"To believe a book (the bible) writen hundreds of years ago holds the truth about the origin of mankind and the everafter is ludicrous to me."


Well it was actually written over a span of several thousand years if you include the OT. Some of the dead sea scrolls will be on display in Seattle soon I hear...

"So I understand it the premise is that mankind is the proginy of one man and one woman. This means dads and daughters, fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters had sex with one another?---dispite the fact those that wrote the bible proport incest to be a sin. Gimmie a break."

That could be the case, but not every Biblical scholar agrees.

The one thing Biblical Scholars do agree on is that that the intention of the book of Genesis is to show that God is the Creator.

Some think that Adam and Eve were the first created, but that there were more created later.

Some think that Adam and Eve is just a figurative reference to say that God created Man and Woman 'kind'.

But as you pointed out, many do beleive that there was just Adam and Eve in the beginning.

This is where some understanding of genetics some in.

Adam and Eve would have been geneticly 'pure'. Nobody today can claim that.

Also, the life span was much longer since there was no disease, genetic defects, etc. Actually there was no death at first, until the 'original sin', but that's getting off topic...

So A&E could have lived a few hundred years or more before dying. They could have had 10 kids or more easily. Those kids COULD (don't know that they did) have propogated just fine and each had 10 kids of their own. As you can see, it wouldn't take long for there to be thousands of people (not sure how good your math skills are).

As for the 'incest is sin' part, well back to 'Bible School' for you. The "Law" was handed down from God to the Hebrews through Moses after they had escaped the land of Egypt where they were used as slaves. This is thousands of years AFTER Adam and Eve. At this point there would have been genetic issues as well as social and cultural issues regarding incest.

"With all we know though science creation is improbable at best."

We all know through science that the 'big bang' or other 'catalyst for life' and the subsequent evolotion of life and species is 'improbable at best'.

It just happens to be the only alternative to God, so the aethesitic scientist are running with it.

But in my opinion, God designed it this way. There HAS to be an alterntive to beleiving in God. He gave us free will to choose Him or not. To have a REAL choice, there has to be viable alternatives - other religions, the lack of religion, evolution, etc.

"What about all the different religions? Which is absolute? If a belief system truely could be valid, there can only be one, otherwise they are all a contrived antiquated way of understanding the universe and our place in it in my opinon."

Exactly. Including whatever scientificly based theories we have. I'm not taking an 'anti-science' stand at all, but I just disagree with some of the conclusions \ educated guesses reached is all. In my mind, science is a great way to reveal the work of God. It's amazing to think that as much as we know now through science, we only realize that there is so muich we still don't know.

As for the other religions, it helps to study their history. Many will be easily dismissed as superstition and such. Others can clearly be seen as being man made and\or not what the founders ever intended.

But others you just have to shrug and admit you can't prove or disprove it.

Again, I think this is by design. For one, I believe there is an intentional effort to draw people away from God - to confuse and misdirect. But at the same time, I go back to the idea that God intended it to be this way since he wants us as individuals to find him on our own out of our own free will. Otherwise there is no love, no faith, no choice.

You also have to note that all other religions are based on works or man reaching up to God to please him. Christianity is the only one in which god reaches down to man to help him.

That's the most inteligent thing I've ever heard someone with faith say. Personally, I would exclude the phrase "God designed it this way."

My big problem with faith is most folks that have it are unable or unwilling to ebrace that very concept. Why? Is it human insecurity? Why do differnet peoples or different cultures opinion on the subject turn to finger pointing, fighting, or self-rightous indignation? It's because religion is entirely socially devisive. To my knowledge more people have been killed in religious conflicts over the century's than have been killed in all the contemporary wars combined (civil war, WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, etc..).

Now, we're in a holy war with the middle east that cannot concievably ever be won by anyone.

"To my knowledge more people have been killed in religious conflicts over the century's than have been killed in all the contemporary wars combined"

Thats the way they did things in those days. They killed each other for a whole host of reasons why single out religion?

I would bet more people in the history of the world have been killed for the love of money. I bet you believe in money and love it?

People will fight. People will have wars. People will use any excuse they can to get others to rally around 'the cause'. Religion, fear, etc. But most of the time it is about power and money (and even just sex).

Of course many are saying that this is exactly the situation we are in now. I'm not convinced, but if history reveals it as so, I won't be surprised. I'll be sad and dissapointed, but anyone who puts there faith in another person (or administration...) is bound to be let down in some way.

Necessary evils. I can live without religion.

You just like to argue ma-man. I think you need a vacation. I suggest Afganistan or perhaps Irag. Someplace you can bebate religion openly with others that believe differently than yourself.

Thats OK Sol lay off the porn and read up a bit and maybe next time you won't be at a gun fight with a sling shot

David kicked goliath's ass with a slingshot, right.

TK has a Daisy BB gun..........he thinks it's a .44 Mag.

Danny has a rock star Avitar that he got from the 16 magazine web site. He thinks its *****in! and gives him an edge. You rebel you

Rock on dude!

TK,

Don't like Angus?

It's OK.........most ladies don't. :p

I like you more and more, Aunty.

Angus rocks. I think I'll turn up a little "Down Payment Blues," right now.

SOl,

"David kicked goliath's ass with a slingshot, right. "

You cannot be that stupid , Wait yes you can you are an engineer.

David and Goliath is from the bible. Cannot be true by your own words.

AM,

"Probably shouldn't bring attention to himself or his warped sexuality. "

Warped sexuality would be the person having sex with you and taking off their welding mask Even more warped would be owning up to it

Danny,

I like Angus just fine . Remember I was listening to him when you where 12 and still tring to decide if you where more turned on by boys or girls with your friends in the bushes:p


that ought to do it for now

Keep it civil, big guy. I'm well aware of the contradiction.

Yeah, but you were probably a dork who thought listening to AC/DC would make you cool. It didn't.

Oh, I had it figured out at twelve just fine. By that age I'd been banging your mom for over a year. :p

When she wasn't in Enumclaw tendin' horses?

Wow, sounds like a presidential campaign in here, just a bit nicer though. Who wants to see The King and AM leg wrestle? Harley can be the cheerleader.