Creationism or Evolution?

[Seridia]

Okay.. I really haven't read this whole thread yet, but there's something I've really got to say about all these discussions that are "Christian theology vs non-Christian stuff"...

If someone says "well, the bible is a myth".. they're probably not Christian. You can't prove it's not without having an argument RIFE with fallacy. All you're saying is that "my people believe that it's this way". You can't say "no you're wrong, the bible is 100% fact". I'm sorry. You can't. We don't even know who REALLY wrote the damn thing.

Also, it'd be really great if people would try (at least a little) to look at the argument from the opposite side. As a pagan, I try to view things from the Christian point of view whenever possible, and I know people who are Christian who take the time to try and see things from my point of view. Stating that the bible IS and MUST BE 100% factual, is to me pushing your system of beliefs on other people.



Oh, and I believe in a combination of divine power and evolution, but not Christian divine power.

[Ulla]

Hopefully this will annoy Katidyd by bringing it back to recent replies.

I was raised Catholic so I have good churchification in the matter, but I
have to say that I am a little more with the Buddhists on the matter of "God".
What I mean by that is that, from what I have been taught by my Zen friends,
once you start defining "God" you are limiting him/her/it, and since this is a being or spirit or force of infinite ability and presence, you are just not doing yourself a favour.

That would be my problem with a literal interpretation of Genesis.

That being said, I feel -and have been told by my priest that this is a totally acceptable view- that it would be so much cooler if "God" created a universe with complex and dynamic systems. If you are a force of that magnitude,
6,000 years or 60,000,000 years would have very little meaning. Since I believe - and yes this is limiting her - that God is a creature capable of infinite joy, it gives me a little smile to think of God saying " Avacados? Neat! That turned out fun!" knowing full well that it would happen but revelling in the moment anyway.

I generally find it confusing as to why these two systems of belief ( the
religious and the scientific ) are so mutually exclusive.

Of course being Catholic means I get to drink and smoke and join the mob and kill people as long as I confess. The Amish are the only ones ( that I am immediately aware of anyway ) who have the guts to live day in and day out with a strict interpretation of their beliefs. The rest of us are happy to use computers and plastic and eat GMOs and bitch about what's correct.

So take my opinion with a grain of Lot's wife.

[Seridia]

The Amish are the only ones ( that I am immediately aware of anyway ) who have the guts to live day in and day out with a strict interpretation of their beliefs. The rest of us are happy to use computers and plastic and eat GMOs and bitch about what's correct.

I think it'd be really awesome if we did what a lot of the Buddhist nations do. They send their (generally sons, but we could do both genders) into the monastic order for a year. If we sent our kids to live like the Amish for a year.. I think we'd curb a lot of the materialism problems we have, and also teach our kids responsibility and what hard work REALLY is. I'm not saying they would have to conform to the religion of the Amish, just the lifestyle and work ethic. I think it'd be really awesome.

(then again.. I may be crazy)