Atheism

[Caballoflaco]

This is an interesting post, @JAD.

“I can’t believe I thought I was smarter than Thomas Aquinas.” -- I know I'm smarter than any of those ancient guys, and you are too. Thanks to the exponential and cumulative advancement of knowledge, there's really no comparison. Most of us are like gods by comparison

I'd argue that educated would be a better word to use here than smart or intelligent. I doubt there was less intelligence in the Roman world than we have now* they just had less knowledge.


*except for the areas served by lead pipe plumbing.....

Eta:
beat to the punch by GuanoLoco

[Maple Syrup Actual]

Complete agreement.

This Marduk is growing on me, but I have my doubts. What is a test that I can use to differentiate a counterfeit god from the real McCoy?

I am also interested in this test. I would like to try it at home and compare results with anyone else who gives it a go.

[GuanoLoco]

To resolve this, we would need to agree on a definition, and metric for intelligence. I have come to think of intelligence as the ability to solve problems and create new knowledge. I don't think "brainpower" has as much to do with it as training. There are lots of other equally valid definitions. Maybe we can agree that if the people of the past were educated with the knowledge of today, they would be as smart as people are today?

That seems quite reasonable.

I hadn’t really thought of ‘smarter’ in terms of being better trained to solve problems and create new knowledge, but it makes sense.

I think of the old masters or art and science. Clearly there were some pretty bright people, but you can’t argue that they were as well equipped out of the gate. That makes their accomplishments all the more impressive, at least to me.

[critter]

If you have a book for me to read , I'm all ears? Eyes? . It's only fair that I get challenged too. Lol

Try this one:
Forged: Writing in the Name of God--Why the Bible's Authors Are Not Who We Think They Are

Bart D. Ehrman - He is currently the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

[holmes168]

So God deliberately engineered a situation with a couple humans where there was a strong opportunity for an evil outcome, then made a decision to stand back and watch humans fail, with evil as the (fairly predictable) outcome, and he decided on a rather elaborate scheme to make human descendants clean up the mess made by their ancestors.

Got it. I think.

Nope- nothing created something. Then a few cells created out of that nothing somehow split and however long later we had humans.....And somehow today, you and I are on PF typing about it.

Again- I believe God created something out of nothing. My assumption is that you believe nothing somehow became something. How many times has something become nothing? How many times have you been sitting in the living room and Bam! Something appears? I admit- I’ve literally never seen something appear out of nothing. If I locked you in a room with nothing- could you make something out of nothing? How long would it take for something to appear? Has only one universe been created out of nothing or more? Why aren’t more somethings being created out of nothing every day? Or has it been only once? Also- don’t forget the person who is credited with the Big Bang theory was a Belgian Catholic priest https://www.physicsoftheuniverse.com..._lemaitre.html

https://www.livescience.com/49958-th...-big-bang.html

What was before the Big Bang? There had to be something to smash together to create the Bang. I would disagree that science has without a doubt provided much more than theories on how we got where we are today. Also @Enel as the OP- I’m sure that you are shocked at this thread. I would say- questioning your previous faith is not only normal but healthy. I would recommend instead of straying from it- get back into it. The world can distract you and take your mind off your religion. Don’t stray.

Now- I’ve enjoyed a bit of Buffalo Trace this evening after tripping while running- so please forgive my snark. I know @GuanoLoco knows I’ve got nothing but the utmost respect for him.

[holmes168]

I'm in, how about this: https://amzn.to/2PQMcH4

Although this https://amzn.to/2PQMoWO is probably a better version.

Me too!

https://www.amazon.com/Case-Christ-J...ds=Lee+Strobel

[critter]

Me too!

https://www.amazon.com/Case-Christ-J...ds=Lee+Strobel

Don't forget this one!

The Case Against The Case For Christ... Robert M. Price

[orionz06]

Atheism is work. I just go about my day and try not to treat people like shit or cause harm and most of the time it works out well.

[TheNewbie]

I'm in, how about this: https://amzn.to/2PQMcH4

Although this https://amzn.to/2PQMoWO is probably a better version.

It's actually my goal to read the Quran. First I'm going to read a book called "Thr Arab Mind". I've got lots and lots of books to get through.

[TheNewbie]

Don't forget this one!

The Case Against The Case For Christ... Robert M. Price

¡Debemos leer los dos!

I'll order the Ehrman book this weekend.