Science & Religion

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What does growth of scientific knowledge have to do with metaphysical arguments?
Nothing whatsoever! Science is **totally uninformative **about the ultimate nature of reality or any of the most important aspects of life: truth, goodness, freedom, justice, equality and love… 😉
 
Sorry, but where did I specify “scientific” knowledge?
My apologies for the misunderstanding.
If you’re saying that no progress in metaphysical knowledge has been made since Aristotle, then I agree that metaphysicians need to get busy.
Oh no, you don’t have to worry about that.😉 But it is more supplement – a lot of it – rather than replacement.
 
It’s hardly surprising because the anti-religious crew have opted for a philosophy of despair. There’s nothing to look back to, into or forward to when you have blind, unquestioning faith in the hypothesis that we are just sparks in the dark… :rolleyes:
Obviously SGW does not have blind unquestioning faith in anything:
Originally posted by SGWessells
But my pesky mind won’t let me alone. It insists on questioning every religion I adopt – and there have been several – until I either justify it or leave. This pattern has made me very skeptical of religious claims, since I have at one time believed them all passionately myself, and used similar arguments to defend them.
so I don’t know why you would say that. 🤷
 
It’s incredible how people can deny the evidence of the Gospels which teach us how to live according to the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity yet they readily swallow NeoDarwinism which purports to be a metaphysical theory, has no moral significance and is rejected by many biologists… :rolleyes:
You mean equality and liberty for certain people? Women, black people, the indigenous population, homosexuals and other people in the US weren’t granted equal rights and liberty for a long time:rolleyes: Evidence of the Gospels? What evidence???

Evolution is a fact btw. Oh, I guess I DO know something:cool:
 
It’s incredible how people can deny the evidence of the Gospels which teach us how to live according to the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity yet they readily swallow NeoDarwinism which purports to be a metaphysical theory, has no moral significance and is rejected by many biologists…
Contrary to the teaching of Jesus…
 
It’s hardly surprising because the anti-religious crew have opted for a philosophy of despair. There’s nothing to look back to, into or forward to when you have blind, unquestioning faith in the hypothesis that we are just sparks in the dark…
I specified “There’s nothing to look back to, into or forward to **when **you have blind, unquestioning faith in the hypothesis that we are just sparks in the dark”… 🙂
 
Contrary to the teaching of Jesus…
I thought we all live a life of liberty and freedom based on the Gospels but oddly parts of the US still didn’t grant equal rights to blacks roughly 1900 years after they were written.
I specified “There’s nothing to look back to, into or forward to **when **you have blind, unquestioning faith in the hypothesis that we are just sparks in the dark”… 🙂
People can’t force themselves to believe something they just find too far-fetched. I tried to believe but to believe that humans all descended from Adam and Eve or in the story of Noah’s ark was just impossible. When I was a kid I desperately wanted to believe in Santa Claus because the kids in my neighborhood believed in him but no matter how hard I tried I just knew he didn’t exist.
I tried to believe the teachings of the Catholic Church but at the end of the day I thought who am I kidding.
 
I specified “There’s nothing to look back to, into or forward to **when **you have blind, unquestioning faith in the hypothesis that we are just sparks in the dark”… 🙂
Truuue ok :rolleyes: But I don’t know if the degree of “faith” a person has that we are sparks in the dark or whatever has anything to do with whether it depresses them or not. I mean, maybe a person is blind and unquestioning bc they are perfectly happy and content with the belief that we are sparks in the dark.
It is a person who is discontent with the idea that there is nothing to look forward to etc that would make them question that hypothesis. So…opposite of what you said 😛
 
That’s not the fault of the teaching but of those who reject it or do not follow it even when they profess to accept it.
So your claim is that all people who do not believe in Jesus and the Gospels are all immoral, including all atheists, agnostics, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims and other religions?
 
Truuue ok But I don’t know if the degree of “faith” a person has that we are sparks in the dark or whatever has anything to do with whether it depresses them or not.
Anyone who is eagerly looking forward to - or couldn’t care less about -disappearing forever is abnormal!
I mean, maybe a person is blind and unquestioning bc they are perfectly happy and content with the belief that we are sparks in the dark.
Have you met such a person? If so has that person explained why?
It is a person who is discontent with the idea that there is nothing to look forward to etc that would make them question that hypothesis. So…opposite of what you said .
I specified “There’s nothing to look back to, into or forward to **when **you have blind, unquestioning faith in the hypothesis that we are just sparks in the dark”…
 
How on earth do you reach that conclusion? Faults are not always culpable…
Because earlier you also said
It’s incredible how people can deny the evidence of the Gospels which teach us how to live according to the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity yet they readily swallow NeoDarwinism which purports to be a metaphysical theory, has no moral significance and is rejected by many biologists… :rolleyes:
It sounded like the Gospels exclusively teach us these values and if you reject the Gospels you reject morality but that was my interpretation of what you said which could be wrong. In general I find many teachings of the Gospels good but I also find many of the teachings of Buddhism and other religions/philosophies good.
 
