to ask Christians about dinosaurs...

[EastYorksLass]

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!

This is one of the biggest and most difficult questions in all religions, and actually also for non-theistic philosophies. Because however you slice it, people find it difficult to find a satisfying answer. The idea that the death of a child is meaningless is in its own way pretty challenging too, iyswim.

One thing to think about is that for a lot of people today, they come to the question from the angle you have asked, if God is good, how can suffering make sense. But often the question has been asked the other way - we see that there is suffering everywhere. If we think it is meaningless, is the implication that we have no moral imperative to do anything about it? That our sense that it is wrong or evil is just an illusion?

Anyway, the Christian way of looking at this starts from the idea that the created world was meant to be perfect, but that free will means that there is the possibility that this goes wrong. What's less well known generally is that this is seen as impacting everything, including the natural world, because all things are interconnected. Like a bug in the program that has all kinds of effects over time. Which is why the OT includes this series of stories about how evil acts grow and eventually encompass the whole community, even those people who themselves have done nothing wrong. Then in the NT you have the story of the life of Jesus and the Easter story, which is in large part about suffering and suffering being taken on by God.

But it's certainly a subject that people find very difficult.

anyone watched the lectures by kent hovind ?

Very good interview. There's so many scientists who reject atheism for the same reasons this man did.

I love watching John Lennox debates. I could actually listen to that man all day. Such a calming influence.

Yes!

During a discussion about theology/ religious beliefs I think about all sorts of stuff. Do you not?

My main thought is how does anyone believe this shit? How does their brain convince them to ignore the glaring contradictions and massive plot holes?

If God is omnipotent why didn't he know that free will would fuck everything up?

If he meant for it to be perfesurely he was capable of making sure it was?

But what if God never intended to make a perfect world? What if He just wanted to see what would happen? What's the point in a perfect world? Wouldn't that be boring? Wouldn't he already have that in heaven?

I was replying to someone who specifically said he did mean it to be perfect though.

If he didn't there's no contradiction but the bible does say it was perfect until eve fucked it up.

You mean like in NI and Scotland?

How about the Balkans, OK I know Muslims were involved but it was basically Muslim, Orthodox Xtian and RC.

We can also go back and have a look at the Cathars, or maybe stay closer to home and count how many people were burned by the various Tudor rulers.

And I know no one expects it, but, the Spanish Inquisition

If we've learned anything over recent years, it's that people will believe whatever they want to. Absolutely anything - however ridiculous. Even educated people.
Global warming doesn't exist. And if it does, it isn't manmade. 99% of world scientists have got it wrong / are part of a conspiracy.
Brexit is a great idea, and anyone who disagrees is scaremongering / part of a conspiracy.
If a man says he's a woman then he totally is. Anyone who disagrees is evil and should be punished.

I was talking about Afghanistan though.

@Bluerose77

So you picked a majority Muslim country to make a point about Christians not fighting?

Makes sense

No I originally made the point about Christianity being mocked on this thread. No other religion suffers ridicule like this. If Christians were all fighting each other in a predominant Christian country (the UK) then it'd be understandable. Afghanistan is an example of where that is happening. All different factions fighting each other. Of course it makes sense.

Obviously you object to that criticsism. But fine with Christianity being slated.

@Bluerose77

Sorry, no. I dont understand the link between religious people fighting and being able to criticise religious beliefs.

I don't see anyone being mocked either.

I think all religions are pretty ridiculous, not just Christianity

No I originally made the point about Christianity being mocked on this thread. No other religion suffers ridicule like this.

You have an incredibly low threshold for being 'mocked'- you quoted a post from me which described different positions of Christianity on a question asked. I can't figure out the mocking but presumably it was merely describing something in a way you don't like.

All religions are subject to criticism and mockery. Christianity is discussed more in the UK because it is the dominant, state religion.

Your idea that Christians don't fight each other is just nuts, no other religion has had so many internecine wars (allthough all have had lots). The fact that Christianity is more mature (literally) than some others and so most disagreement is now verbal doesn't make it immune to mockery- indeed learning to tolerate mockery and disent is a sign of that maturity. Christians with a strong faith don't need to have fragile egos about being mocked.

Often the religion is entwined with politics so it isn't necessarily to do with individual beliefs itms rather selfishness and greed

Religions and mainstream science has a lot of rubbish in. It's 2022 come on quantum physics is the way forward, Einstein wow. A White Jesus' with blue eyes isn't coming down to save you lol. And neither is everything about science explaining who we really is accurate. Dinosaurs existed because simulation allows all possibility. Elon musk is a genius. OP stay away from set religion if you want to really expand your consciousness.

I don't think anyone thinks of Jesus as white with blue eyes do they.

During a discussion about theology/ religious beliefs I think about all sorts of stuff.

What knowledge are you basing your thoughts on @Topgub?

@TooBigForMyBoots

What do you mean by knowledge and why do you ask?

What knowledge are your thoughts based on?

It depends on which Christian denomination you ask.

Many are happy to accept science, evolution and dinosaurs alongside their faiths.

Others believe the earth is flat, 6,000 years old and dinosaurs are fakes.

Then there's everything in between

I mean knowledge, you know historical facts, ancient texts etc.

I like this.😊

@TooBigForMyBoots

I do know some historical facts and some ancient texts, yes

So what knowledge are you basing your assumption that, it's the sort of thing god would have mentioned, on?