Please dont kill me but...

from JoeUser Forums
OK, before you read this I need you to understand that I am NOT trying to insult anyone or get anyone upset. I just have some questions about some stuff I don't really understand...

I'm not a Christian, nor do I truely believe in any form of religion. From my standpoint, relegions are nothing more than a way for people to describe the world as they see it and to make it make sense to them. I live in the South, right in the middle of the bible belt and no one here has been able to give me any good answers for my questions, so I decided to take my questions to the internet. I'm not sure how many diffrent religions everyone on here believes in but I think my questions are mainly focused at Christians.

1. Science says that the Earth is billions years old and the evidence they've stated seems to back that up pretty well. According to the bible, the earth should be around 6,000 years old. Do you think that science or the bible is right? And if you believe more in the bible, why?

2. Dinosaurs- yes, I am about to ask what you think I'm about to ask- What's the deal with dinosaurs? Did they never exist or did the bible just leave them out because they were a given?

3. What about people that were around BEFORE Christians or who to far away to ever be told about it (Native Americans for example)? Did they all go to Hell because they praised someone else before God stepped in and told someone about himself?

That's the three main questions I haven't really had answered... Again, this isn't meant to upset anybody.

Thanks,
duh09
religion
692 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Pretty well the way I feel about it all. Most explanations I have heard are based on the assumption that a Supreme Deity exists (eg its in the Bible is no explanation), or are based on balance of probability. The latter is fine, but needs facts in which to back up that deduction or decision of probability, and I have not seen any that do that, facts are in short supply, argueably missing.

Like you, mine is a genuine interest, an open mind, and willingness to change beliefs. I hope you succeed in prising out the facts, I have always failed. I'll watch the thread with interest.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Again, this isn't meant to upset anybody.


I have to ask, if you don't mean to upset anyone, why are you posing these questions? Since you don't believe in any form of religion, it is difficult for me to read your article as anything but attempting to stir something up in the forum.

If you approached random Christians in you local community with the same questions, I can only imagine their responses. "Hey, I'm not a Christian, I don't believe in religion in general and have no inclination to convert, but could you explain how you justify the existence of dinosaurs in comparison with what is written in Genesis? I just don't get it!"

In fairness, my personal take: The entire Bible can't be read literally (questions 1 and 2) and I do believe that there is a system of judgement in place for the time after this world, and also believe that you and I don't (and probably can't) understand that system at this time.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
I have to ask, if you don't mean to upset anyone, why are you posing these questions? Since you don't believe in any form of religion, it is difficult for me to read your article as anything but attempting to stir something up in the forum.


Why?

Its amazing, I can talk to people about riding, fishing, racing etc etc and ask questions to find out more, and get eagar civilised responses.

Try the same thing with Religion and I am automatically some trouble stiring heathen who has the termerity to ask questions, as the OP has just been branded here. Not an isolated case, happened many times. I wish you all well in your religious cocoons, but I shall not be joining you after getting the same reply from many over the last 50 years - thats not a state of mind I can identify with.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
1. They're both right and we can never know which one is real until we're dead. After all both work as explanations; science explains what's there, and there's no reason to assume God isn't an asshole who likes to fool humans with strata and space.

2. God created them as fossils, not as living things. If God is everything, then somewhere in there is a tricky little bastard that likes to play practical jokes on archaeologists. If there wasn't God wouldn't be everything.

3. Those born before Christ's death are saved, those born after burn. Simple and scrupulously unfair, like all religion should be.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
This is coming from an obvious Christian POV so here goes.

1. I absolutely believe the bible is most logical and I will take God's unchanging word over man's opinions which keeps changing day to day. It would be way too lengthy for me to go over the God vs Science Debate here but I've covered this somewhat in depth here and with all the responses attached...WWW Link

2. Yes I believe Dinos existed and are referenced in scripture. They would have been created with all other animals on the 6th day. I believe for the most part they have died out as a result of the environment after the flood which I also believed happened.

3. Those who lived before Christ are saved the same way as those who live now, after Christ. Faith. We are all saved by Faith thru Grace. They looked forward to the cross the same way we look back at the cross. All those intended to be saved by the hand of God will be saved. He will lose none that are his since the foundation of the world.

Abraham came out of the land of Ur or Mesopotamia (Iraq) where there was much idolatry and pagan practices. His whole family was involved in this. Yet God reached him out to him and called him out of it to follow him. It doesn't matter where we are. God will call us out if he so desires.

Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
My thoughts are pretty much in line with Pseudo's but I'll give you my own take. I also believe that the Bible cannot be taken literally. I think there are many bible stories that you can learn from but many of them are just that, stories written by men to the times they lived in. I think God is brilliant enough to create human's through evolution. A million years is like a day to Him. The creation story is a story. Every culture has a creation story and Christians/Jews are no different.

As for who will be saved and who won't, I believe that the God I love is a fair and loving God. I do not believe that He will punish people who have lived a good life, who have helped their fellow man, no matter where they were born or what religion they were taught as children. I do think that there will be justice. Many Christians do not believe as I do though.

And yes, religion is a tough subject to discuss. Many people are offended by hearing beliefs that differ from theirs but I'm not one of them. I think God gave us brains so we could think for ourselves. If He wanted to, He could have made us all God worshiping zombies but He wanted us to be able chose whether to serve him or not.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
Why?

Its amazing, I can talk to people about riding, fishing, racing etc etc and ask questions to find out more, and get eagar civilised responses.

Try the same thing with Religion and I am automatically some trouble stiring heathen who has the termerity to ask questions, as the OP has just been branded here.


Riding: "I don't believe in riding, I don't subscribe to subjugating another living being like that. There's a question I have that no one has been able to answer. How do you justify making that poor animal cart your lazy ass around with a bit in its mouth like that?"

Fishing: "I don't believe in fishing for sport, and I don't think I'd ever do it. But could you answer this question for me: do you fish catch and release, and can you justify the pain you cause to those fish you let go? Also, how many of them do you think heal up fully and lead a normal life? Do you only fish when you *need* food?"

I didn't "brand" anyone, but the questions seem (not quite as bad, but) similar to the ones above. He stated he doesn't like religion, but he picks some of the most provocative questions to start a discussion.

I wish you all well in your religious cocoons, but I shall not be joining you after getting the same reply from many over the last 50 years - thats not a state of mind I can identify with.


I note that you decided not to actually respond to my personal views, which I presented in a good faith attempt in case I'm way off base about the intent of the original poster. Way to keep that "genuine interest, an open mind, and willingness to change beliefs" that you described in your first response.