only atheists are allowed to post in this thread.

[Natural Man]

I agree that debates in appropriate settings are useful.

Debates on getbig are pretty much pointless.

not so sure about that, these debates pop up everywhere everyday and religious beliefs are on the decline everywhere on this globalized planet because of it.

[Man of Steel]

They're boring, repetitive and unconvincing on both sides. It all boils down to personal choice.

I agree that debates in appropriate settings are useful.

Debates on getbig are pretty much pointless.

Some folks have no interest in this stuff, but I think it's important because of the following:

[SF1900]

Some folks have no interest in this stuff, but I think it's important because of the following:

Yes, but given the nature of getbig, the debates don't do much on here.

[Man of Steel]

Yes, but given the nature of getbig, the debates don't do much on here.

Maybe not for the little group of GB members, but the thread has over 12,000 views so people are taking a look.....that's a good thing.

[SF1900]

Maybe not for the little group of GB members, but the thread has over 12,000 views so people are taking a look.....that's a good thing.

That, or its the same members just viewing the thread over and over again. 

[SF1900]

In all modesty, I think many of my students are bright, curious and deserve my best.
I try to operate in an atmosphere of mutual respect and academic curiosity .

I'm always careful to point out when something is my opinion and do my best to encourage free and open debate on a variety of physics based topics.
FYI, due the requirement of covering key, core topics, we don't get into too many philosophical debates.
How to derive equations and the logic explaining physics concepts demands most of my time from most students...as it should.

Howard, if my kid was in your class, I would have him removed asap. You're too creepy!

[Natural Man]

Maybe not for the little group of GB members, but the thread has over 12,000 views so people are taking a look.....that's a good thing.

definitely not a good thing for your religion tho lol.

[Man of Steel]

definitely not a good thing for your religion tho lol.

Why is that LOL?

[Man of Steel]

because you guys have looked ridiculous in this thread.

Never expected that answer from an atheist!    

Fortunately for me, I'm unconcerned with the atheist's canned opinion of me.....makes it easy to interact.

I just answer the atheist's questions because typically they're the only ones asking them.   Sometimes I have an answer, sometimes I don't.

Still, I already know for the atheist my answers are meaningless.   It's the other readers that concern me.

I'm here to share my faith and God.  If I have to wade through the pool of the Godless to do that then so be it.

[Automation]

Never expected that answer from an atheist!    

Fortunately for me, I'm unconcerned with the atheist's canned opinion of me.....makes it easy to interact.

I just answer the atheist's questions because typically they're the only ones asking them.   Sometimes I have an answer, sometimes I don't.

Still, I already know for the atheist my answers are meaningless.   It's the other readers that concern me.

Your meaningless answers are appreciated by all. Nothing like seeing a fully fledged, religious adherent, espousing how great god is. Keeps us all grounded about the human capacity for lunacy. Keep up the good work! (no atheist)

[Grape Ape]

I agree that debates in appropriate settings are useful.

Debates on getbig are pretty much pointless.

Sounds like you're trying to start a debate on debating.

[SF1900]

Sounds like you're trying to start a debate on debating.

I learned from Shizzo (posting about posting).

[Man of Steel]

Your meaningless answers are appreciated by all. Nothing like seeing a fully fledged, religious adherent, espousing how great god is. Keeps us all grounded about the human capacity for lunacy. Keep up the good work! (no atheist)

 

[Man of Steel]

It doesn't surprise me that you're unconcerned with an atheist's opinion, You're clearly living in denial and point blank refuse to listen to common sense, but my point is that for the readers that you are attempting to influence, who have yet to make up their minds, it's amusing to see you and Tbombz represent your side of the argument so poorly.
Copying and pasting other people's work from religious websites as a response, and answering questions with sophistry and pseudo scientific ramblings, isn't going to do much to convince the undecided!  

If you think my argumentation is poor I'm a-ok with that.   

[SF1900]

If you think my argumentation is poor I'm a-ok with that.   

What I find funny and interesting about you MOS, is that youre constantly saying how atheists laugh at you, make fun of you, "write" you off, etc.

Yet, you hardly ever acknowledge all that bad crap that theists spew toward atheists....we are immoral, we eat babies, we are sad and depressed, we have nothing worth living for, we can't love, etc. You seem to be a-okay with all that said about atheist, yet when an atheist calls you irrational, all of a sudden we are making fun of you, etc.

Just something to think about, broskie!

Your friend,

SF1900

[Man of Steel]

What I find funny and interesting about you MOS, is that youre constantly saying how atheists laugh at you, make fun of you, "write" you off, etc.

Yet, you hardly ever acknowledge all that bad crap that theists spew toward atheists....we are immoral, we eat babies, we are sad and depressed, we have nothing worth living for, we can't love, etc. You seem to be a-okay with all that said about atheist, yet when an atheist calls you irrational, all of a sudden we are making fun of you, etc.

Just something to think about, broskie!

Your friend,

SF1900

I don't care how an atheist defines me.   Irrational, delusional, retarded, weak, etc.....I'm "meh" to it.  As long as the insults and mocking continue to revolve around the notion that "I represent Christ" then let the insults flow.

I've taken board theists to task before for using foul language, watching pornography, insulting nonbelievers....I've held believers accountable. I've also defended both atheists and muslims repeatedly.  Spent a couple of years doing that actually.

