What is your view on evolution, Charlie? Are you for evolution, or do you believe that God created the world is 6 days?
 

Unbelievable.
 

This is absolutely horrid.  What does not make sense to me is that many, many Americans visit museums, and aren't museums filled with foundings based on evolution?  Many people, even the religious forget that when they are in such a place.  I remember one time I went to the Milwaukee Public Museum (well, I've been there many times but I remember this particular occurance), and a friend of mine was also there.  Her parents were the most religious, radical people I have ever known.  Anyways, I remember one of them saying, "Wow, look at how old this species is?"  Now if that is not exclaiming any interest in evolution, I don't know what is.  Americans need to start opening their eyes and get out of the 1800's.  Not every American is religious, but for the most part it is the hardcore people who ruin it for everyone else.  Anthropology is a very interesting form of science...why do they teach science in schools?  Why don't these radicals protest against that?  Because they realize that they need to lay off.  No one can force anyone to do something, but if we we're exposed to media like the movie above, then maybe people would be more interested in learning about evolution.    
 

..Also, When God created the world it says he did it in 6 days, do we really know what a day was in the beginning, it could have been thousands or even millions of years. There is no real time in Gods eyes. There was not a calendar yet to measure time with. When he made dinosaurs he made them for a purpose, like every creature he made. I know that I am going to be in Heaven when I die. I do not push others to be Christian, that is their choice, I am just sharing my view and beliefs like everyone here that is sharing theirs about evolution. I also love Anthropology, the study of humans is interesting, the study of our different cultures and so on. ..
 

..Hey!  Thanks again for your reply.  When I was young, I went to a Lutheran grade school.   Graduated after 8 years, and it was a really good school.  Plus, with living in a very unsafe area of Milwaukee, it brought peace to my family.  Yet, I now believe that every belief is intertwined.  I consider myself spiritual, so I can appreciate all religions, beliefs, etc.  But, I also believe that God can be many things.  I am not so sure that there is a being in the sky, watching everything we do.   I believe that everything works together on this planet to insure harmony, beauty and life for past , present and future generations.  God is the wind, God is the waters that house marine life, God is the rain and snow that covers some of the land.  Our ecosystem depends on that, as well as us.  We are not mortal beings.  We go through many, many life times to learn the ultimate truth.  The 3rd demention is the highest plane of existance.  Higher than the atmosphere, than our solar system, etc.  Some people call it heaven, some people like myself call it the other realm.   The bible in my mind is a collection of beliefs just like evolution.  What's amazing to me that both of these mirror of each other, yet they cannot intertwine.   ..
 

I believe in God, I believe that God created everything that you see in those museums, there is no evidence still showing that we crawled out of the ocean. One fact for me is that we have not evolved in thousands of years, monkeys have not changed in thousands of years. They have fossils of things that are extinct, but that does not prove that we derived from them. God had made many animals and living creatures able to adapt to changing climates and so on but he made us like him. I believe that if there were no God then we would not be the only living creature on earth that can create and reason the way we have. Why are we the only creature that is destroying the earth, because we fell from grace and became sinful and forgot about HIM and turned away from Him. Humans have let other unGodly things turn them away from the HIM. Everyone has the free will to believe how they want. For me, I know he is the creator. I feel him and see Him in everything. Even in those that fight so hard to prove him not real. If he wasn't then their would be proof but there is not. The earth is changing but that is nature, creatures are mutating, that is because of our pollution, not nature. I am not blind because I am a Christian, I see all the stuff you talk about in museums, I see it as a beautiful creation of Gods. Preparing us for what and where we are now and in the future. Everything he created had its purpose in the time it was here, I love science, science is not evolution though. Darwin was a very smart man but still did not prove his theories. Many of our top scientists found God in the end of their lives.

 

I prefer to believe in God myself. Looking forward to a heavenly life after this one.
 

Amen sister!
 

