Faith vs Science - a rant on why is the Universe so big?

[Doug]

Well, I suppose we are free to take an isolationist approach if that is where our comfort is to be found, but I question the notion of presumption. Surely it is a matter of faith/belief/acceptance. If a person has faith in and believes that God might have made known certain things how is accepting this being presumptuous? Is such a person any more presumptuous that the person who presumes that divinly initiated communication did not/could not take place?

Originally Posted by xelasnave

It really bolis down to man thinking he can contemplate a God and understand his motivations. Be there or be there not I think one must see the futility of such an attempt, still many feel they are priveledged to understand his intentions and directions. Very presumptious I recon. AND I have not a bible in my possession but I am sure it contains a specific statement "that man was created in Gods image" if I did not get that idea from there where could it have come from I wonder.
alex
alex

Doug

[Doug]

Alex, you suggest:

It really bolis down to man thinking he can contemplate a God and understand his motivations

is that so much worse than man attempting to scrutinise the inscrutable?
Man strives to contemplate the universe and gain an understanding of it, so...................

cheers,
Doug

[Doug]

Netwolf asks :

And why does man need to relate to God? Are we going to provide some comfort or empathy to God?

The fullest answer to that question could require a full discussion on the Christian gospel, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ and is not likely to belong on this forum, or at least it is IMHO, way too far off topic for this thread. However it is true enough to say that everyone needs to relate in some way to another. Man is a relational being afterall is said and done. You can live in denial if you choose, that is your right.
cheers,
Doug

[netwolf]

Doug,

Yes thats your faith and i can respect that. And i am not in denial i just have a diffrent faith, and i hope you can respect that. I dont belive in crucifiction, nor trinity, i do belive in Prophet Jesus who is still alive (in another place) and will return. And you are rigth this is beyond this forum.


Regards

[xelasnave]

My presumption is that God would seek to experience all that he created thru the eyes of each creature he created... why ? because thats the way I would do it . I think there is a little of that approach to things by any involved in coming up with "their" view.
I must say this is a top thread even if a little all over the place. The deep thoughts you guys can express so fluently leaves me feeling like a child sitting listening to grownups talk about things kids know nothing about. I would like to thank you all for being so open and engaging in this discussion. I treasure the insite into others beliefs and ideas.
alex

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

"God Shmod! I want my monkey man!" - Bart after teacher tells him mating monkey with a human would be playing god.
"Jesus, Buddha, Allah! I love you all!" - Homer in big trouble.

Seriously guys, this is getting way too serious and delving too deeply into debating the merits and otherwise of religion. If you want to continue in this discussion I suggest you do it in PM or find a more appropriate forum/venue for this specific discussion. Or wait for your Sat/Sun morning door-to-door Bible salesman / evangelist and have fun arguing with them.

[xelasnave]

Hey Steve I am not debating and as deep as it is it still is only a chat. I dont see the harm. Many of the worlds problems stem from folk having no understanding of others points of view or even entertaining that another view is out there... you can call this thread what you like but if nothing else it is enlightening.
Funny you mention the door to door bible salesman... the only folk to call for a visit up home (and people who have been there twice cant find it a third time) was from a dear old couple with the JW sect. Did I argue with them or call them to question their faith?..no I encouraged them that they were doing a wonderful thing by following the teachings of their faith (which dictates spreading the word) and extended to them the hospitality of my home. There are others who would set the dogs on them.
So seriously do you want to can "the debate" here? you are the moderator make a call and we (I ) will abide the ruling.
alex

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Alex, I understand what you're saying and discussion has been kept civil for longer than most threads of this nature, and I complement everyone on keeping their cool around such "hot" topics. But in light of the TOS:

...
Avoid topics about race, politics or religion. These can be very sensitive topics and it can be very easy to take things the wrong way, creating arguments.
...

the fact that the present discussion focuses virtually exclusively on religion and has little to do with the forum topic "Astronomy Science" or the thread topic, i.e. size of the universe (and because of the butterflies in my stomach from the potential of the present topic to turn into a mod's worst nightmare), I am closing the thread.