Comments on: The Case for a Creator: All the Starry Heavens http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/11/cfac-all-the-starry-heavens.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:03:42 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Thumpalumpacus http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/11/cfac-all-the-starry-heavens.html#comment-51951 Thumpalumpacus Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:49:56 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1195#comment-51951 <blockquote>Actually, being a christian, I am motivated by my compassion for people, and not wanting them to die after a lame purposeless life and to not be in Heaven with myself. Hey I'm a kid and no scientist, but I know why I do these things.</blockquote> If the purpose of your life is to spend eternity in Heaven, then what's your purpose once you get there?

Actually, being a christian, I am motivated by my compassion for people, and not wanting them to die after a lame purposeless life and to not be in Heaven with myself. Hey I'm a kid and no scientist, but I know why I do these things.

If the purpose of your life is to spend eternity in Heaven, then what's your purpose once you get there?

]]> By: Alex, FCD http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/11/cfac-all-the-starry-heavens.html#comment-51943 Alex, FCD Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:58:19 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1195#comment-51943 <blockquote> I bet half of you haven't read the book.</blockquote>If personal experience is any guide, we're reading this so we don't <i>have</i> to read the book.

I bet half of you haven't read the book.

If personal experience is any guide, we're reading this so we don't have to read the book.

]]> By: Steve Bowen http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/11/cfac-all-the-starry-heavens.html#comment-51940 Steve Bowen Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:26:48 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1195#comment-51940 <blockquote>fact that we might possibly be the only intelligent life is not the point of his book--the point was that we're here and that's wierd. </blockquote>I don't think Ebon is suggesting it's the point of the book, just one of the un-substantiated arguments he makes in defence of creationism. I'm not sure that I would describe the fact that we are here as "wierd"; where would you consider it not wierd for us to be? Certainly the fact that we are anywhere at all is one that demands an explanation, but our creation by something else (that also requires an explanation) isn't a satisfactory one. <blockquote>Actually, being a christian, I am motivated by my compassion for people, and not wanting them to die after a lame purposeless life </blockquote>Why do you think that life as an atheist is lame and purposeless? <blockquote>Hey I'm a kid and no scientist, but I know why I do these things. </blockquote>Then now is the best chance to find a rational basis for your belief, test the evidence and learn some science:)

fact that we might possibly be the only intelligent life is not the point of his book--the point was that we're here and that's wierd.

I don't think Ebon is suggesting it's the point of the book, just one of the un-substantiated arguments he makes in defence of creationism.
I'm not sure that I would describe the fact that we are here as "wierd"; where would you consider it not wierd for us to be? Certainly the fact that we are anywhere at all is one that demands an explanation, but our creation by something else (that also requires an explanation) isn't a satisfactory one.

Actually, being a christian, I am motivated by my compassion for people, and not wanting them to die after a lame purposeless life

Why do you think that life as an atheist is lame and purposeless?

Hey I'm a kid and no scientist, but I know why I do these things.

Then now is the best chance to find a rational basis for your belief, test the evidence and learn some science:)

]]> By: Christy http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/11/cfac-all-the-starry-heavens.html#comment-51937 Christy Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:18:27 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1195#comment-51937 "<i>But instead, Strobel brushes past it without a backward glance, and this tells us something. When discussing an issue where the truth is still unknown - and the question of extraterrestrial life surely qualifies - a genuinely scientific book would present the competing possibilities and evaluate them fairly (remember "teach the controversy"?). For a journalist like Strobel, this would be an ideal place to interview people with different views and see how they stack up.</i><i>" I think Strobel made some very good points, personally. I bet half of you haven't read the book. The fact that we might possibly be the only intelligent life is not the point of his book--the point was that we're here and that's wierd. Look at some of his other points. Also, Christians don't all share the same views. as shown by the reference to C.S. Lewis's book. I would consider him an intelligent thinker. "</i><i>Although religious people talk a lot about Truth and Morality, the mental model they are actually using when proselytising is not at all that of truth or morality, or even in most cases wealth. It's about Winning.</i><i> " Actually, being a christian, I am motivated by my compassion for people, and not wanting them to die after a lame purposeless life and to not be in Heaven with myself. Hey I'm a kid and no scientist, but I know why I do these things.</i> "But instead, Strobel brushes past it without a backward glance, and this tells us something. When discussing an issue where the truth is still unknown - and the question of extraterrestrial life surely qualifies - a genuinely scientific book would present the competing possibilities and evaluate them fairly (remember "teach the controversy"?). For a journalist like Strobel, this would be an ideal place to interview people with different views and see how they stack up."

