The Debilitating Effect of Taking Genesis Literally

[Diogenes]

The proposition for debate is that when one takes the tales of Genesis literally, one becomes intellectually disabled, at least temporarily. Taking Genesis literally requires one to reject biology (which includes evolution) and other sciences in favor of 'magic.' Geology and radiometric dating have to be rejected since the Earth formed only about 6000 years ago, during the same week the Earth was made (in a single day).

Much of the debate in the topic of Science and Religion consists of theists who insist on a literal interpretation of Genesis rejecting basic science. Most of the resulting debates are not worth engaging in.

[JoeyKnothead]

Do you deny there are those who support the bible, and believe a man died, then ascended up to heaven three days later?

Many believe the gospel. Point?

The only 'support' for the supernatural is folks swearing up and down its real.

[dad1]

Do you deny there are those who support the bible, and believe a man died, then ascended up to heaven three days later?

Many believe the gospel. Point?

The only 'support' for the supernatural is folks swearing up and down its real.

Those claiming that the majority who believe in the supernatural and history are wrong use doubts with no basis at all to make the claim. They swear up and down that there is no God or angels or anything supernatural, despite evidences, and seem to think their opinion overrules reality or the experiences of mankind over ages. Sad

[JoeyKnothead]

Do you deny there are those who support the bible, and believe a man died, then ascended up to heaven three days later?

Many believe the gospel. Point?

The only 'support' for the supernatural is folks swearing up and down its real.

Those claiming that the majority who believe in the supernatural and history are wrong use doubts with no basis at all to make the claim. They swear up and down that there is no God or angels or anything supernatural, despite evidences, and seem to think their opinion overrules reality or the experiences of mankind over ages. Sad

I've not sworn up and down anything but your inability to put truth to such supernatural claims.

[dad1]

I've not sworn up and down anything but your inability to put truth to such supernatural claims.

They already have truth and evidence and long term observation. The issue is your attempt to doubt all things for no sane reason and pretend you know that to be truth!

[brunumb]

Do you deny there are those who support the bible, and believe a man died, then ascended up to heaven three days later?

Many believe the gospel. Point?

The only 'support' for the supernatural is folks swearing up and down its real.

Those claiming that the majority who believe in the supernatural and history are wrong use doubts with no basis at all to make the claim. They swear up and down that there is no God or angels or anything supernatural, despite evidences, and seem to think their opinion overrules reality or the experiences of mankind over ages. Sad

For most of the last 200,000 years or so humans have been largely ignorant, illiterate and superstitious. That is even quite prevalent today in many parts of the world. Way back people attributed most acts of nature to one or more of the pantheon of gods that their society had established as supernatural beings who controlled everything. Poor crops, bad weather, angry gods. They even established ways to appease them such as rituals and sacrifices. None of those beliefs were the result of critical evaluation of any evidence. They believed what they were taught and passed it down from generation to generation. Those beliefs have persisted to this very day in the religions that have evolved and survived. The notion of evidence and experience being used to verify religious beliefs is fairly recent, but even with that said the majority of people adopt the beliefs they have been inculcated with from birth. People will believe the darndest things, particularly if they are surrounded by like-minded people who can help prop up those beliefs. There is no compelling evidence that any gods or other supernatural beings exist other than in the imaginations of human beings. If there was any then it would be reasonable to assume that none of the most intelligent people, having scrutinised this evidence, would fail to be convinced. That is not to say that one has to be unintelligent to believe in the supernatural. It is merely a testament to the power of indoctrination and peer pressure on the fallible human mind.

[JoeyKnothead]

I've not sworn up and down anything but your inability to put truth to such supernatural claims.

They already have truth and evidence and long term observation. The issue is your attempt to doubt all things for no sane reason and pretend you know that to be truth!

Your comment here does nothing to refute my assertion that you can't put truth to supernatural claims.

[dad1]

For most of the last 200,000 years or so humans have been largely ignorant, illiterate and superstitious.

The problem (imaginary time aside) was not lack of intelligence. It was sin.

That is even quite prevalent today in many parts of the world. Way back people attributed most acts of nature to one or more of the pantheon of gods that their society had established as supernatural beings who controlled everything. Poor crops, bad weather, angry gods. They even established ways to appease them such as rituals and sacrifices.

Too bad they did not believe Noah or Abraham or etc etc. But pagans will be pagans.

None of those beliefs were the result of critical evaluation of any evidence.

We could not say. In many cases, no. In some cases, yes. Like the book of Job describes Job's kids being killed in a house, if I recall, that Satan was allowed to destroy, and he used a big wind. Other times God held back rain. Other times the day turned dark...etc. God has an angel we are told who is in charge of climate! The angel is in charge of all the winds. I think he does a great job on this big planet, so that things are not out of control. Those who would suggest there is no supernatural oversight or influence possible on earth are talking out of their hat. They have no way of knowing.

They believed what they were taught and passed it down from generation to generation.

In the case of believers in God, they were correct. As for pagan or heather superstitions and crediting their gods with the weather...sorry. If any of the bad spirits ever did affect the weather it would only be if they have permission from God. (as in the case of Satan and Job). There is also the reality that we live in this present nature, and under the curse so that there will be many things happen that will not be allowed to happen in the new world coming.

The notion of evidence and experience being used to verify religious beliefs is fairly recent, but even with that said the majority of people adopt the beliefs they have been inculcated with from birth.

That is why, these days, evolution takes some time usually to be cleaned out of the mind.

People will believe the darndest things, particularly if they are surrounded by like-minded people who can help prop up those beliefs.

That is appropriate for a science forum! Thanks for that.

There is no compelling evidence that any gods or other supernatural beings exist other than in the imaginations of human beings.

Yes there is. The problem is that in the minds of people in the dark, all compelling evidence is waved or explained away!

If there was any then it would be reasonable to assume that none of the most intelligent people, having scrutinised this evidence, would fail to be convinced.

God asks us to do just that. he said if any man try Him, and do what He asks, they will know! Then we have scrutinized the evidence. Until then we are unable to know or scrutinize anything spiritual. Even the obviously fulfilled prophesies are waved away in a fog of dark denial and delusion.

That is not to say that one has to be unintelligent to believe in the supernatural. It is merely a testament to the power of indoctrination and peer pressure on the fallible human mind.

Since neither science nor you have any way to know anything about spirits, you cannot confirm or deny they exist. You must simply plead ignorance.

[dad1]

I've not sworn up and down anything but your inability to put truth to such supernatural claims.

They already have truth and evidence and long term observation. The issue is your attempt to doubt all things for no sane reason and pretend you know that to be truth!

Your comment here does nothing to refute my assertion that you can't put truth to supernatural claims.

You cannot deny the truth of the almost universally known spiritual world. Nor can you confirm it. Sad.

[JoeyKnothead]

I've not sworn up and down anything but your inability to put truth to such supernatural claims.

They already have truth and evidence and long term observation. The issue is your attempt to doubt all things for no sane reason and pretend you know that to be truth!

Your comment here does nothing to refute my assertion that you can't put truth to supernatural claims.

You cannot deny the truth of the almost universally known spiritual world. Nor can you confirm it. Sad.

Your comment here does nothing to refute my assertion that you can't put truth to supernatural claims.

[brunumb]

[Replying to JoeyKnothead in post #719]

It occurs to me that what is truly debilitating is trying to debate with a Genesis literalist, particularly worse in a science forum. It reminds me of poor old Sisyphus. Time to withdraw and preserve as many of my little grey cells as possible.