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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask Christians about dinosaurs...

557 replies

EastYorksLass · 29/04/2022 17:46

This is a serious question - so I have been thinking a lot lately about whether God exists, the meaning of life and why is the world in such a terrible state... been thinking about going to church but still feel I am on the fence. One question which has really got me thinking (after watching dear old David Attenborough... ) is where do dinosaurs fit into all this. Sorry if this sounds very weird but I would love to hear an explanation!

OP posts:
Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:23

How does that answer my specific question about gods motives?

I didnt ask how.

I asked why.

Pumperthepumper · 30/04/2022 19:27

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:23

How does that answer my specific question about gods motives?

I didnt ask how.

I asked why.

I don’t know how anyone could know the answer to that. Maybe he was bored? Maybe he’s a sociopath? Maybe he didn’t want to be worshiped? Maybe he’s got loads of other universes and we’re one of infinite life forms.

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:28

So you can't help?

Thought not.

And you knowing all about theology too.

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:28

The Christian God definitely wants to be worshipped.

Its throughout the bible.

ZenNudist · 30/04/2022 19:29

Hands down dumbest ever question about religion.

Pumperthepumper · 30/04/2022 19:29

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:28

So you can't help?

Thought not.

And you knowing all about theology too.

Well, it depends: do you want a discussion? Or do you want a literal answer like ‘because he likes round things’?

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:30

Someone else asked why create dinosaurs just to wipe them out?

Why create neanderthals or homo erectus? Didnt he love those humans?

Why didn't he send Jesus to save them?

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:30

Up to you?

I dont control how people answer.

Pumperthepumper · 30/04/2022 19:32

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:30

Up to you?

I dont control how people answer.

Thanks, discussion then, since nobody can know a literal answer.

Maybe he hated the dinosaurs and thought he could do better. Maybe he needed them to die to enrich the earth. Maybe he wanted to give humans a billion year old treasure hunt.

GoldenOmber · 30/04/2022 19:33

Why would god design the universe via the big bang and evolution so a wee human could evolve and worship them.

I don’t think God would. “God created the universe so humans would worship him” isn’t a standard Christian belief really. Can’t speak for all the denominations obviously, but if you’re genuinely interested in the history of Christian thought on why God created the universe you might want to start with Aquinas and go from there?

How does ID relate to the bible without backwards shoehorning?

Intelligent design is a specific belief, like a sort of watered-down creationism. It’s not a belief I hold so 🤷‍♀️ on how its proponents fit it in.

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:36

Weirdly enough I could think of those explanations myself.

As a non believer its not that hard.

How does a Christian who believes in ID and evolution and specifically that God loves and wants a relationship with homosapiens rationalise it?

GoldenOmber · 30/04/2022 19:36

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:36

Weirdly enough I could think of those explanations myself.

As a non believer its not that hard.

How does a Christian who believes in ID and evolution and specifically that God loves and wants a relationship with homosapiens rationalise it?

You’d probably have to find one and ask.

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:37

What do you believe?

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:37

I did

On the thread.

Pumperthepumper · 30/04/2022 19:37

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:36

Weirdly enough I could think of those explanations myself.

As a non believer its not that hard.

How does a Christian who believes in ID and evolution and specifically that God loves and wants a relationship with homosapiens rationalise it?

I think you might have to take that chip off your shoulder if you want someone to justify their beliefs to you 🤣

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:39

I dont have a chip.

Its called responding in kind.

No one has to justify anything 🤷‍♀️

girlmom21 · 30/04/2022 19:40

Why would god design the universe via the big bang and evolution so a wee human could evolve and worship them.

I don't think, if there is a God, that he created Earth to be worshipped.
Look at all of the other planets in our solar system - maybe they were all just experiments and he hit the jackpot with Earth because we had sustainable life.

Maybe God had no clue what conditions would create life. In my head, if He exists, he's an overseer. He gave the planet what it needed to sustain life. He never had any intention of dictating how or what that life looked like or became.

I don't think a God could perform the little miracles that people talk about like giving us a cure for cancer. He didn't give us all the rubbish that creates many cancers. We made those ourselves. They're our responsibility.

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:43

The Christian God def wants to be worshipped.

The Jewish and Islamic one too (same being or not depending on your belief, but all want worshipped)

The religions are all based on the relationship god has with humans. How he wants humans to act and behave.

Did he just chance upon us after we'd evolved and thought, great!! I can tell this lot who to shag and what they can eat!

girlmom21 · 30/04/2022 19:48

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:43

The Christian God def wants to be worshipped.

The Jewish and Islamic one too (same being or not depending on your belief, but all want worshipped)

The religions are all based on the relationship god has with humans. How he wants humans to act and behave.

Did he just chance upon us after we'd evolved and thought, great!! I can tell this lot who to shag and what they can eat!

What are you making those assumptions based on? The bible? I don't think He had anything to do with the bible or the religious teachings, personally.

I think they were created by people taking a moral high ground in His name.

Pumperthepumper · 30/04/2022 19:49

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:39

I dont have a chip.

Its called responding in kind.

No one has to justify anything 🤷‍♀️

It’s an odd stance then - you don’t want a discussion, you don’t want answers, you do want answers, you want justification and not to respect religion, you celebrate Christmas but don’t want the religious calendar, you want one specific belief to stumble on this thread and state their rationalisations - all while claiming you have no chip on your shoulder.

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:50

Are you not religious then?

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:52

Pumperthepumper · 30/04/2022 19:49

It’s an odd stance then - you don’t want a discussion, you don’t want answers, you do want answers, you want justification and not to respect religion, you celebrate Christmas but don’t want the religious calendar, you want one specific belief to stumble on this thread and state their rationalisations - all while claiming you have no chip on your shoulder.

Show quote history

Those are your beliefs, not mine

girlmom21 · 30/04/2022 19:52

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:50

Are you not religious then?

You've asked that same question repeatedly and I've answered that same question repeatedly. If you're not prepared to pay attention to peoples responses stop pretending you're interested in any form of discussion.

Pumperthepumper · 30/04/2022 19:53

Topgub · 30/04/2022 19:52

Those are your beliefs, not mine

Show quote history

No, they’re not - remember your post about football strips and Christmas?

Princetopple · 30/04/2022 19:55

Depends on the kind of Christian, really. My family are pretty... Literal. I avoid the topic. They don't ever say anything about it. My cousin converted to Christianity after completing his geology degree. I overheard him talking to my dad and he said that he knows the fossils are definitely real as he's seen and studied them, but equally 'knows' that God is real. So god put them there as a joke to play a little trick on everyone, because he's a fun god like that. I had to leave the area because I think my facial expression would have offended them.

My science teacher was also a Christian who taught us evolution by telling us "it's just a theory". He never felt the need to point out every other "theory". I think that is shocking.