Stone holm Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 It seems so many atheists are well educated and intelligent in science and academics. Even Stephen Hawking is an atheist. Why is that? I'm not calling believers uneducated, I'm just saying a lot of atheists are very well educated.The rise of anti intellectualism combined with aggressive conformist religious politics, has resulted in the religious left abandoning the field. The last big wave of interest in religion by the educated was in the late 60's and early 70's when the religious left was still visible. This, however, sparked a reaction from the fundamentalists who tend to be anti intellectual. The atheists who previously tended to be quiet were eventually provoked into becoming verbal to fend off the religious attacks on science education. The college educated tend to feel uncomfortable around people loudly spewing nonsense and unpalatable political/ religious positions.
thesometimesaint Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 You believe God was involved but not necessary. Is that what you believe? Depends on what you mean by necessary?
thesometimesaint Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 The rise of anti intellectualism combined with aggressive conformist religious politics, has resulted in the religious left abandoning the field. The last big wave of interest in religion by the educated was in the late 60's and early 70's when the religious left was still visible. This, however, sparked a reaction from the fundamentalists who tend to be anti intellectual. The atheists who previously tended to be quiet were eventually provoked into becoming verbal to fend off the religious attacks on science education. The college educated tend to feel uncomfortable around people loudly spewing nonsense and unpalatable political/ religious positions. Which is a shame too. If there was ever a time of need for learned people in every aspect of modern life this is it.
Stone holm Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 thesometimesaint, I agree. With the exception of Pope Francis, organized religion has increasingly managed to portray itself as something that educated people tend to not want to identify with. It amazes me that people can routinely attack, belittle, and demonize intellectual pursuits, and then are amazed that intellectuals turn away from their organizations. Organized religion is increasingly seen as not providing any constructive solutions to important problems, which is unfortunate because it could and has, from time to time, played an important role. Oddly, however, we seem, unwittingly, to be glorifying the times when it did not.
thesometimesaint Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 thesometimesaint, I agree. With the exception of Pope Francis, organized religion has increasingly managed to portray itself as something that educated people tend to not want to identify with. It amazes me that people can routinely attack, belittle, and demonize intellectual pursuits, and then are amazed that intellectuals turn away from their organizations. Organized religion is increasingly seen as not providing any constructive solutions to important problems, which is unfortunate because it could and has, from time to time, played an important role. Oddly, however, we seem, unwittingly, to be glorifying the times when it did not. I'm generally not down on organized religion. They can serve a very legitimate need. That being said if someone is trying to sell you something based on their religion run, and if they're trying to sell you something based on your religion run twice as fast.
Stone holm Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 Possibly. It seems to me that more and more people are deciding that religion is simply not relevant and fails to provide guidance towards anything relevant. But if you call those people names, after awhile they move from thinking religion is not relevant to thinking religion is part of the problem. Name calling tends to do that, and we Christians are really good at name calling.
Ahab Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 I know where babies come from. My theology says their spirits came from God, and their mortal bodies came from my wife and I.So what else are you waiting to find out about how he did it? You were saying Adam and Eve became the spiritual progenitors of our race (here on this planet) through the "prirsthood power" of God and that you were waiting for more revelation from God to tell you how he did it? Are you sure you know where babies come from, including spiritual babies?
thesometimesaint Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 Possibly. It seems to me that more and more people are deciding that religion is simply not relevant and fails to provide guidance towards anything relevant. But if you call those people names, after awhile they move from thinking religion is not relevant to thinking religion is part of the problem. Name calling tends to do that, and we Christians are really good at name calling. I've found that name calling is not useful and most time does the opposite of what is intended. Unless the intent is to just call names to end discussion.
thesometimesaint Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 So what else are you waiting to find out about how he did it? You were saying Adam and Eve became the spiritual progenitors of our race (here on this planet) through the "prirsthood power" of God and that you were waiting for more revelation from God to tell you how he did it? Are you sure you know where babies come from, including spiritual babies? Sure. If I want to know how a person did something the best way is to ask that person. I'm fine with God inspiring scientist to reveal how somethings are done. Even Edison claimed that invention was 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Yes I know how mortal babies are made. I'd like to know how their spirits are made too.