I think Strobel made some very good points, personally. I bet half of you haven't read the book. The fact that we might possibly be the only intelligent life is not the point of his book--the point was that we're here and that's wierd. Look at some of his other points. Also, Christians don't all share the same views. as shown by the reference to C.S. Lewis's book. I would consider him an intelligent thinker.

"Although religious people talk a lot about Truth and Morality, the mental model they are actually using when proselytising is not at all that of truth or morality, or even in most cases wealth. It's about Winning.
"
Actually, being a christian, I am motivated by my compassion for people, and not wanting them to die after a lame purposeless life and to not be in Heaven with myself. Hey I'm a kid and no scientist, but I know why I do these things.

]]> By: Thumpalumpacus http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/11/cfac-all-the-starry-heavens.html#comment-51923 Thumpalumpacus Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:51:35 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1195#comment-51923 I thought they always came at the end.... I thought they always came at the end....

]]> By: Modusoperandi http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/11/cfac-all-the-starry-heavens.html#comment-51915 Modusoperandi Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:01:39 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1195#comment-51915 <b>Thumpalumpacus</b> <i>"Why bother fine-tuning the Universe when you're gonna stick me with a bum appendix anyway?"</i> You might want to consider seeing a doctor. I'm no expert on the human body, but I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to have an appendix <i>there</i>. Thumpalumpacus "Why bother fine-tuning the Universe when you're gonna stick me with a bum appendix anyway?"
You might want to consider seeing a doctor. I'm no expert on the human body, but I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to have an appendix there.

]]> By: Reginald Selkirk http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/11/cfac-all-the-starry-heavens.html#comment-51896 Reginald Selkirk Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:42:10 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1195#comment-51896 <i>Why bother fine-tuning the Universe when you're gonna stick me with a bum appendix anyway?</i> That's because a naked couple ate an apple 6000 years ago. Why bother fine-tuning the Universe when you're gonna stick me with a bum appendix anyway?

That's because a naked couple ate an apple 6000 years ago.

]]> By: Thumpalumpacus http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/11/cfac-all-the-starry-heavens.html#comment-51895 Thumpalumpacus Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:00:48 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1195#comment-51895 Why bother fine-tuning the Universe when you're gonna stick me with a bum appendix anyway? Some design. Some intelligence. Why bother fine-tuning the Universe when you're gonna stick me with a bum appendix anyway? Some design. Some intelligence.

]]> By: goyo http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/11/cfac-all-the-starry-heavens.html#comment-51894 goyo Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:54:46 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1195#comment-51894 I've always wondered why, if the earth is so fine-tuned, god couldn't have moved us a little further from the sun so we wouldn't get skin cancer. I've always wondered why, if the earth is so fine-tuned, god couldn't have moved us a little further from the sun so we wouldn't get skin cancer.

]]> By: mikespeir http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/11/cfac-all-the-starry-heavens.html#comment-51893 mikespeir Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:55:50 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1195#comment-51893 <blockquote>What exactly are Strobel's motives?</blockquote> Among the others mentioned, I'm convinced that one of the proselytizer's motives is to convince himself.

What exactly are Strobel's motives?

Among the others mentioned, I'm convinced that one of the proselytizer's motives is to convince himself.

]]> By: Alex Weaver http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/11/cfac-all-the-starry-heavens.html#comment-51892 Alex Weaver Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:46:13 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1195#comment-51892 The IDers are manipulating the variables to achieve the outcome they had in mind all along. Clearly proof of an intelligent designer at work. The IDers are manipulating the variables to achieve the outcome they had in mind all along. Clearly proof of an intelligent designer at work.

]]> By: Ebonmuse http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/11/cfac-all-the-starry-heavens.html#comment-51890 Ebonmuse Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:30:17 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1195#comment-51890 I've always thought it would be perfectly compatible with Christian theology to have intelligent beings on other planets who never fell into sin. I wonder why so many Christians seem to abhor that idea. Maybe it's because it would throw cold water on the privileged role humans have always been told we play in Christian theology - we might have no choice but to rank ourselves considerably lower in the heavenly hierarchy if we have to share it with beings who never disobeyed God in the first place. I've always thought it would be perfectly compatible with Christian theology to have intelligent beings on other planets who never fell into sin. I wonder why so many Christians seem to abhor that idea. Maybe it's because it would throw cold water on the privileged role humans have always been told we play in Christian theology - we might have no choice but to rank ourselves considerably lower in the heavenly hierarchy if we have to share it with beings who never disobeyed God in the first place.

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