Do You Prefer Fact Or Fiction?

[nailit]

After 55 years on this earth I prefer fact.
As much as it pains me, as much as it upsets me, I prefer facts over faith.
A few weeks ago I was nearly suicidal. Still prefer facts to 'faith'. If I had ended my life then, I would have been dead, end off, no atheist in foxhole here.
Just dont understand this religious preoccupation with living forever....
I honesty just dont get it?
What the hell are you going to to FOREVER?
It would be like watching a game of football that went on forever...there wouldnt be a point,

[Theland]

Pixie, in the lab? Show me a link.

[pixie374]

IVF? Creating an embryo from 2 eggs... do you really need links?

[Theland]

IVF deals with enormously complex living cells, not inert chemicals.

[pixie374]

But still creates "life". If we couldn't do that, pregnancy wouldn't even exist. Single cells that can do nothing at all, can develop into independent life, with the right chemicals and environment.
It clearly "has" happened in any case- so where is the evidence that it must be God?
Are you assuming we know everything there is to know, and end up with God by a process of elimination? X

[ladybirder]

Fact.

[mibn2cweus]

//MIBs, I'm astonished that you show no interest in the big questions.//

I'm satisfied with the answers I have found to "the big questions". Those answers such as I've attempted to share at various times don't appear to have the ring of truth to you. I appreciate your interest but our inability to co-relate to our shared reality seems so far to have resulted in an insurmountable standoff with no resolution in sight.
I'll most likely keep posting when and as the inspiration prompts me. I'm not interested in agreement for its own sake, only broadening of knowledge and improved mutual understanding.

[Theland]

Then I presume you have some theory regarding the creation of the universe?

[pixie374]

//Then I presume you have some theory regarding the creation of the universe//

Makes no sense,theland. Nobody actually knows. To "not believe" one theory, doesn't imply anyone knows the answer.

[mibn2cweus]

I don't fancy my musings on the supposed 'origin' of the universe qualifies as a theory, but for starters, I don't presume anything is created. Eventually someone came up with the notion of a 'creator'. But that came much later.

I would however recommend you look further than answer boards and ancient texts for answers to 'the big questions', most of which are only recently coming to light. 'God' was never very forthcoming with 'His' means and methods. There more we learn the more apparent it becomes that 'God' was quite intent (for some reason) on leaving us in the dark for as long as possible.

[nailit]

//Then I presume you have some theory regarding the creation of the universe?//
I know that ^ wasnt addressed to me but then I presume that you have some evidence of God and some evidence to back up your claim that God ''did it''??
Even if you presented some evidence that God ''did it'' it doesnt show which God!
Osiris? Loki? Allah? Bramha? Zeus? Krishna? Ahura mazda?
A million other Deities?

The Genesis stories read as parables, nothing else. (And plagiarized
from earlier myths at that.....Babylonian, Sumerian etc.)

How on Earth can you take these stories (Genesis 1-3) as factual history?
The mind boggles.
Magical trees, talking snakes, enchanted gardens.....
At least C.S. Lewis acknowledged that Narnia wasn't real.
Dont go into your wardrobe. Might be in for a fright?

[Theland]

Gosh you don't half repeat yourself!

[nailit]

//Then I presume you have some theory regarding the creation of the universe?//

Let Theland win. We can teach it in schools.
The universe was created in 6 days by an omnipotent God.

No need anymore for inquiry into cosmology, paleontology, Zoology, Archaeology, Anthropology, Psychology, or any other ology.
Its all answered in the first few chapters of an ancient text with a talking snake, a man made of dirt and his missus made of a rib who took a bite of a magic fruit.
And there, ladies and gentlemen, is the cause of all our problems.
From frostbite to cancer. From a cold to Covid.
From a volcano death to an infant death.
Its all our fault......

ALL because our great, great great...etc...
Ate from a magical tree.... Yeah, lets teach this stuff in schools. Sounds like a great idea..

[nailit]

//Gosh you don't half repeat yourself!//
Says the guy that repeats himself repeatedly.

[Theland]

There's only a few things you need to know.
God is holy, and holiness is something barely understood by us.
Being holy, He hates sin, and we are sinners.
You can investigate Gods solution to our problem, through Jesus Christ, if you like. Highly recommended.
But whether you do or not, two things are certain.
First, He is real, an all consuming fire.
Second, one day you will stand before Him.

[nailit]

//Second, one day you will stand before Him//
Here comes the stick again...
For goodness sakes, give me a bit of carrott.

[Atheist]

Theland; the word "holy" has always intrigued me. Can you explain what it means?

[nailit]

Why on Earth would I want to worship (let alone even acknowlege) this evil Deity of yours?
Yes... I said evil. If you bother to read your Bible, its EVIL!!!!
(Many people dont read their Bible. Pity)

[nailit]

//the word "holy" has always intrigued me. Can you explain what it means?//

It means whatever the hell the theist of any particular faith wants it to.
Its a meaningless word.
(Try to shoehorn that word into real life science)

[Atheist]

Nailit; I really shouldn't ask questions of Theland. I know it's a waste of time, but I always hope that he might one day think about stuff. My ambition (or forlorn hope!) is that he might decide to use the brain that his god gave him.

[nailit]

Atheist,
Ive got Christian friends and work collegues...
I hope against hope that one day we can have an intelligent discussion.
It hasnt happened so far. They just cut off or change the conversation or change the question.
I love my friends and collegues nevertheless.