Ahab Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 Sure. If I want to know how a person did something the best way is to ask that person.I'm fine with God inspiring scientist to reveal how somethings are done. Even Edison claimed that invention was 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.Yes I know how mortal babies are made. I'd like to know how their spirits are made too.I think the best way for you find that out will be for you to figure out how you will have babies with your wife when both of youare in heaven. I doubt that our Father will let you watch him and his wife do it. He will probably tell you, though, just as he has told me through a very still small voice.
thesometimesaint Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 I think the best way for you find that out will be for you to figure out how you will have babies with your wife when both of youare in heaven. I doubt that our Father will let you watch him and his wife do it. He will probably tell you, though, just as he has told me through a very still small voice. Why should want to wait till my wife and I are in Heaven to find out how babies are made. Each of my three children were planned for and very much want here in this life. I'm fine with God telling me how he does it.
ERayR Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 Why should want to wait till my wife and I are in Heaven to find out how babies are made. Each of my three children were planned for and very much want here in this life. I'm fine with God telling me how he does it. Well you see you just stir up some primordial soup and put it in a mud puddle on a small planet on the outer rim of a small galaxy and then forget it for about four billion years.
mnn727 Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 (edited) To get back to the original question: In some cases its because of the attributes of the God they choose not to believe in. They think God is some magical being who punishes or rewards people on a whim. Who burns people in a lake of fire forever for not saying they "believe in him" I work with an Atheist (a very outspoken one) and one day I asked him to describe the God he did not believe in, you know what? I agree with him, I could never believe in the type of God he described. Edited September 8, 2014 by mnn727 1
thesometimesaint Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 Well you see you just stir up some primordial soup and put it in a mud puddle on a small planet on the outer rim of a small galaxy and then forget it for about four billion years. It could have been a primordial soup, or clay, or ocean heat vent. Most of the planets we know of are rather large. Our solar system is about 2/3 of the way out in the Milky Way Galaxy, and it is a medium sized galaxy.SEE http://scaleofuniverse.com/ That would be a Deist belief. I'm not a Deist. The science doesn't compel a God or prohibit a God either. From my personal perspective I'll let Scripture to tell me WHY God did it, and let Science tell me the HOW he did it.
Rodeo Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 Depends on what you mean by necessary? Meaning that without God doing something no life is possible.
thesometimesaint Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 (edited) Meaning that without God doing something no life is possible. Science supports neither a God nor a no God hypothesis. Edited September 8, 2014 by thesometimesaint
Rodeo Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 Science supports neither a God nor a no God hypothesis. I am asking you, not science. Do you think it is impossible for life to start on its own without God doing something?
thesometimesaint Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 I am asking you, not science. Do you think it is impossible for life to start on its own without God doing something? No. Though I am comfortable with him guiding the process.
Rodeo Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 No. Though I am comfortable with him guiding the process. Thats fairly wishy-washy I reckon. So why dont you just say that God was not part of the process of how life comes into existence? 1
The Nehor Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 I am asking you, not science. Do you think it is impossible for life to start on its own without God doing something? This is a loaded question. If God created the Universe then we have no idea what a godless Universe would look like or if life could form in it.
thesometimesaint Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 Thats fairly wishy-washy I reckon. So why dont you just say that God was not part of the process of how life comes into existence? That's a loaded question. My theology allows for and http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2059888/Meet-worlds-smallest-fossil-ancient-mite-tenths-millimetre-long.html
Rodeo Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 That's a loaded question. My theology allows for and http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2059888/Meet-worlds-smallest-fossil-ancient-mite-tenths-millimetre-long.html Theres nothing loaded about it. You either believe God was part of the creation and that it was because of His actions that life came about or you believe God was not part of the creation and that life starts on its own regardless of what He does. Which is it?
Stone holm Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 Does Mormon theology actually require a belief that our Heavenly Father created the Universe?
ERayR Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 Does Mormon theology actually require a belief that our Heavenly Father created the Universe? Depends on how you define create but at the very least organized.
mnn727 Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 Does Mormon theology actually require a belief that our Heavenly Father created the Universe?No, although most would say He did.
Recommended Posts