think the same way.

another question,.....it's fair to believe in evolution now?

J

 I believe in guided evolution (evolution with God guiding it along).

 Ok it's established that the universe is 13.8 billion years old.....the age of the earth is 4.6 billion years old...first life on earth estimated 3.8 billion years ago.....dinosaurs first appeared about 230 million years ago.....mammals first appeared 160 million years ago, but lived under the shadow of the dominant reptiles until 65 million years ago when an asteroid/comet hit near Mexico.....only 200,000 years ago the first homo sapiens appeared....

....up to 5 billion species have gone by the wayside and are extinct due to evolution.....all that to evolve gods perfect creation.....man

Created to worship Him

Sorry if this sounds like superior intellect.....its not.....it's from Google

Enjoy your time on earth

J

Post
#680298
Topic
Ask the member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints AKA Interrogate the Mormon
Time

RicOlie_2 said:

As you said, perhaps alcohol made you come across the wrong way, but you heavily implied that religion will go extinct relatively soon and that it has been the cause of most suffering.

I do feel with the advances in space exploration and the understanding of the cosmos we are on the verge of truly discovering the origins of life.....look where we were 50 years ago

RicOlie_2 said:

Jaitea said:

I have never been rude to you or Ric2, I've just asked questions that (i think) are loopholes in your faith....to make you question.....I don't think you are foolish, or that I am wise, some times when you are so close to something, you don't see what it looks like as others see it from afar

J

 You sometimes came across as one of those "superior intellect" types, and though I was never really offended, some (most of your comments were polite) comments seemed slightly rude or patronizing.

 I'm sorry if I came across that way,.....it must be the way I type:)

J

Post
#680292
Topic
The merits and shortcomings of religion, spirituality, and nonbelief
Time

RicOlie_2 said:

Jaitea said:

Do you think you would be that religion if you were born in another country, say India or Afghanistan?

Depends where. There are a lot of Catholics in India. Of course I could have been born into a different religion, in which case I would probably still belong to that religion. I would be an entirely different person had I been born somewhere else and I cannot therefore speculate as to whether or not I would have stuck with it.

 So probably you would be worshiping a different God with the same enthusiasm,....so really you are a Catholic because of your parents, if you were born in D_E's family you would be a Mormon etc

Thats the way it usually goes, the world over....would you find it unimaginable to switch to another religion?

another question,.....it's fair to believe in evolution now?

J

Post
#680186
Topic
Ask the member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints AKA Interrogate the Mormon
Time

darth_ender said:

 Your comment did not offend.  I do, however, feel this thread (as well as the Catholic thread) have become far more like "Reform the foolish believer" threads rather than engaging in understanding why we believe what we believe.  I don't mind that sort of discussion, but it would probably be better in its own thread, where the OP doesn't feel compelled to defend religion on his own.  You don't have to believe in God, but I assure you that 50 years down the road, people still will.  Instead of dwelling on what damage this world may have seen from religion, look at the good it has provided.  Most great discoveries have been performed by religious believers.  The freedoms enjoyed by this world's greatest nations have been founded by believers.  It can be used for ill, but so can the lack of religion.  If you truly subscribe to the belief that religion is the reason for most suffering on earth, then I encourage you to think things through a little more, my friend.

I think I'll start a new thread soon.

 I'm sure you probably know the recent history of Northern Ireland, where I live, and are aware that things have been pretty good for a decade or so, last Christmas we had a bit of trouble, demonstrations leading to riots etc, I work in a video production unit and have been involved in making a film demonstrating the GOOD work that the Clergy have done in trying to maintain peace in this region. They have taken an active role in keeping all denominations talking through the EU Peace III initiative....(European Funding), so I have heard testimonies of some fantastic work and initiatives that has been done over the past year

I don't think I have ever said that I viewed that most suffering on earth to be the result of religion and I don't think you need to patronise me by advising me to think things through.

I have never been rude to you or Ric2, I've just asked questions that (i think) are loopholes in your faith....to make you question.....I don't think you are foolish, or that I am wise, some times when you are so close to something, you don't see what it looks like as others see it from afar

J

Post
#680167
Topic
The merits and shortcomings of religion, spirituality, and nonbelief
Time

Hey guys this is a great thread!

A question to all, you are very clearly very happy with your religion, what religion are your parents?

What made you pick the religion that you think is better than all the others?

Do you think you would be that religion if you were born in another country, say India or Afghanistan?

......and a thing to remember, atheism isn't a religion, it's not believing in a deity.

Off is not a TV channel

J

Post
#679885
Topic
Give Star Wars a break for 6 months or more...watch with a critical eye
Time

It's been a while since I watched Star Wars....so I watched Harmy's excellent Despecialized work, I must say I was still very impressed with the movie, the original despecialized elements looked great.

The only thing that did jump out at me was the wobbly sets on the Death Star,....they really did spoil the experience for me.....enough for me to post this.

The fast door that Luke shuts as he entered the hanger control room....you can see that it bounces or settles weirdly as though it was made of plywood.

The Trash compactor scene looks off because the walls move in non-mechanically, you can tell that theres a group of guys pushing the walls in....

....anyway.....Seasons Greatings 

J