It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Originally posted by catwhoknowsplusone
If the bible is true, and God created man in His image, then God is a very damaged and flawed deity.
While you get individual people who are totally godlike - and I am not joking here - I am referring to those people who daily risk their lives saving others, you also get the total arseholes of the world - murderers, abusers, and everyone who ever harms a child in any way.
So, was the creator saying that he or she is in need of the psych ward?
Because people are the best and the worst.
Having said that, I am a Jesus believer, but I do not rule out others who teach love, forgiveness, kindness and charity.
Originally posted by SuperiorEd
Reason 4
Back to my previous article statement. No river flows above its source. This is obvious. Apart from conscious effort, nothing like consciousness can arise apart from some other conscious effort and choice.
Originally posted by SuperiorEd
before your system gets sent to recycling.
Originally posted by Kailassa
Originally posted by SuperiorEd
Reason 4
Back to my previous article statement. No river flows above its source. This is obvious. Apart from conscious effort, nothing like consciousness can arise apart from some other conscious effort and choice.
You're making it all too complicated.
I can give proof just as logically sound as yours, much more briefly.
No river can rise above its source, (metaphorically speaking,) therefore no bird can rise above its source, therefore there must be a god, or lots of tiny gods, to hold up all the birdies as they soar upwards.
Originally posted by Blue Shift
The biggest problem with the entire notion of a creator-entity is the assumption that time is a linear thing, like a river flowing from the past into the future. But that's just an illusion created by our limited perceptual abilities, like seeing the Earth as the stable center of the solar system.
As it turns out, time is more like boiling water, flowing and bubbling in all directions. So there really is, or was, no "beginning." There is only observation (which separates what could be from what is), and expansion. We observe reality in the present, and it expands backwards in time through multiple dimensions. And all life throughout the universe works together to actualize it in the present, past, and future.
You can call that "God" if you want, but it really doesn't fit most people's definition of a single, separate benevolent consciousness controlling everything. It's more like a dimension, a stabilizing characteristic of reality that naturally arises out of life (consciousness that brings order to chaos and observes itself).
Originally posted by SuperiorEd
The proof still stands. All creatures that are animated have a domain in which they reside. Except for humans that is. Humans can reside in all domains. Again, we are much more complex than the entire nature filled planet.
This is ultimately the proof that cannot be argued.
Our source is higher than us. Nothing that is capable of rising in nature can surpass its source.
All animals have consciousness, but humans have reasoning abilities to see differences of degree.
We know good from evil, just as a 6,000 year old book claims.
There are no errors in truth in the Bible. That's another proof.
Try as you might, it stands the test of time.
It predicts the future (another proof).
It accurately describes human nature and the reasons behind it (proof).
It makes claims that can now be verified.
It has accurately recorded historical events (proof).
Just call it what it is--TRUTH! God is real and is what he claims. There is no reason to doubt.
Originally posted by SuperiorEd
I will open with a quote from an article I recently wrote:
"The world contains many creeds and faiths, but one central truth should not be overlooked: The flow of all we know is made up of many branches from the same stream, a great river divided many times over. The raging torrent of this river may be blocked by disbelief, but the main body of the flow emanating from the source will never be confined in one place for long. Realizing the initial first cause that governs the universe is the preliminary step for navigating the stream. All scholarship throughout history is a struggle against this flowing current as it meanders its way back to the original spring of creation.
As we each make our way through this stream of education for the soul, the direction of current we follow, and the choice of branches we take, will determine our progress as we drift through our brief lives. The three teachers of choice, chance and the actions of others uniquely influence the journey of each soul. Although we do not always have control over choice, we can clearly see that chance is motivated by providence—the guiding hand of God. Providence ultimately defines all outcomes in an effort to influences choice in the direction of truth. If providence can be seen as shaping our choices by spiritual influence, then recognizing the purpose of these influences should be our primary concern in life. Purpose will be unique to each member of the human family."
Here's the reason for this thread: I a hear many people profess science and reason as an excuse to doubt a Creator. Let me give you a few reasons to believe in the possibility that God is all He claims. I don't ask you to believe me, just consider the possibility.
Reason 1
After less than 100 years with computers, mankind has created his own virtual reality by using information and energy, which works by a process of governing laws and procedures. What could we do with a billion more years of development? Could we step into the virtual environment? Do you think our creations would have a chance to keeping up with our progress compared to theirs? Do you think they could comprehend what is behind the veil of energy.
Reason 2
After a billion years of revisions to SIMS, would there be any difference between our reality and the one we create? Would both require information and energy? This question matters because we have essentially proved God possible by the work of our own hands. The probability can be readily demonstrated and is obvious for anyone with a scientific mindset.
