Original Sin?

Quote: FrGamble

I can guarantee you that .

No you CAN"T!! You can't even show a
shred of evidence a god exists, let alone
some voodoo practice that lets you talk
to him. Just close your eyes and pretend
a god is hearing you, that's all it takes.
It's exactly what parents tell 4 year old's
about Santa. Just write him a letter and
tell him what you want.

Meditation does work wonders, but it has
nothing to do with pretending to talk to
a god.

Quote: FrGamble

Oh, okay. I feel like we might be getting a little away from the thread topic but I just watched Arrival and thought it was a very good movie.

It was awfully disappointing. A mere gimmick of cinematic language.

Did you notice whether Louise has any flashbacks of her daughter before she learns a word of Heptapod? I wasn't keeping track, but according to the gimmick, she shouldn't have.

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Why can't we all just get along and stop waiting for aliens to inspire us to do what we know we should do and can do. Think of the amazing things we could do if all of humanity was united to serve each other and help each other - the potential opportunities are endless.

That's not the point. The point is there is a universe that may as well be infinite, and we're focused on a portion of a dot. Religion, for all it's fancy talk about spirituality, ignores the universe at large and focuses on a portion of a dot as well. Why isn't there a word about studying the stars or even the Moon in any of the world's many religions?

Quote: Nareed

Did you notice whether Louise has any flashbacks of her daughter before she learns a word of Heptapod? I wasn't keeping track, but according to the gimmick, she shouldn't have.

I attribute that to the timelessness she experienced once she did learn Heptopod. Once you become timeless it doesn't just effect your future but you past as well. The language truly unlocks time and allows you to move outside of it. I do think there were problems with the story but that wasn't a big one for me.

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That's not the point. The point is there is a universe that may as well be infinite, and we're focused on a portion of a dot. Religion, for all it's fancy talk about spirituality, ignores the universe at large and focuses on a portion of a dot as well. Why isn't there a word about studying the stars or even the Moon in any of the world's many religions?

I don't know it seems like religion does inspire and encourage the studying of the stars, the moon, and the universe. The early scholars of the sky were religious, we have of course the example of the three wise men but particularly I think Islamic scholars at a certain point really grew our knowledge of the heavens. Of course Christian scientists in Europe like Copernicus and Galileo were important. And in modern days the Belgian priest who discovered the expanding universe leading to the Big Bang theory shows a great interest in the stars. Overall I think that once you see that God created the world and the universe you desire to learn as much as you can about both. They become moments of revelation, like other books of the Bible.

Quote: Evenbob

Just close your eyes and pretend
a god is hearing you, that's all it takes.

It is a little more than that, but hey its a good start.

Quote: FrGamble

It is a little more than that,.

First you find evidence there is a god
there to talk to. I don't talk to the ghosts
in my house because I have no evidence
there is any. By your logic I should pretend
they're here and talk to them anyway. That's
what crazy people do, you know. Talk to people
who aren't there.

Quote: FrGamble

I attribute that to the timelessness she experienced once she did learn Heptopod.

You're a hard-core Trekkie, aren't you?

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Of course Christian scientists in Europe like Copernicus and Galileo were important.

Copernicus waited until he was near death to publish, and we all know what happened to Galileo.

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And in modern days the Belgian priest who discovered the expanding universe leading to the Big Bang theory shows a great interest in the stars.

You know, I have so much respect for Dr. Lemaitre that I wouldn't even think to wonder "how much more would he have accomplished in science had he not wasted so much time with religion."

But all that is immaterial. Fact is, there is not one word about 99.9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999g
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999% of the universe in any holy book, fable or legend in any religion.

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Overall I think that once you see that God created the world and the universe you desire to learn as much as you can about both.

if you were anywhere close to right about that, Europe and the Mideast would not have spent the better part of 1700 years with their collective heads buried in three and only three books.

Quote: Nareed

if you were anywhere close to right about that, Europe and the Mideast would not have spent the better part of 1700 years with their collective heads buried in three and only three books.

Or their heads up their collective asses. The Middle
East had great science until the Koran came along
and stopped them in their tracks. They were leading
the world in math until then.

Quote: Evenbob

Or their heads up their collective asses. The Middle
East had great science until the Koran came along
and stopped them in their tracks. They were leading
the world in math until then.

Not true. Early Islam was indeed amazing in its science and philosophy. Then handed it over to European monks right about the time Europe was emerging from the darkness and the darkness was descending upon Islam. Without that exchange philosophers like Aristotle would have been lost as well as the strong foundation in science Islamic scholars had built up.

Quote: Nareed

You're a hard-core Trekkie, aren't you?

I do like Star Trek.

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But all that is immaterial. Fact is, there is not one word about 99.9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999g
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999% of the universe in any holy book, fable or legend in any religion.

In the beginning of Genesis the Holy Book talks about 100% of the universe being created.

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if you were anywhere close to right about that, Europe and the Mideast would not have spent the better part of 1700 years with their collective heads buried in three and only three books.

I'll bite, what are the other two books besides the Bible?

Quote: Evenbob

First you find evidence there is a god
there to talk to.

How about the testimony of other Christians. It sounds like your family is full of them. They all say there is a God, why don't you trust them? Is anyone saying there are ghosts in your house? I doubt it. If everyone around you is saying there is a God who loves you and wants a relationship with you, isn't that evidence. It is not proof for sure, but it has to be at least evidence. What is the harm in giving it a try? Don't pretend to do anything! Honestly open your heart and speak to God if He is there. Talk about your unbelief and the other reasons you don't believe in God that you keep to yourself. Let me know how it goes.