Why is God intelligently designing Avian Influenza viruses to jump to humans?

I don't get what you are critcizing Sam. That viruses exist? That pain and sickness afflicts man? Intelligent design itself? A version of intelligent design?

Are you stating that if God was really intelligent he would have made us unbreakable?

Anyway, please clarify your complaint for the slower science kids in the room.

 

Why do you believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible (as opposed to an allegorical one)? Do you believe that Christians who do not accept a literal interpretation to be wrong, misguided, or perhaps not 'true' Christians? What evidence could convince you that the literal interpretation (or, perhaps even all of Christianity) is wrong?

Thank you for answering my questions.

 

You mean D&D

 

To get back to the OP's original subject, isn't this just another way of stating the problem of evil?

 

Mori-

I don't think it must neccessarily be looked at as a problem of evil. Maybe the topic should be made into on suffering. Pain is not neccessarily bad. Emily Dickinson (who was in a way, dealing with many of the issues in this thread in Puritan New England) writes:

252

I can wade Grief –
Whole Pools of it –
I'm used to that –
But the least push of Joy
Breaks up my feet –
And I tip – drunken –
Let no Pebble – smile –
'Twas the New Liquor –
That was all!

Power is only Pain –
Stranded, thro' Discipline,
Till Weights – will hang –
Give Balm – to Giants –
And they'll wilt, like Men –
Give Himmaleh –
They'll Carry – Him!

And:

344

'Twas the old – road – through pain –
That unfrequented – one –
With many a turn – and thorn –
That stops – at Heaven –

This – was the Town – she passed –
There – where she – rested – last –
Then – stepped more fast –
The little tracks – close prest –
Then – not so swift –
Slow – slow – as feet did weary – grow –
Then – stopped – no other track!

Wait! Look! Her little Book –
The leaf – at love – turned back –
Her very Hat –
And this worn shoe just fits the track –
Herself – though – fled!

Another bed – a short one –
Women make – tonight –
In Chambers bright –
Too out of sight – though –
For our hoarse Good Night –
To touch her Head!

 

Why do you believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible (as opposed to an allegorical one)? - Based upon my belief that God authored the Bible using men to write His message and He is speaking authoritatively unless it is stated as allegory or visionary. I believe when shifting to allegory there is notice given.


Do you believe that Christians who do not accept a literal interpretation to be wrong, misguided, or perhaps not 'true' Christians? No


What evidence could convince you that the literal interpretation (or, perhaps even all of Christianity) is wrong? The evidence presented after death. The same evidence that awaits us all after we die. We will all have a good feel for Christianity at that point.

Thanks for the dialogue. I could give more Biblical and thought out answers if you would like.

 

What evidence? How about all of it? The Bible is metaphorical, period. We have grown enough to see that. The more you realize this the more you understand. It doesn't make the true message any less important, it makes it more. The literal interpretation of the bible is absolutely kindergarten-like, and your life after death scare tactics are nothing but juvenile and obviously fanatical, divisive and in opposition to that message.

 

Life after death is a good thing. So is heaven.

I sure wish I could meet you, I would like to explain the Gospel message to you.

 

I have heard it from others way more capable than you.

 

no doubts here

 

me meowgi
check www.islam-guide.com and tell me what you think.

 

The 'problem of evil' is a famous argument against the existence of God (or at least the typical Judeo-Christian conception of God being omnibenevolent, omniscient, omnipotent). The argument is basically:

- An omnibenevolent, omniscient and omnipotent being has the knowledge, desire and means from preventing the existence of evil.
- Evil exists
- Therefore, an omnibenevolent, omniscient and omnipotent being doesn't exist

Keep in mind this is a very simplified version of the argument. Similarly, the OP 's post is a similar sort of argument against ID and an intelligent designer.

 

http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/excerpts/bookreview/excp_2720.html

http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/joscam/part10.shtml

 

Back to the avian flu question. I can only answer from the famous Baltimore Catechism that Catholic kids used to memorize in the 50' and 60's.. "It is a mystery that can not be fully understand."

I often think of this bit of theological wisdom when contemplating the question; "Why did God intelligently design the take over of America (and Iraq) by the neocons?

 

He didn't. It's all karma.

"There are myriad karmic causes conspiring to bring about any particular event, which then becomes cause for other effects to take place"

 

Good question. Also, why did God intelligently design the rape and destruction of millions of Native Americans by Europeans?

 

No, I get what you were getting at with posting the problem of evil; what I was stating was that that's a silly way to look at things, pain often causes love to grow greater; allows us to know and see things in a much different way; pain often caused by evil things....

It does not, however, mean that a benevolent creator cannot exist.

 

hardy har har.

I suppose if someone calls Allah an "idiot" - you're ok with it?

Let's get real.

This thread is obviously an attempt to denigrate the mainstream religion in the US - along with those that follow that religion.

 

I wish I could have used that in college. I don't think my profs would have accepted that answer.

Test Question 1: What is NP completeness?

Me: It is a mystery that cannot be fully understood.

Proffessor: F!

Me:

 

I grew up very Christian. My parents worked for NASA. I was never taught not to believe in evolution and science etc. I would probably be punished for something, that, uh, stupid.