Is that your only option? To believe in God or Science, as if the two are mutually exclusive? This whole black vs. white, God vs. The Devil, Santa Claus vs. The Grinch mindset is what's keeping us from rational discussion and real progress in this country. Honestly, if Heaven is filled with such closed minded people I'd rather go to Hell. Ideally, like Mark Twain said, I'd rather go to Heaven for the climate and Hell for the company. Which is probably why I live in Los Angeles.... ..
 

 

No David...but secular humanist teachings, evolution, Darwinism are taught in our public schools. We can't have "rational discussions" because the other side isn't allowed to present their ideas. Those who rant about Darwinism being hard facts and science are just as "close-minded" as those who believe the opposite. The whole 5 pages of Charlie's blog about Obama's speech was all about how the kids need to "think for themselves" "hear both sides" etc etc...yet when it comes to this...it's Darwin's way or the highway.
 I can understand being careful not to cross the line between teaching an idea and proselytizing, but Intelligent Design *should* be taught as one of the possible ways the Earth was created...then the kids can have all of the info. The way Darwinism is presented, it's JUST LIKE proselytizing. "these are the facts, if you don't believe them, you're wrong". I suspect maybe the halls of Hell are filled with those who were close-minded about some things too.

 

look how many times science gets things wrong. Science is studied by humans therfore they will get things wrong.
 

the problem is that they don't teach it in schools but they teach evolution, which is not proved either.
 

I agree...but they can present "Intelligent Design" as an option along with Darwinism. My son's Earth Science textbook his freshman year said "Scientists KNOW that the Earth was originally one big land mass and broke apart into the continents(sic). They "know" no such thing!!! Yet it is presented to the kids as proven FACT. Some scientists THINK that, and others have differing ideas. It may very well have started out as Pangea and then divided in the Flood or another event...doesn't take away from Creation at all. They can tell the kids that there are theories out there about Intell. Design, Darwinism, some hybrid of both...kind of like "Comparative Origins" or something. Instead, they spend A LOT of time presenting Darwinism and Evolution as the "obvious intelligent idea". I suspect scientists are so desperate to "explain the unexplainable", they won't rest until they find the first puzzle piece...problem is, it's not there. They can research and study down to the smallest cell, and still not know how that first cell got there.
  I don't believe religion should be taught in schools either(except in "comparative" classes for older kids), but atheism/agnosticism/secular humanism is just as strong a belief system as traditional faiths...and it gets LOTS of class time. This isn't about how to get to Heaven or which God is real..it's the Creation Story which exists in some form in all cultures. Some higher power set it all in motion.
  I know what you're saying, D...but I go back to the school speech blog. Major uproar over kids hearing all sides and making up their own minds....unless it's religion? I can parrot back from that discussion...are you(all, not you personally) afraid your kids might question what you've taught them and research the other side?

 

Actually I agree with you. I think that the public schools should teach both Evolution and Creation. I don't think that the public money would be spent worse than teaching basked weaving in high school... ..
....Why is America so afraid of dealing with ideas, no matter how strange they might be? ..
 

I don't see why the acceptance of Darwin's findings is at all in conflict with intelligent design. Religion is not taught in the schools except as philosophy. Nor should it be. People are free to go to church if they wish. If you can explain to me how Darwin's theories conflict with intelligent design, I'd love to hear it. Because I actually believe in both. The only thing is, I don't believe in an external God. I believe that God is inherent in everything, and kind of invents Itself.

There was nothing in the theory of evolution that prevented me from reaching whatever conclusion I wished. Or no conclusion at all. But what we're talking about is teaching that God created the Universe in six count 'em 6 days, rested on the seventh and there you go. Accept it or go to Hell. Well, I'd rather go to Hell. Because it's a fairy tale woven into the oral history of a wandering desert tribe that was later written down way after the fact, interpreted, re-interpreted, edited at will, and then sold as God's Word. And if I'm gonna believe in a fairy tale, I'd rather believe in the whole Santa Claus thing.

