Habemas Papem!

[MichaeltheGreat]

Tee hee, we got it all, theology, liturgy, sacred music, ancient prayers. Salve Regina goes back to Roman times and The Angelus is not much younger. Both loved, recited and meditated upon by countless millions every day, for a millenia already, think about that. You should get with the strength kid, lol.

If that a paraphrase of "come to the dark side?"

[MichaeltheGreat]

Whether there are other oxygen-rich planets or not, doesn't mean a thing. Just stop.

You should stop making a fool of yourself. You're scientifically illiterate and don't have the slightest understanding of organic chemistry or the function of oxidizing and reducing reactions in biochemistry. That's why the "God said it, I believe it, that settles it" mindset appeals to you. You can understand fairy tales produced for people 2000 years ago.

[MichaeltheGreat]

It seems we are done here due to your limited intelligence.

This from the guy who confuses his IQ with his pant size.

[Alexander's Horse]

If that a paraphrase of "come to the dark side?"

occasionally I pull one across

[SlowwHand]

I don't understand why the idea of other environments that have spawned life affects the existence of God.
Science makes sense, but at some point you're still going to end up at the same starting point.

[MichaeltheGreat]

It doesn't, but it does affect the notion that "we're special" and some fundy types are very uncomfortable with that.

[Alexander's Horse]

although this actually conflicts with a so-called literal reading of the bible, which compares humans to grass, being no better than beasts and so forth

[SlowwHand]

It depends on definitions. If other life have souls, the differences are much less.

And AH, I can't imagine how you draw that conclusion. I'm not getting into this. It's not my job. Being an evangelist is not my calling.

[MichaeltheGreat]

although this actually conflicts with a so-called literal reading of the bible, which compares humans to grass, being no better than beasts and so forth

Wasn't that more of the "it's all the chick's fault" stuff?

[Uncle Sparky]

I thought I'd resurect this:

I think I posted this about 15 years ago.

[Alexander's Horse]

Wasn't that more of the "it's all the chick's fault" stuff?

and who can argue with that, we live it every day

[MichaeltheGreat]

No, focusing on destructive events is the key to the issue. Why didn't dinosaurs evolve into intelligent beings?

No, because your "destructive events" at the KT boundary have nothing to do with the issue - dinosaurs had over 150 million years of opportunity to evolve intelligence. Over 200 million years if you consider pelycosaur and therapsid ancestors. They evolved into over 500 non-avian genera, but they didn't evolve intelligence because there was no benefit to doing so. Just like stupid people nowadays, stupid dinosaurs were able to get laid and make lots of little dinosaurs, which is all that's needed to be evolutionarily successful.

Intelligence will only evolve if there's a benefit to doing so. Benefit is defined as being successful enough at passing your DNA that your genone survives and propagates. The facilities that are required for intelligence consume extra energy and take away from other brain functions, including sensory processing and motor control. For intelligence to be advantageous, it has to confer reproductive survival benefits great enough to overcome the added structural and energetoc costs.

[Alexander's Horse]

It depends on definitions. If other life have souls, the differences are much less.

let's see, yes animals have souls according to my catechism, not like ours, they don't know right from wrong but give glory to God in a very important way just by being themselves. They are also, in their beauty, evidence of God's presence and goodness in the world. Anyone with a beloved pet would probably agree.

Plants have them too because the soul is the essence of life, the divine spark, a mighty tree or a beautiful flower give glory to God and reveal things about the divinity if we have eyes to see it.

[Kidlicious]

I don't understand why the idea of other environments that have spawned life affects the existence of God.
Science makes sense, but at some point you're still going to end up at the same starting point.

They won't admit it, but they believe that there is some sort of good goal of nature, but no god. That everything happens by random chance but comes out in their favor. It's really silly superstition. Either everything happens at random and so destruction dictates the day or everything happens for the good, as god intends, and everything is good.

[Kidlicious]

It doesn't, but it does affect the notion that "we're special" and some fundy types are very uncomfortable with that.

We are special, but liberal antireligious types don't like anyone to be special. But we are. That's the hard facts.