🤷 I just accept that one day I’m going to die and that’s that. It does not bother me.
I have to admit that it bothers me to think one moment I’m alive and the next I’m non-existent. Having said that, I can’t just try to believe in something like I will go to Heaven after death just for the sake of it making me feel better. In other words, I can’t fool myself.
On the other hand, I don’t find Christianity one bit more comforting. The belief you might burn in Hell is worse than the believe of non-existence if you ask me.
 
You’re right. This was a thread in itself but in that thread people insisted that there is more evidence about the life of Jesus than the life of Julius Caesar. There were never any written eye-witness accounts by any historians, scholars, philosophers or whoever, that ever wrote ANYTHING about Jesus while he lived. You would think that if he healed thousands and performed so many miracles that at least one historian would mention him. Josephus who people like to mention was BORN 30 years after Jesus died. There are no writings by Jesus while there are by Caesar.
The Gospels were written 2-3 generations AFTER Jesus died.
They contradict each other but the truly faithful don’t accept the contradictions as contradictions.
It’s funny how people can deny the evidence of evolution but believe shady evidence like the Gospels.
Matthew and John were eyewitnesses. Mark recorded Peter, who was an eyewitness.

Year AD Event The Resurrection. The leaders of the Jews persecute the first Christians. Saul/Paul is converted. Matthew composes his Hebrew gospel/ liturgy in Palestine. Matthews gospel is translated into Greek. King Herod Agrippa executes the Apostle James the Great. Peter escapes and flees to Rome. The other apostles spread out from Palestine. **44** **King Herod Agrippa dies.** **49** **Jews and Christians expelled from Rome following riots.** Luke writes his gospel for the Gentiles, partly based on Matthews gospel. First of Pauls epistles; some influenced by Matthews gospel. Paul imprisoned by Romans. A copy of Matthew’s Gospel taken to India. 54 Nero becomes emperor. The Apostle James the Less, bishop of Jerusalem, killed by stoning. The Christians are expelled from the Temple. Luke completes his Acts of the Apostles. Paul asks Timothy to join him on a mission to Spain. Paul released from prison. Peter ordains Linus, Cletus and Clement as assistant bishops. Peter endorses Lukes gospel by using it in a series of talks. Mark issues a first transcript of Peters talks. Peter approves Marks transcript. Used as a Gospel. Lukes gospel published as an authorised gospel. Acts issued with the authorisation of Paul and Peter.John writes twenty chapters of his Gospel. 64 July Rome devastated by fire. 65 Spring Nero commences persecution of Christians. Peter martyred. Linus replaces Peter as bishop of Rome. Mark issues second edition of Peter’s talks. 66 Jewish rebellion in Palestine. Paul goes to Spain. 68 early Jerusalem surrounded for first time by Romans. 68 June Suicide of Emperor Nero followed by civil strife. This leads to the Roman troops surrounding Jerusalem being withdrawn. Paul returns from Spain and visits Asia and Crete. Paul writes an epistle to the Hebrew Christians in Jerusalem. The Hebrew Christians flee from Jerusalem to Pella. Paul again imprisoned in Rome and then martyred. 69 Galba, Vitellius and Otho die trying to become emperors. 69 Vespasian becomes emperor and renews war in Palestine. 69 Romans surround Jerusalem for second time. Clement of Rome replies to Corinthians on behalf of Linus. 70 Aug Jerusalem, including its Temple, is destroyed. Linus dies (about 81). Cletus becomes bishop of Rome. 91 Domitian starts persecution. Cletus dies (about 92). Clement becomes bishop of Rome. Jewish leaders (about 96) hold a conference at Jamnia. Clement, bishop of Rome, exiled by Romans to the Crimea. John the Apostle (About 96) adds final chapter to his gospel. John the Apostle dies. 98 Trojan becomes emperor. About 101 Clement dies and Evaristus becomes bishop of Rome. About 130 Papias records that Mark wrote down Peter`s words. About 180 Ireneaus familiar with the Matthew-Luke-Mark sequence. About 200 First Latin translations (prologues). Matthew-John-Luke-Mark sequence. About 200 Clement of Alexandria says gospels of Matthew and Luke written first.
 
Matthew and John were eyewitnesses. Mark recorded Peter, who was an eyewitness.
I seriously doubt that any of them personally wrote one word of the Gospels. Even if they were eye-witnesses, it doesn’t prove anything in the Gospels is true. I’m not even convinced it is certain they even existed.
I don’t intend to mock the Gospels. It’s just what I believe. In general my intention is not to mock religion. Not believing something isn’t equal to mocking something. I know no one said I did but I just wanted to make it clear.
 
I just accept that one day I’m going to die and that’s that. It does not bother me.
The idea that your family and friends will **never **be with you again doesn’t bother you in the slightest? Who are you trying to kid? :rolleyes:
 
I have to admit that it bothers me to think one moment I’m alive and the next I’m non-existent. Having said that, I can’t just try to believe in something like I will go to Heaven after death just for the sake of it making me feel better. In other words, I can’t fool myself.
You’re far more realistic than some one else on this forum! 😉
On the other hand, I don’t find Christianity one bit more comforting. The belief you might burn in Hell is worse than the belief
 
The idea that your family and friends will **never **be with you again doesn’t bother you in the slightest? Who are you trying to kid? :rolleyes:
I think his point is that, from his perspective, there won’t be any “him” for any family and friends to be with.
 
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