Do theists care if MOS "reprimands them"?  Do atheists or muslims care that MOS "defended them"?   No LOL.  

I have zero control over how atheists or theists are going to present themselves.   I just try and live my life according to Christ.

I'm not upset with folks (believer or nonbeliever).  I'm just doin my thing.    

Hey, I still talk to you and you're a "morally bankrupt, Godless heathen"!     (j/k)

  

[BigRo]

man of steel would you consider taking magic mushrooms in a biblical way?

[FitnessFrenzy]

it sounds like tbombz is going to hell (gay sex, meth, HIV, violence, jail, assault, lying, stealing, outstanding warrants):

No, not everything needs a cause, but only things that have a beginning. God is eternal. That is the definition of God. God does not need a cause because God did not have a beginning.


God will not send good people to hell. Hell is not for good people. Hell is for bad people.

Virtual Particles?


"...In this chapter, Krauss gives evidence for entities called virtual particles. They are called virtual because they have never been directly observed due to their fleeting lifetimes (less than Planck time). However, the existence of virtual particles is allowed by quantum mechanics, from the uncertainty principle. There is indirect evidence for their existence. The calculated energy levels associated with the orbitals of hydrogen differ slightly from experimental measurement. However, if a virtual particle pair is assumed to be located around the hydrogen nucleus, the calculated energy levels match experiment exactly. They are believed to convey the strong force between quarks in protons and neutrons. Virtual particles are usually invoked in strong fields (electromagnetic, gravitational). Hawking radiation, predicted to be a mechanism by which black holes could ‘evaporate’, depends on the existence of virtual particles, but has not been observed so far. Krauss says a universe where the total mass/energy is balanced by the potential gravitational energy has zero net energy and so could pop into existence from nothing without violation of the first law. Such a universe should, however, collapse and disappear in periods shorter than the Planck time unless inflation allows it to exist beyond the Planck time. Krauss also says that this proves you can get something from nothing given the energetics of empty space and the law of gravity. So he says you can get a universe from nothing if you can start with empty space with nonzero energy and the laws of gravity and quantum mechanics. He admits empty space with nonzero energy is something! A quantum theory of gravity would mean quantum mechanics applies to space, not just to objects in space. Then we could say that spacetimes pop in and out of nothing if the total energy is zero. But we don’t yet have a quantum theory of gravity. Krauss concedes that this spec­ulation does not prove our universe arose from nothing, but says it makes such a scenario more plausible. And plausibility is apparently all he needs to justify rejection of God. So much for basing his worldview on hard, cold facts alone. The energy calculated for empty space assuming virtual particles is (10 to the 120th power) times greater than that observed. This is a longstanding unsolved problem."


Those thoughts are not deep. They are the thoughts of a self-willed person who lives for their own desires, who refuses to believe in a God who demands obedience. They are the thoughts of an infant child with a reprobate mind.

[Kwon_2]

Honestly, I think when Jesus went alone to pray he probably didn't do so in a meditative state.   I believe he did so in a reverent state.

Prior to the incarnation Jesus's knowledge was complete and his abilities and existence equal to that of the remaining persons of the trinity in Father and Spirit.

Now as man in flesh he was emptied of his divine powers and existed as a man.  As Paul states in Phillipians:

Philippians 2:5-7
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

He now existed as a man with a divine mission.  I think given the limitations of his newly added humanity when he reverently prayed to the Father he was probably quite anxious and scared about fulfilling his mission....I would guess his stomach was probably upset.   He probably sought council and peace and the will of the Father who sent him.   I can't say with certainty how Christ did or didn't feel in both body and mind, but given his purpose, his human nature and his limitations therein I'd say he experienced a great deal of inner turmoil.  His time of private prayer in which he entered in reverence and commune with the Father was his outlet for peace.....his period of inner replenishment and grounding if you will.  

Perhaps after he calmed his mind via the peace and grace of the Father he received during prayer he would then become more meditative outside of prayer and reflect upon what learned or given to him by the Father.  Again, I just don't know for sure.

I'm a huge sci-fi fan who has probably read about 500 books and seen countless tv shows and movies in that genre. So far, I really like this "bible" book.

I tried reading The Qoran but couldn't get through it and then started watching this which I thought was far better.

The book can be well described as a mixture of The Prisoner, The Village and The Time Machine.

If you liked those (even if you didn't like the end of The Village) you will like the bible.

[Howard]

Sounds like you're trying to start a debate on debating.

I think it best if we agree to disagree provided we can agree on a future date to debate this disagreement.

I yield my time back to my esteemed fellow schomoes .

[BigRo]

Its not openly stated in the bible that they are forbidden. I mean in a prayerful manner, taking the time to get closer to Christ, reflect on scripture, take a walk in nature etc.

[Man of Steel]

man of steel would you consider taking magic mushrooms in a biblical way?

Its not openly stated in the bible that they are forbidden. I mean in a prayerful manner, taking the time to get closer to Christ, reflect on scripture, take a walk in nature etc.

How would using mushrooms bring a person closer to Christ?   I'm not even getting into whether or not someone should either.

[BigRo]

Try them and see big man

[Man of Steel]

Try them and see big man

So essentially they are mind-altering?   And you see you no evidence in scripture that this is frowned upon?  Is that right?

[BigCyp]

Someone I know sent me the following email:

What does God think about transgender people?

Thoughts...