A word to those who invoke The Deity constantly.

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Biology is only more complex then physics in the sense that biological organisms are far more complex than any machines we've yet constructed and they operate on a scale which is only now being rival by the development of nanorobotics. However, biology as a subject of study lends itself to students who can't handle the mathematics required for physics.

Also there is no very general mathematical model underlying biological entities and processes except perhaps the laws of thermodynamics. Physics is very simple at its basis (relatively few general laws) , but biology is not simple. The reduction of biological processes to basic physical processes at the subatomic level is yet to be made. I think such a reduction is highly unlikely.

ruveyn

At the subatomic level? I'm assuming that you mean valence electrons and perhaps protons as they are relevant to acid/base equilibria. Biochemistry happens to be a very successful endeavor in regard to understanding the operation of organelles and other components and feedback systems. But, if you mean discovering a way to get life from non-life, finishing Oparin's work, then yeah, that is highly unlikely and even if they do it merely becomes a plausibility and not a certainty since the past prior to the existence of life is unobservable.

The ancients had not the least concept of a microbe. They may have noticed that eating spoiled food made people sick (which is why the animal sacrifice remains were removed from the alter after three days, since they became kind of grotty). But there is not the slightest evidence that the ancients know of microbes. How could they see them? They had no microscopes. Microscopes were first invented in the 17th century c.e..


ruveyn

Last edited by ruveyn on 10 Aug 2010, 7:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Not exactly, there can be scientists that are creationists, that's for sure, the problem is related to biology or cosmology, in which there would be conflict from their part, if they reject evolution and current cosmology in support for the ID movement, then they would not do it for scientific reasons and they would be supporting pseudoscience. The scientist has to be impartial and objective without personal and religious beliefs interfering with their work.

If a biologist rejects evolution, I can see that as being a "problem" since the keyword *evolution* needs to be sprinkled ever so often in their writing. But cosmology is not related to biology, so saying that an ID proponent could not be a cosmologist is incorrect. In terms of an intelligent designer, without reference to the Bible or anything, it doesn't matter what model of cosmology one views as correct. It is a separate issue and only relevant so far as a calculation contradicts history, but irrelevant regarding ID in general.

You are correct sir, they did not have such knowledge to be able to utilize it procedurally or technologically.

Let's say that the Bible is a bunch of made up stories.

It's an example set. That's how I view it. Why not be a good person? Why not be good to your neighbors? Why not refrain from committing adultery? Why not refrain from stealing? Even if breaking a Commandment will not make a difference whether you go to Heaven or Hell, is there something wrong with being an atheist and being "Good?"

I admit that I commit a few sins frequently, including:
swearing
drinking
smoking marijuana (which I personally wouldn't really consider a sin)
use BitTorrent

In the deepest portions of my heart do I consider myself to be a good person? Yes, I do. Lately due to a major lack of sleep I've become very erratic and have said some pretty nasty things, but I know that I don't mean them.

From this assumption, anything can follow.


It's good to control yourself regardless of your beliefs, but that is more just being a "good member of society" type of thing, without regard to, say, your eternal destination. I think you are reiterating Stalin's "crutch for the weak" statement, which Jesse Ventura said also, and I think it comes from some random philosopher of the "Enlightenment" bowel movement. The only philosopher of that movement that I have much respect for is Rene Descartes, but only for his contribution to mathematics - the Cartesian plane and coordinate system.


Swearing is not a sin as much as it is just out-of-place for a Christian to use. However, in difficult times I have cursed (such as "Damn Wal-Mart, may they go bankrupt in my lifetime". Which is what I said right after I had been fired for being accused of a "violent act" which I didn't do. Unless that "violent act" is talking about the FPS game Halo with other coworkers who also played it, in which case "what the heck?!".)



Drinking is not a sin, but it is unwise.


Same thing as drinking.


That's actually the closest to a sin, stealing namely, but only by definitions used today since corporations want to profit on the media they produce beyond the payoff from the advertisements when they were originally aired or from the time when they were at the theaters. It's iffy at best, and a form of watching tv-on-demand without paying at worst.



You do need to be careful what you say to people though. You can damage relationships or lose your employment if you say the wrong things around the wrong people at the wrong time. This is not supporting censorship, but realize that people automatically assume the worst possible interpretation of anything you say, especially if they have no intention of maintaining a friendship with you. As such, anything anyone says is subject to twisting and character assassination and it doesn't matter if a person has a valid excuse or not when they say something able to be twisted to the degree sought after.

I've noticed in conversations these days that my atheist friends will constantly "invoke" God's name by saying "God d*mn it!" or "God d*mn you!" - as though they had the omnipotence to command God to condemn someone in hell for all eternity. I'm beginning to believe that atheists talk more about God than theists do.

If this were on facebook, then I'd click the *Like* button.

Certainly. Many of them are quite concerned and trying to be rid of Him!