The teaching of the Bible as irrefutable truth has nothing to do with intelligent design or evolution. It has to do with a belief in one book which was traditionally taught as the word of God because the priests in the Middle Ages, who were the only ones who were literate, told everyone it was. That and maybe a few Greek texts were all they had to choose from. So they controlled their flocks by telling them they were reading from the book of God, so therefore give us your money and.... who wants to be an altar boy? Now, if you want to believe in it, that's your business, and I respect your right to do so absolutely. And the Christian Church absolutely did some wonderful things. Of course, there was the whole deal about the Inquisition that kind of messed with the lives of some of my ancestors, but hey, I'm over it.

But there's no room for it in a science class. Because it's just plain not science. I suppose we should teach the theory that the whole lunar landing thing was staged, too. And that aliens might very well have landed outside Roswell. People believe this, you know. And if they're gonna teach about the space program in school,  they should teach these things too. And then there is the theory that everything is just in your mind. Yours specifically. You could very well have just made me up. And therefore you might ask yourself why. But hey, I'm glad you did. Well, I've got a gig tonight... gotta go....
 

 

David, many of Darwin's thoughts mesh with IntelligentDesign/Creation...some of it is just common sense. "Survival of the Fittest" is the main one...the animals who were stronger/larger would survive, reproduce, and the next generation would have that strong/large DNA. The classic example is the giraffe....the giraffes with the longest necks would be able to access the more remote food sources, and therefore would survive tough times...and then have offspring with long necks. That doesn't mean that the giraffe's necks "grew over time" to adapt to the environment. As environments change, those who survive pass on their traits, and some become extinct.
   You are also assuming that ALL creationists believe in six literal days. I don't...but the time factor really isn't important to me...I know God created it as He said, and I don't care how long He took. The Hebrew word used in Genesis is "yom"..which is translated many ways. The Hebrew language is very limited, and words have multiple meanings. Yom is defined as a 24 hour day, a 'sunset-to-sunrise' day, a year, or 'a period of time'. Those who don't believe the Bible love to stick on that one "6 days..ha ha ha" point, and ignore the rest of the information.
    The real sticking point in all of this isn't the age of the Earth or how animals have seemingly "changed" over time...but the Creation of Man. Darwin had some real issues with religion in his life...forced into Anglican schools, mother dying when he was young, burying 2 of his children...and I'm sure he desperately WANTED the Bible to be false and God to be a myth. He's not alone in that, and there's no denying he was a genius. Primordial ooze just doesn't cut it, though. Our universe is too complex and inter-dependent(we inhale what plants exhale, and vice-versa, and the environment depends on all factors being in balance).
     It makes no sense to me that "man" is the fittest of the survivors...we aren't as strong, can't run as fast, swim as long, climb as well as the lesser animals...yet we have a brain and logic the others don't have. Something is different about humans...we have the ability to reason and make decisions based on things other than the will to survive, and have the knowledge of the difference between good and evil(hmm...just like the fruit in the Garden???). A lion going after a wounded gazelle isn't going to stop and think "Oh, how sad, let's see if there's something I can do to help. It isn't right to hurt someone weak and defenseless"...he's thinking "Dinner!!!".
     Nothing I can say will convince you that God created man in His Own Image, for the express purpose of being able to commune with Him. But, it makes perfect sense to me. And, before you all think I'm just uneducated...my career required courses in Human Anat. and Phys, Embryology, Histology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, and the dissection of a human cadaver. My second Bachelor's is in Biochemistry, so it's not just blind faith for me. I also didn't become a Christian until I was 26 yrs old, so I fully understand your thinking. A book that made a big difference for me was Josh McDowell's "Evidence that Demands a Verdict", if you'd like some input from the other side. He tells a "story" in the book that is a great example of Intelligent Design...a bunch of scientists and experts looking at a high tech stealth bomber, just marveling at the 'genius' of the engineers who made the thing. A creationist said to them...what do you mean? I was here last week and this was a helicopter. ;O)
      It sounds to me like you believe in Intelligent Design, just as long as it's not that God guy from the Bible :(.

 

Well, conversely I could say it sounds like you believe in evolution as long as it has the hand print of "that God guy from the Bible". Which is exactly my point. The supposed conflict is largely illusory. Having read the Bible cover to cover, been to a number of churches, etc. I can honestly say the Christian religion just doesn't do much for me.