Reason 3
Assuming we create consciousness like God in a virtual world of energy, would we limit our creations to some measurable stopping point? Would we allow it to learn lessons the hard way? Confucius said, "I hear I forget. I see I learn. I do and I understand." Would a billion years of learning lessons the hard way, for our species, provide the ultimate understanding in goodness, loving-kindness and altruism? Could we shake off our greed, lust, hate, malice, envy and arrogance if given the proper lessons from our own creator over time? Would a limit to our patience be set into the time sequence of the program?
Reason 4
Back to my previous article statement. No river flows above its source. This is obvious. Apart from conscious effort, nothing like consciousness can arise apart from some other conscious effort and choice. Does this preclude a God who always was and who will always be? Apart from observation of the spirit world and higher dimensions, it would be presumptuous of us to decide before we die and find out. Our own experience in this reality as creators should demonstrate that we are rising toward a source grater than ourselves. Even our own creations do not rise unless programmed to do so.
Reason 5
We are an obvious bio-mechanical robot with encoded programming and functioning at a nano level of engineering. Do I need to say more?
Conclusion:
We are the products of a loving God who has created more than a few planets with life. Take a look at the sky some night and ask yourself, "Does God have the experience needed to teach us the procedure for inheriting the universe and eternal life?" Can a program be saved, copied and placed in an updated computer? Is God capable of doing this through salvation from this reality?
Personally, I will give Him what is due: Faith, hope and love. That's all He has ever asked of me in this school of reality. Salvation is that simple.
Christ is the updated code you need to properly reboot. Better download Him and hit run before your system gets sent to recycling.
edit on 23-3-2011 by SuperiorEd because: (no reason given)edit on 23-3-2011 by SuperiorEd because: (no reason given)edit on 23-3-2011 by SuperiorEd because: (no reason given)edit on 23-3-2011 by SuperiorEd because: (no reason given)edit on 23-3-2011 by SuperiorEd because: (no reason given)edit on 23-3-2011 by SuperiorEd because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by madnessinmysoul
reply to post by Astyanax
Seconded. This is nothing more than the exact same sort of "BUT LOOK AT HOW COMPLICATED IT IS!" claptrap that has been going on from the creationist side from time immemorial.
Please, provide a reason why complexity necessitates a creator.
To further hammer home how ridiculous your assertion is, I'm just going to borrow an example from PZ Meyers
This wall was created:
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/bd425040e194.jpg[/atsimg]
This wall arose naturally:
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/55fc796552a0.jpg[/atsimg]
Clearly the natural wall is far more complex.
To go even further, I'll point out an example of something whose simplicity is the key to us recognize its origins with a creator:
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/c6d09e56fa12.jpg[/atsimg]
Originally posted by sirnex
Originally posted by SuperiorEd
edit on 23-3-2011 by SuperiorEd because: (no reason given)edit on 23-3-2011 by SuperiorEd because: (no reason given)edit on 23-3-2011 by SuperiorEd because: (no reason given)edit on 23-3-2011 by SuperiorEd because: (no reason given)edit on 23-3-2011 by SuperiorEd because: (no reason given)edit on 23-3-2011 by SuperiorEd because: (no reason given)
Infinite regression is never proof of God. Just saying...
Entropy is the universe going from more order to less. Falling apart if you will. All of nature and substance flows away.
Entropy permeates all aspects of human existence.
That is, except for consciousness.
Consciousness reverses entropy
organizes substance into purpose.
Nothing to something can only happen with possibility and choice.
'We', the human species, are our best evidence of a Creator.
conscious choice is the only thing that defies entropy in nature.
Originally posted by Astyanax
reply to post by SuperiorEd
Entropy is the universe going from more order to less. Falling apart if you will. All of nature and substance flows away.
Unscientifically stated, but comprehensible nevertheless.
Entropy permeates all aspects of human existence.
Entropy permeates the universe.
That is, except for consciousness.
Really? Is consciousness itself not subject to entropy?
Consciousness reverses entropy
What? That’s just silly.
All consciousness can do (through the agency of matter under its control) is transport entropy from place to place. Which is probably what you mean when you say consciousness
organizes substance into purpose.
This is literally a meaningless statement, but I assume you mean simply that consciousness is telic, that it organizes substances to serve a prescribed purpose. We have now lapsed from physics terminology (‘entropy’) to philosophical jargon (‘substance’), but that’s okay, let’s pretend you still understand what the hell you’re talking about. How does it follow, from what you have said above, that
Nothing to something can only happen with possibility and choice.
Again, the statement is so confused one has to guess at its meaning. Obviously none of the foregoing has anything to tell us about 'nothing to something'; it is a statement about disorder turning into order. You are trying to tell us that in the universe, order can only emerge from disorder through the agency of consciousness. Is that right, or are you trying to say something else whose meaning you have thus far entirely failed to convey?
If your claim is that only consciousness can bring order out disorder, you are spectacularly wrong. Crystals – beautifully ordered geometrical arrangements of matter, such as snowflakes and diamonds – arise out of disordered ions floating about in liquids under the action of essentially random forces. In another thread, I supplied many more examples of complex order arising spontaneously out of disorder (or less order) without the intervention of consciousness; you did not address any of these examples, just made some wittering noises about springs flowing from sources. Unless you can do better than this, your statements so far cannot be accepted as true, and your continued insistence on them is both senseless and illegitimate.
