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Original poster

Should We Thank God For Scientific Discoveries?

172 replies

headinhands · 12/08/2013 22:12

Hello Daftme

You say we should thank god for scientific advancements. I say what makes you think they have anything to do with god?

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austenozzy · 12/08/2013 22:18

Yeah, and while we're at it we should thank god(s) for the continuing stream of religious revelations that continue to trump advancing scientific knowledge. Only I can't think of a single one.

daftdame · 12/08/2013 22:26

As a Christian I believe everything has everything to do with God, since He created everything and everything is His.

For me, as a Christian, God is synonymous with good, is Truth. True scientific discoveries are therefore of God, the inspiration for them is from God.

False scientific discoveries are born from deception, are not of God, they are merely a human (or worse) construct.

daftdame · 12/08/2013 22:28

Is it ironic you addressed the thread to Daftme? Grin

Original poster
headinhands · 12/08/2013 22:29

Can you give me some examples of the biggest 'good' and bad/'false' scientific discoveries?

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Original poster
headinhands · 12/08/2013 22:32

Is it ironic you addressed the thread to Daftme?

I am SO sorry, I misread your nn. Honest mistake. It's late, I'm sleepy and need to start wearing my reading glasses

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daftdame · 12/08/2013 22:33

No, they don't usually fall into each bracket so neatly, since scientists are human and fallible.

daftdame · 12/08/2013 22:35

Its OK its a daft name anyway. Grin

Original poster
headinhands · 12/08/2013 22:38

Which one(s) fall most clearly into the two distinct camps then? You alluded to some possibly being from an evil source? One of them maybe?

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Original poster
headinhands · 12/08/2013 22:41

No, they don't usually fall into each bracket so neatly, since scientists are human and fallible.

So a discovery can look good but be bad and vice versa? An example of either?

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Original poster
headinhands · 12/08/2013 22:42

Okay, how do you know the bible is true and god is all good?

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daftdame · 12/08/2013 22:50

I would have to examine a few and it is late...I am wary of research sponsored by multinationals for profit making, drugs proffered by the NHS for preventative therapies for which they receive targeted extra funding for. However without facts and figures in front of me I am aware this is all uncorroborated.

daftdame · 12/08/2013 22:51

How do I know? through Faith and it works for me.

Original poster
headinhands · 12/08/2013 22:56

Okay how did you decide that christianity was the right religion? As opposed to Islam?

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daftdame · 12/08/2013 23:02

Because I believed what I heard from the Bible. I wouldn't say there is no truth in other faiths, but if you're talking about what I believe is absolute Truth, it is the Bible.

Original poster
headinhands · 12/08/2013 23:13

Okay why did you believe it? How did you discern that the god was good if, as you say, us humans are so fallible. You obviously trusted your own moral compass then. Why can't you now?

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daftdame · 12/08/2013 23:16

Once I made a conscious decision to pursue my belief, everything started slotting into place, in terms of my understanding I have much more clarity.

There is a framework for me, a foundation to build my understanding and decision making upon. For me, this had been successful and I am content.

Original poster
headinhands · 13/08/2013 08:22

Morning. Smile

Where were we? So why did we need to wait millions of years to discover bacteria? Why didn't god just tell us yonks back.

You see, it looks like god has nothing to do with it. I know you said everything is to do with god but it seems a little mean for him to take credit for something he made people work really hard while people died from things we now easily prevent.

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Original poster
headinhands · 13/08/2013 08:24

Did god create the diseases we have dealt with?

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daftdame · 13/08/2013 08:39

"So why did we need to wait millions of years to discover bacteria?"

We have to be ready to 'receive' knowledge. Think of scaffolding theory in learning. If you look at cleanliness rituals in the old testament, such as food preparation, keeping raw meat away from other foods, they are very similar to modern day food prep techniques for example. People with contagious diseases were also isolated. Revelation is not given through 'hard work' as God gives us Grace do His will and Faith in Him is rewarded.

"Did god create the diseases we have dealt with?"

Diseases are the result of the Fall, original sin, which were then inherited. Not following God's will for our lives is inherently bad for us. Due to inheritance there are weaknesses present in people's immune systems to fight certain diseases, bodily systems, however healing and redemption is available through Christ.

Original poster
headinhands · 13/08/2013 10:24

very similar to modern day food prep techniques

can you give me examples? It may well contain food prep techniques that were widely accepted at that time and discovered through trial and error in other cultures anyway.

People with contagious diseases were also isolated

According to the bible the cure for leprosy is pretty much taking a bath and chucking a bit of bird blood around. Why don't we do this now? Why couldn't god have explained bacteria?

Diseases are the result of the Fall, original sin, which were then inherited

So who actually created the bacteria and viruses that actually cause disease?

Not following God's will for our lives is inherently bad for us

But god has also provided a way for us to avoid the consequences of not following him?

The thing is, we don't need a god to explain what we see around us, putting a god in the picture is entirely unessecary and illogical. I'd need a very good reason to attribute it to a force that we just don't need to (and have absolutely no evidence for) from a basic knowledge of the facts in front of us. Put it like this. It seems to me that if there is no god, things would have developed the same way and we'd be at the same point anyway.

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daftdame · 13/08/2013 11:31

The thing is, we don't need a god to explain what we see around us, putting a god in the picture is entirely unessecary and illogical. I'd need a very good reason to attribute it to a force that we just don't need to (and have absolutely no evidence for) from a basic knowledge of the facts in front of us. Put it like this. It seems to me that if there is no god, things would have developed the same way and we'd be at the same point anyway.

And herein is the bind, I could provide quotations from the Bible to inform on these issues. However being a Christian actually requires Faith, belief in things there are no 'proof' of. As you yourself said,

It may well contain food prep techniques that were widely accepted at that time and discovered through trial and error in other cultures anyway.

I would say both viewpoints require an element of faith, they are unprovable, so it is down to choice - free will if you like - what you believe.

Original poster
headinhands · 13/08/2013 11:44

I would say both viewpoints require an element of faith, they are unprovable, so it is down to choice - free will if you like - what you believe

There is evidence that other cultures were using food preservation techniques as early as 12000 BC.

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austenozzy · 13/08/2013 11:45

Mark Twain summed it up nicely: "faith is believing what you know ain't so".

I had the benefit of parents that wanted me to find my own beliefs and draw my own conclusions as I matured, and as such I wasn't christened or in any other way indoctrinated as a youngster. As a result, I wasn't conflicted when I came to the conclusion that belief/faith is inherently illogical and puerile. It's obvious to me that there is no god, that we're entirely responsible for our own actions, and that the faithful don't have a monopoly on morality or anything else.

Original poster
headinhands · 13/08/2013 11:46

And again. It seems logical to say they discovered via trail and error as did the Israelites. To stick in a supernatural entity to explain something we already understand the process of makes no sense to me.

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Original poster
headinhands · 13/08/2013 11:47

daftdame. Does god perform miracles?

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