I do think the actual teachings of Jesus, which can pretty much be summed up in the Golden Rule, are brilliant. I put them right up there with the teachings of Buddha and Lao Tzu. 

It's the exclusivity clause in Christianity that bugs the crap outta me. The my way or the highway mentality that so many "Christians" have. To me, the Christian church is so tainted with self righteous judgmental dogmatists that I choose to disassociate myself from it entirely. If you're comfortable being a part of it, I totally respect that. Many wonderful things have been done in the name of Christianity. Many horrible things have been done in the name of Christianity as well.

Just so you know, I don't trust any religion. Nor any political party. That's just the way I'm built. And if that means I'm somehow unworthy of whatever rewards can be expected in Heaven, then so be it. I'd rather hang out in Hell with less judgmental people, thank you very much. The heat doesn't bother me that much.

I don't view Christianity as the "other side". And find it interesting that you would think I do. Or that you somehow think I'm on the "other side". I just don't accept the Bible as the irrefutable word of God. I see Christianity as one path up the mountain.

I grew up in the mountains, and know for a fact there are lots of different ways to the top.  

 

Oh David...by "other side", I meant from the view of a strict Creationist. I'm sorry if it sounded like I was judging you...not my intent at all. I can tell from your posts that you've read opposing views and chosen differently....as have I.
I do find it interesting that you like the teachings of Jesus, but not 'exclusivity clause' in Christianity. I assume you're speaking about the "only way to Heaven" thing(and not the other rules like drinking, dancing, watching movies, etc that infect our churches).  That "exclusivity clause" is derived FROM THE WORDS OF JESUS. He's the one who said "I am the way, the truth and the life...NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER BUT THROUGH ME". We didn't make that up to be holier than thou or to keep you from Heaven....He made that rule, not me. You are free to accept or reject it(it's actually impossible to be 'forced' into Christianity...you may be tortured into saying the words, but the acceptance is in your heart). So...if you believe the words of Jesus, what goes along with that is believing that He is the ONE WAY to Heaven..or else His words are a lie.
 Now, if the 'exclusivity' you're speaking of is the other stuff...doctrines, denominations, rules and regulations that have no basis in Scripture...yeah, that bugs us too. It's a tragedy that there should be so much division within Christ's church, but there is. The love of money is the root of all evil, and the Church is not exempt from that.  If you're planning on enjoying hell without those judgmental Pharisaic types...don't be so sure. Sitting in a church does not make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. Those folks will have to answer dearly for the spiritual damage and division they have caused.

 

..amen brother!..
 

In my opinion, I think we should have the chance to see the movie. Religion isn't a big topic for me. I'm catholic but I sometimes question what the bible says. There are always a lot of controversal issues out there whether it be a movie or what people believe in. My father was a strict catholic believer. You should go to church every week and all holidays. I did just that until I moved out. I didn't get much out of going to church. I could have read the bible and learned the same thing that a priest was trying to teach me. I respect everyones religion. I may not agree with it but I respect it. I think we as americans can make our own opinion of the movie. Look at the movie The Passion, there was a lot of opinions about that movie. People liked it, while others didn't. I didn't see the movie cause I heard it was gory and I don't like gory but it was showed to american and we had the choose to see it or not.  How you felt about it was your opinion. I have heard that it was a very powerful movie.
 