However, I have long since ceased to expect rationality from creationists, so let us move on...
'We', the human species, are our best evidence of a Creator.
And (by your argument) if we did not exist it would be chimps. Or dolphins. Or rats, or whichever organic species was next most intelligent. And if conscious species did not exist, then the best evidence of a creator would be the existence of living species, since they would represent the highest-ordered arrangement of matter to exist. And if life did not exist, the best evidence of a creator would be – crystals? molecules? The ordered arrangement of protons, neutrons and electrons in an atom? Symmetry in nature?
You are claiming nothing more than that the evidence for a creator is creation itself. That is a very old argument; the Scottish philosopher David Hume debunked it around the time the American Constitution was being written. He used precisely the same arguments that I have used above. If you wish to save your argument, you must provide an answer to Hume – and me. Until then you have no right to claim that
conscious choice is the only thing that defies entropy in nature.
edit on 26/3/11 by Astyanax because: this is getting bloody tiresome.
Originally posted by Astyanax
reply to post by SuperiorEd
Entropy is the universe going from more order to less. Falling apart if you will. All of nature and substance flows away.
Unscientifically stated, but comprehensible nevertheless.
Entropy permeates all aspects of human existence.
Entropy permeates the universe.
That is, except for consciousness.
Really? Is consciousness itself not subject to entropy?
Consciousness reverses entropy
What? That’s just silly.
All consciousness can do (through the agency of matter under its control) is transport entropy from place to place. Which is probably what you mean when you say consciousness
organizes substance into purpose.
This is literally a meaningless statement, but I assume you mean simply that consciousness is telic, that it organizes substances to serve a prescribed purpose. We have now lapsed from physics terminology (‘entropy’) to philosophical jargon (‘substance’), but that’s okay, let’s pretend you still understand what the hell you’re talking about. How does it follow, from what you have said above, that
Nothing to something can only happen with possibility and choice.
Again, the statement is so confused one has to guess at its meaning. Obviously none of the foregoing has anything to tell us about 'nothing to something'; it is a statement about disorder turning into order. You are trying to tell us that in the universe, order can only emerge from disorder through the agency of consciousness. Is that right, or are you trying to say something else whose meaning you have thus far entirely failed to convey?
If your claim is that only consciousness can bring order out disorder, you are spectacularly wrong. Crystals – beautifully ordered geometrical arrangements of matter, such as snowflakes and diamonds – arise out of disordered ions floating about in liquids under the action of essentially random forces. In another thread, I supplied many more examples of complex order arising spontaneously out of disorder (or less order) without the intervention of consciousness; you did not address any of these examples, just made some wittering noises about springs flowing from sources. Unless you can do better than this, your statements so far cannot be accepted as true, and your continued insistence on them is both senseless and illegitimate.
However, I have long since ceased to expect rationality from creationists, so let us move on...
'We', the human species, are our best evidence of a Creator.
And (by your argument) if we did not exist it would be chimps. Or dolphins. Or rats, or whichever organic species was next most intelligent. And if conscious species did not exist, then the best evidence of a creator would be the existence of living species, since they would represent the highest-ordered arrangement of matter to exist. And if life did not exist, the best evidence of a creator would be – crystals? molecules? The ordered arrangement of protons, neutrons and electrons in an atom? Symmetry in nature?
You are claiming nothing more than that the evidence for a creator is creation itself. That is a very old argument; the Scottish philosopher David Hume debunked it around the time the American Constitution was being written. He used precisely the same arguments that I have used above. If you wish to save your argument, you must provide an answer to Hume – and me. Until then you have no right to claim that
conscious choice is the only thing that defies entropy in nature.
edit on 26/3/11 by Astyanax because: this is getting bloody tiresome.
Originally posted by MrXYZ
reply to post by SuperiorEd
Nothing you posted could be considered scientific evidence of god's existence...you are SPECULATING! I mean, your argument is that just because humans developed the computer game "The Sims", we have to be created by a deity. That's lunatic...
Also, I hope you realize the bible isn't proof of god's existence. It's proof of what people believed 2000 odd years ago, nothing more. They also believed shrimp to be an abomination of dod, or that snakes can talk...go figureedit on 26-3-2011 by MrXYZ because: (no reason given)
formed into light and wave
The latest theory of reality is that we live in a holographic universe.
Light and wave are the duality everything is made from
Israel is the center of the world's attention, just as the Bible states.
It's a simple matter of changing the rules temporarily.
I would assume God can bend his own rules that govern the universe with no problem.
The same in a computer simulation.
Apart from consciousness, all of nature flows away from its source.
We rise above the Earth and are the only exception. God is above all we know and is ultimately our source.