The origins of the Universe
Response to comment [from an atheist]: "How come if an Atheists claims that the universe may have always existed or that it's existence was spontaneous, then that answer is considered absurd or completely unacceptable by their religious counterparts..."
'Cause El'Belly:
"Cosmological argument:
• Everything that had a beginning has a cause.
• The universe had a beginning.
• Therefore, the universe had a cause.
Design argument:
• Every design has a designer.
• The universe—and life—has a highly complex design.
• Therefore, there is a Great Designer.
Moral argument
• Moral laws require a lawgiver
• Absolute moral laws exist.
• Therefore, there is an absolute Moral Lawgiver..."
See:
Evidence of God
http://vananne.com/culttoasters/Evidence%20of%20God.htm
Response to comment [from an atheist]: [Universe had a beginning] "...[D]oesn't hold."
"The Bible indicates in several places that the universe
has been “stretched out” or expanded. For example, Isaiah 40:22 teaches that God
“stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to
dwell in.” This would suggest that the universe has actually increased in size
since its creation. God has stretched it out. He has expanded it (and is perhaps
still expanding it).
This verse, too, must have seemed very strange when it was first written.
In fact, secular scientists once believed that the universe was eternal and
unchanging. The idea of an expanding universe would have been considered
nonsense to most scientists of the past. It must have been tempting for
Christians to reject what the Bible teaches about the expansion of the universe.
Perhaps some Christians tried to “reinterpret” Isaiah 40:22, and read it in an
unnatural way so that they wouldn’t have to believe in an expanding universe.
When the world believes one thing, and the Bible teaches another, it is always
tempting to think that God got the details wrong, but God is never wrong. Today,
most astronomers acknowledge that the universe is indeed expanding..." Full
text: Universe Expansion http://www.answersingenesis.org/us/newsletters/0606lead.asp
[Every design has a designer.] "...[T]he cause does
not have to be God."
If not God, who/what? Ge 1:1.
"Fails to specify what constitutes a 'design'..."
Do you recognize patterns in this world? What do you
think of DNA?
[Moral law] "matter of opinion"
Do you believe it's ok to throw puppies off of bridges? Is it ok to throw babies off bridges? Are you ok with murder? rape?
Response to comment [from an atheist]: "...[T]he universe is supposedly not allowed to have "always existed" but God is..."
God is the uncaused cause.
See:
Who created God? Where did God come from? If everything must have a beginning,
how did God come into existence?
URL: http://www.gotquestions.org/who-created-God.html
What is the best evidence/argument for intelligent design? Does the universe and
life show signs of being intentionally designed?
URL:
http://www.gotquestions.org/evidence-intelligent-design.html
Response to comment [from other]: [Is it ok to throw puppies, babies off of bridges?] "Do I need a God to see the cause/effect relationship between those actions..."
I didn't ask if you needed God to know if it is right or wrong to throw puppies off of bridges. I asked if it is right or wrong to throw puppies off of bridges.
"The context was a moral argument for the existence of God..."
No answer on: puppies, babies, murder or rape. [queue the crickets]
[Puppies, babies, murder, rape] "If you can't infer that from my answers...then you're even less perceptive than I thought you were..."
That's: yes, yes, yes, and yes?
Response to comment [from other]: "Serpent...you've shown yourself to misperceive, misconceive, misconstrue, misinterpret, misrepresent."
Thank you Jackie Chiles.
"...[A]ssuming that you want real answers..."
That would be great.
Jas 5:12
"Nuanced" is a good word, Serpent..."
Must be.
You
love it so.
"Absolutists like yourself have no appreciation for nuance..."
By nuance do you mean tolerance of sin? 1 Jn 3:4.
"...and that explains why you believe as you do, and why you reject any belief that challenges it."
Do you reject any beliefs that challenge your view?
"But life is full of nuance...subtlety...detail...shades of gray..."
By shades of gray do you mean compromise? Ps. 1:1, Rom. 12:9, 2 Cor. 6:14–18, Gal. 1:8–10, 2 John 7–11, Eph. 5:11.
That's a fun word study
"Don't think. Do [it]." ~ Dwight, The Office.
"...issues worth considering...all things that would just make your life more complicated. And, hey, who wants that?"
I'm stickin' with black and white (Ps. 116:6). God is absolutely holy (1
Sa 2:2).
Response to comment [from other]: [By shades of gray do you mean compromise?] "That's one of many meanings."
Thought so (Mt 12:36, 37).
[I'm stickin' with black and white (Ps. 116:6).] "Of course you will. Keeps life nice and simplistic for you."
Simple (Ps. 19:7) not simplistic.