You really can't be serious with this one. When has any movie, controversial or not, been "forbidden" in the US? You can't possibly look me straight in the cyber-eye and tell me that the entertainment industry is held hostage by the religious right. Would you like me to list the movies that I personally chose not to see because I didn't care for the subject matter? What about all of the American movies that aren't shown in other nations because they are too sexually graphic(hence the rise of Bollywood)? We are a country that brought us "Boxing Helena" "Natural Born Killers" "9 1/2 Weeks" "Religulous" "The Last Temptation of Christ"(and those are just a few off the top of my head)...yeah, those Christians really rule with an iron fist. It's a shame you all are at our mercy and can't see what you want on tv or in the movies. Oy vey.
  I think this producer may have a crappy film, tried a few distributers, and found an obscure "Christian" media guide that slammed a book about Darwin....and saw publicity heaven. There is NO WAY this film...or any film...would be banned from the US because of "outrage" from the Christians...and most reasonable Christians would not expect censorship(we don't want our films censored either!!), but would instead chose to keep their money in their wallet and not reward those who made a film they found distasteful. Actually, if it was a good film, I'd be interested in seeing it myself, to find out what made Darwin tick. Evolution vs. Intelligent Design/Creationism will be a discussion till the end of time. How evolution gets to be a symbol of "reason, compassion and freedom" is beyond me, a scientific, unproven "theory", yes....concrete fact, no. It's what you believe, just as Creation is what I believe. I just don't make fun of the intelligence of those who choose Darwinism...I usually don't get the same consideration in return. My faith in the Bible is just as reasonable and "free" as your beliefs, and "compassion"?? What does that have to do with Darwin?
  Me thinks you're making a mountain out of a molehill here, and your "Evangelophobia" is showing. We're not all church ladies like Dana Carvey's character...some of us are really fun people. Something tells me the temp is heating up in hell again today ;o)

 

This is what I'm talkin' about. How do you govern a country like that? You have huge chunks of the American population who believe God created the world in 6 days. Now how you counted a day without an Earth to revolve around a Sun, I have no idea. Or do they even accept that the Earth revolves around the Sun? Oh yeah... I think the Earth was created first, and then the Universe. Isn't that the deal? Where does the nonsense stop? Isn't it amazing that the same villains get mentioned in every diatribe tossed out (off?) by the religious right. I'm tellin' ya, there's no way to get consensus on things like health care reform when you can't even get consensus on evolution. You can't talk logic with someone who believes science is totally theoretical and the Bible is absolutely irrefutable. There is nothing inherently anti-religious about Darwinism. Matter of fact, it tends to make me believe in a higher power. The more I study science, the more awe struck I am, and the more I believe in an inherent intelligence in the Universe itself. But again, that's too complex a thought process for many. And probably way too hedonistic, possibly downright Satanic, and certainly requiring the use of gray matter for something other than stuffing for a skull.  I say give 'em their own country and let 'em pound their Bibles and shoot at each other...  

 

..David, I like the way think!  You seem very smart and crack me up!  Glad that you are on this blog!  Making me wonder if i should move to L.A. to escape the
possible wrath of my Southern Baptist Community!  lol  ..
 

Pretty soon, people will believe that the sun revolves around the sun! Dark Ages indeed and if you don't believe, well can you say Spanish Inquisition? NOBODY expects a Spanish Inquisition!
 

.."Pretty soon, people will believe that the sun revolves around the sun!"........
............Actually it does. Our Galaxy revolves around others which have suns.........
 

..I think this one is too hot to touch--it's certainly way over my head--But I guess I feel we should be allowed to make up our own minds about what we see and hear--and not have to go with the assumption made by someone else, that we shouldn't be allowed to see and hear certain things--does that make any sense at all?..
 

Wooooooooww!!! His books have been around for 150 yrs, and now that yet another movie has been made America wants nothing to do with it.  Why won't they distribute it, cause their scared. yes, I say scared because if they were so confidant that "God" really exists they wouldn't have the need to refuse distribution of something other than their religious beliefs. The theory of Evolution has been around for more than 150 yrs  What is the point of not distributing this movie, it's a lot like when they used to ban books it's utterly ridiculous.  America needs to grow up,  most of America rather believe in the "bible" which has no basis on factual truth, than science, which has proven so much more than religion ever has.  All those miracles we witness all that is the human spirit(no, not the one God "gave" us) but the mind,the will to survive(which is animal instinct) and also I'd like to think human decency.
Religion is a touchy subject, but it irks me when Religious beliefs gets in the way of other beliefs.  I remember there was this thing called the" first amendment" where people had the right to there own religious beliefs, then why do the rest of us get a lot of hulla baloo of our lack there of.
Peace and love
- Mel

