Board Thread:Fun and Games/@comment-28826152-20161221223809/@comment-27388204-20170104051955

EliSuperHero wrote: LysurusPeriphragmoides789 wrote: Okay, here are my responses in this debate (and that is all I hope it is - a friendly debate. We seem to be mature people here. I don't intend to offend your religion if you don't intend to convert me to yours).

@Grievous - How can we really determine if a prime athlete is indeed superior to a frail man? You could only ascertain that fact if you judged them by their physical abilities, which would be biased towards the athletic man. But what if you judged the superior of the two by intelligence, mental strength, or in general being a good person? In all three of those criteria, the frail man could very well be the superior of the two. The same goes for human "superiority" over animals. We're judging by intelligence, which is pretty much the only game we win. What if the criteria was the ability to change colour? Or perhaps physical strength? How about the ability to withstand extremes of temperature? Not even on overall success have we a clear superiority. Even though we barely see them, the invertebrates, plants, fungi, as well as suburbian animals such as pigeons and rats, beat us on success.

@Eli

I personally think christians care more about spreading their beliefs that helping the world. Most of their funding goes towards churches and such - that brings me to the conclusion that it is "religion first, life second". http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/11/28/are-religious-people-really-more-generous-than-atheists-a-new-study-puts-that-myth-to-rest/

Atheists act upon their own morals, without threat of hell or reward of heaven. Btw, still the question of the poor suffering humans (I could mention animals as well, but they don't seem to matter much in your religion) remains unanswered. Is god too busy punishing children who stole too much candy, or helping football players score to notice the multitudes starving to death, many of which believe in the same god?

@Greyhound

Some of the worst things (cancer, deformities etc.) happen before birth. I fail to see how an embryo can commit sin, if that is indeed the reason for it. As for the thing about stealing a candy bar being equal to committing murder, then, no offense, but if I were ever to become religious, I think I'd go for the Greek gods or something along those lines, as opposed to the christian god. There is no argument to maintain that those two acts are equal.

Christians think "religion first, life second" "cares more about spreading religion than helping the world"? huh. tell that to the many churches, including my old one (I just moved), that donates to charity. helps the poor in soup kitchens, blood donations, food drives, goes on trips to third world countries or places affected by natural disasters such as the phillipines to help people in need, builds houses, schools, provides food and medical attention for the poor and unfortunate on those trips. so don't you ever say that.

Just because God created man in his image, and have them destined to have the world as his domain, and over the animals according to their needs, the bible dosen't warrant abuse. The bible preaches to love and respect everyone, even animals.

"stealing too much candy". That dosent make any sense. stealing anything is bad to begin with. He dosen't punish children for doing that. Not much happens to you for sinning unless a person takes action on it. like your parents to scold you for stealing candy. That all matters and adds up at your judgement. What makes the difference is that if you tried your best to live your life according to god, pray to him, for forgiveness, and believe in Jesus christ as our lord and savior.

Besides, god cannot directly control what happens to the world. To blame the crime, disease, war, and poverty on God is quite ridiculous. God does care about the poor, that's why he and Jesus preaches to help the poor. Also, an athlete cannot win without skill. Prayer without work isn't much. That's why sloth (laziness) is a sin.

I don't understand how animals beat un in success Is it population? krill is one of the biggest populations, even more so than humans, but that dosen't mean they are the rulers of the ocean. Did you read the link? And also, let's not forget about the trail of blood that christianity left throughout history. Look at what happened to the Incas, all because their ruler, knowing no better, knocked a book out of the preacher's hand. Whether it is the morals of your god or not, many preachers resort to using fear to hammer their beliefs into people who are in the slightest skeptical. I used to believe in god when I was in prep school because I was scared to death of hell. When I followed the scientific, factual path, it felt like freedom. Only last week I was cornered by a pair of preachers after school. I told them, politely as possible, that I was atheist. They responded by telling me that I would burn forever in hell, and that they prayed for me. That was when they crossed the line. I responded "Good. You pray for me, we'll think and study for you."

And science is doing so much for the world that christianity IMO. If, as you say, they are making donations, even that can't compare to science's constant striving to find long term solutions that benefit the world as a whole.

Btw, I don't get how god cannot control our sins yet he supposedly created billions of galaxies (and those things are big).

And I'm pretty sure the bible does warrant abuse in many ways. Didn't god kill at least 2.8 million people compared to Satan's 10?

As for the success thing, well lets face it. We may be abundant, but the arthropods have prevailed for over 500 million years, and I'm almost certain that they will outlast us. And as a side note, if god created us in his image, then what about the other extinct human species? Did they not quite cut the bill?