 

First of all, movies never stick to any truth, even religious movies stray from the truth, look at Noah Ark, that was a joke. I could care less if the movie comes out, it is just another attempt to prove a theory, not fact. God made science, He made everything work the way it does, but we did not come crawling from the ocean and has yet to be proven by anyone. Who is really stopping the movie from coming here, it will show here after the ones that want it stop making a big deal about it, they are probably the ones creating this whole thing to bring attention to it in the first place. It is actually the distributors in the United States that are not wanting it out of fear, see they assume and create all this hype to get it out to the public, This is the first time I have even seen anything about it, why, because it is no big deal. You all banned the Bible in public school but they still teach Darwin's theory. So really, what are you all afraid of. It will just be another movie. Just a bunch of atheists trying to push it down the throats of everyone, Oooops, that is what you all think we do. funny how much you all show double standards. You all also wanted to ban Passion, remember. hmmmmm, that was actually liberals that did that and this is movie distributors this time, not Christians.
 

But Mel...they DIDN'T!! The producers got rejected and somehow twisted that into the rejection being "because of the Christians"....blaming someone else for their own failure. No where does it say that the distributors said "no" because of religion. They're making it up and using it to garner sympathy and publicity for their film. Now, folks like Charlie will DEMAND that it be shown here, and someone will see $$$ signs and buy the rights. It's all about the money.
 Please, all of you, THINK about it. We teach Darwin/Evolution in our public schools and not Intelligent Design/Creation! If America is so "anti-Darwin" why isn't he banned in schools? He's not..but guess Who is?

 

I agree ZMT, I just read about it and it is not the Christians that are banning it, it is the distributors that are just trying to get people like Charles all worked up at us and all the liberals well yell at us (who really don't care) for not wanting it here. but if you look at our recent history, who are the ones that cry and ban things that they don't agree with no matter who may disagree, more them then us...
 

I think you could be right about the reason for a lack of distribution here. More than any blocking of the story of Darwin, they probably figure it's just too boring. Of course, it could be totally interesting and entertaining. It sounds like something I'd actually like. But the general idea seems to be that Americans either like full on "chick flicks" or movies where a whole lot of stuff blows up. It would take some very creative screen play writing to get the story of Darwin to fall in to either category. Maybe we could transform him into a devilishly handsome heartbreaker who secretly works for the CIA, and just stumbles on the theory of evolution...

 

It's all about the money....all the time in business and most everywhere else in society.  I remember once I forgot that my classmates were all so called "church goers" (these are the same kids who bully and belittle others) and I blurted out "god doesn't exist" you should have felt, seen, heard how the Sh@t hit the fan.. I guess what I'm trying to say is Most ,not all religious people but most haven't the tolerance for the so called "non-believers" ,don't get me wrong. I was brought up pentecostal from a really early age but the belief of "god"never really took( to me it has a more moral guideline than anything factual that I can see).  I get a good laugh in my home, mainly because my Brother is a very proud Atheist(I'm also an atheist but not as blatantly), my mother and father strong believers in Christianity;  So you can imagine the conversations =). 

 

A real Christian that follows Jesus or tries to would never do that. There are many that give the real Christians a bad name, just like I am sure that there are he liberal and atheists that give you all a bad name. Don't put us all in a box and call it the same, cause we are not. Jesus is about love and tolerance, grace and mercy, and loving all no matter what you believe cause he believes in you all. I will not preach at anyone cause I know that is not what you want. I don't push my belief on anyone but that does not mean I can't share mine like you all do with yours. Like I said before, don't worry cause when all the big shots think that they have made enough fuss over the movie it will be here. They are doing it for greed.
 

..I'm sorry that happened to you.  I've been a Christian for 52 years and certainly have been around some mean ones :)  but as you say that doesn't mean all.  I have some Christian friends that are very dear and loving.  The more I hang around them, the more of them I find.........To be honest about your own personal feelings is important and I compliment you on wanting to make up your own mind.  I believe that God gave and defends that right of all mankind.........I learned to study and research the Bible by blocking out the echos of the opinions of others.........Even Jesus as a child in Isaiah 7:15 had to "know enough to reject the wrong and choose right."  And again in Luke 2:52  "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."  John the Baptist father in Luke 1:79 sang a song in which he refers to Jesus as the "rising sun" sings that he came to "guide our feet into the path of peace."  And in Hebrews chapter 2:14-18 "he experiened humanity" so that he could "become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God."

I note what is consistent throughout time and what has results in my own life.  And I also note that in the Bible that there are references to other books that are not in the Bible.  For me God's word is just that...his word...and scriptures have been written and copied over and over.  In one of the oldest copies of scriptures found in the Dead Sea scrolls - "human kind" is the word used instead of "mankind"...so there are many versions of scripture.  I have an Egyptian friend who is a professor and is currently working on a study of "What is God's word"...will be anxious to find out the results.

Don't let anybody whether they believe in God or not stop you from seeking the truth in your own heart...
 

It's always a matter of power... religion cannot accept or even admit that the evolution theory could possibly be right because as a matter of fact, it would be admittin' and accepting that the source of its own power on earth (god as the creator of our whole world) does not exist!

what it's really absurd nowadays.. is that, in a sense, religion is still affecting badly our freedom: I always thought to religion and science as two differents thing.. and to them mixin'up..as something really dangerous for knowledge..!
that's what's happening.. knowledge being again limited.. and hidden by religion.. by the fear of the loss of power..!

knowledge and science.. are what we need the most as human beings.. to "survive" in this world..!!

thank you Charlie.. :-)



 

And...the Darwinists can't accept that Creation is true, because it would mean having to admit that God exists!!! Same coin, different side. If Darwinists accept that God exists...then they are also fearing the "loss of power" over their lives.
  And...many of us believe that a relationship with God is what we need to survive in this world(and the one after). The discussion about "intelligent design" is fairly recent in the mainstream...people are starting to realize that the whole thing may have been set in place by a master builder, as an answer to how it all began. They just don't want to admit it's the God of the Bible...so they'll give it a "scientific name", and pretend it's some educated "theory", rather than say "maybe those Bible thumpers are on to something".  Scientists can theorize all day about how things developed from the beginning, but can't answer how the "beginning began"...we can. "In the beginning, God...."

 

Actually I believe in the beginning was The Word and the Word was God. Quite an important distinction I think.

 

This is what puzzles me. How do we know that in the beginning was The Word and The Word was God? How do we know that the Bible is what really happened? If the deaf could hear and the dumb can speak, why are some many innocent people dying in the world so young? I went to church because my father told me to. He passed away almost 3 years ago of cancer. Once I moved out of my house, I stopped going because I didn't see any belief in it. I want some hard proof that the bible is true. Just my opinion.
 

Why do bad things happen to good people??  Actually there is a book out there entitled as such.  It all boils down to free will.  How can a bad kid come from good parents and a good upbringing?   
 

I agree 100%
 

Nope, but an easy mistake....Genesis 1:1 says "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth". It's John, in his gospels, who says " ..1..In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ..2..He was with God in the beginning.  ..3..Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."  John's point was to show the Trinity and that Christ was God from day one. "The Word" is one of the Jesus' "nicknames" if you will.
  I'd be curious to know, though, what "The Word" means to you, that you make such a distinction? There are 2 Greek terms in the Bible  that translate into the English "word". "Logos" which is "the expression of thought, conception of an idea"(which is what is used in the verses from John) and "Rhema" which is "that which is spoken or written". The whole Bible is "logos", the individual verses which make a point are "rhema". (Vine's Expository Dictionary). So much of the Bible gets lost in translation when they try to "match" a word in the translated language to the original Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. In English we say: I love pizza, I love my child, I love my husband, I love Jesus, I love my friends, etc etc...in Greek, it's 5 different distinct words that totally change the meaning of the sentence. Clear as mud?

 

Did I miss something...I don't think he referred to a particular verse - The Word, was in the beginning and it was God.
 

That was why I asked Charlie for elaboration.  Jo was quoting Genesis 1:1 and Charlie was quoting John 1:1 and sayiing there was an important distinction.
 

oh...maybe I misunderstood. Wouldn't be the 1st time! I was quoting Genesis, then I thought Charlie was correcting me.  I still wish he'd come tell us more about his belief in "the word".

 

I would like to hear that too :)
 

?????  Please elaborate.
 

The new movie's synopsis is more about Darwin, the dedicated family man, fighting to accept his eldest daughter's death and his relationship with his loving wife. 
The play/movie, "Inherit the Wind"(love Spencer Tracy in anything), was more about the importance of free thinking and open-mindness, individual vs. society and urban vs. rural attitudes, than creationism vs. evolution from the trial. 
The playwrights define the setting of the play as, "not too long ago, it might have been yesterday.  It could be tomorrow".  Literally. (play was written in early 1950's and was based on a 1925 criminal trial, "Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes" or the "Scope Monkey Trial".
I'm sure some Homo sapiens take longer to evolve than others, huh?
 

Wow, this is another duzy!  I see where you are coming from!  Unfortunatly, this is just another prime example,  that the major religion of the US is Christianity.  The US distrubutiors just knew what would come from the film:  Protests and boycotting.  Which, the boycotting doesn't bother me.  If they don't wanna go.  Let the other people go who want to see it.  But, it will cause a big stink.  The Christian communitys will complain and blame the government for allowing the film.   That the government is immoral.  Or that Americans who see the film are.  I think they would love to run the government or at least sit and dicate everything that the government is allowed to do.  I have heard at my church, that they feel that if the government doesn't honor God.  Then, God will not bless and honor the government.  And then we are dommed, for America to go to crap or become full of sinners, drugs, porno, etc.  That's why they freak out over abortion and stem cells research.  And taking prayer out of the schools.  Hope that I am giving the correct info. here.  This is what I have come to see.  May not be the case in all Christian Churches.  Or maybe I am wrong.  So please excuse me if I'm being a dumb dumb here, or if I am wrong with this.  Just wanted some of u not so religious folks to understand where they are coming from.  They don't want to lose any of their followers due watching the film.  To question their faith.  But, I agree that science is awesome and the knowledge of is so important to saving our planet.  They are willing to risk this close mindedness to support their cause.  To not confuse themselves or others.  Maybe afraid of change?  And panicy folks.  Need anxiety meds. maybe. Not sure on that!  Keep saying the world is ending soon!  Ever hear of chicken little...?  Probably they think we don't have enough time left to save the planet anyway, so they don't care.
 

((Oh Roxana)) I wish you(and all of you) could come to the churches that many of us here attend. What you are seeing is because the biggest mouths with the most outrageous ideas get the microphones(and the media cherry-picks the worst ones to show, ignoring the typical people who don't fit their agenda). There is NOTHING in the article Charlie posted about the distributors fearing the Christians...no quotes, no names of the companies, nothing. They got rejected and figured that it "must be" because of those narrow-minded puritans.
   It would be like me seeing Perez Hilton or others like him on the news, and "assuming" that my gay friend and her partner are just like him...in your face, flamboyant, angry, etc. They're NOT, they're citizens working hard to pay their taxes, great friends, wonderful people....and embarrassed by the behavior of the more vocal gay activists, because they see it's hurting their cause. Do we agree politically and spiritually, no...but I love them dearly.
   I'm sorry you have been hurt or offended by some Christians in your life. Some folks think the 11th commandment is "Thou shalt annoy the heck out of thy neighbor in My Name". There are ways to present Christ's love and salvation(and we are commanded to do so), but some people are so passionate about their cause, they lose perspective...just like the gay community, politics, environment, etc. The best way is 'lifestyle Evangelism'...live your life in such a way that others will wonder what you've got. Most people, a Christian friend will be the only Bible they ever "read". Sermon over, amen, go to the gym for coffee and fellowship(LOL...other Christians just laughed, didn't you?)

 

What do you think of this? Just interested to know how you view this: unethical or enterprising or neither...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM0oBuhTLRI..