h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

He was a companion of Doctpr Who, the second Doctor, along with my son's favourite Dr Who companion, Zoe Herriott. (He said last night, that Wendy Padbury, who played her "will always be 20 to me". WP is actually 56 this year, and my son is 16...)

He was a companion of Doctpr Who, the second Doctor, along with my son's favourite Dr Who companion, Zoe Herriott. (He said last night, that Wendy Padbury, who played her "will always be 20 to me". WP is actually 56 this year, and my son is 16...)

Ok then.

I don't need god so i don't need anything he offers. So God can come and strike me down with a bolt of lightning but then id be too dead to belive in him so that wouldnt matter.

The revalations- read them and then come back to me.

The bible contradicts itself in many places. This is my favourite: Old Testament- An eye for an eye etc. NT- Turn the other cheek. (I like this one. Turn the other cheek, I didn't say facial cheeks...)

Do unto others etc- If I was a masachist, should i hurt people because the bible said do unto others. If I was one wouldn't it be a punishment to be sent to heaven?
RULE ANARCHY.

Re-read both statements and you'll find they say EXACTLY the same thing and don't contradict each other.



It would be worth pointing out if it was true however it isn't. The amount of Order in the universe is decreasing and has beens ince the big bang. Local increases in order such as life on Earth are offset by massive losses of order in stars like the sun. Its one of the laws of Thermodynamics.

As for evolution - you are right that evolution doesn't explain the origin of life on Earth (though it can make a couple of working theories) but there can be little doubt evolution is real. There are lots of threads on evolution - take a look.

Hey, Pope Edgar!

'This is my favourite: Old Testament- An eye for an eye etc. NT- Turn the other cheek. (I like this one. Turn the other cheek, I didn't say facial cheeks...)'

If you actually looked it up before you read it, you might realise that Jesus knew about this 'contradiction' anyway. He told them that the law had changed. Read. It's only one (rather long) sentance.

Matthew 5:38-39 - 'Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.'

Sorry to break it to you, but Jesus knew his Old Testament too! He fulfilled something called the Mosaic Law, and so he was setting out the new law. The clue is in the title: the /New/ Testament.

'Do unto others etc- If I was a masachist, should i hurt people because the bible said do unto others. If I was one wouldn't it be a punishment to be sent to heaven?'

Oh... Don't be so literal! Use some imagination. And (as someone who knows one) even masochists don't mind pleasure - you're confusing masochism with a psychological condition.

Besides, there are some far better contradictions in the Bible if you look hard enough. Della has a very good position on this, which she might explain if you ask her!

- Jordan

Arrgghh! Bluto beat me to it!

Still I would just like to add - Insight has it back to front. I would accept that the Big Bang does not explain the EXISTENCE of the universe, but it's a crucial part of explaining it's current state of complexity.

Life is a complex chemical system. As chemical systems become more complex they are deemed at some arbitrary point to be "alive". Viruses anyone?

Hebrews 11:1 It's only an *evident demonstration* if it's beheld. Otherwise it's only a claim that there is one which we have to take - on faith!

Hi Jordan, how're ya doing?

Noggin

Hi Noggin! I'm dying of exams at the moment, but I'll still be popping in every so often to see you guys.

Can I go home now, oh great Problem Sheet?!

Forgive my interrobang. It is an unnecesary pollution of English sentence structure for which I revile myself utterly.

- Jordan

Why are there other religions other than christianity? Not just the ones who belive in Moses because I am sure Jesus and Moses were real just taken out of context. I mean things like Wicca and I don't know Aztec. Speaking of which. You know the Aztecs had more recorded miracles than Jesus performed.

If God is all knowing, why did he need to make the garden of Eden or even the World. Why do you do something if you know what's going to happen?

Has anyone seen Monty Python's life of Brian about how an ordinary man acidentally became the messiah without even trying?

Where did Satan come from? (This is a real question. I've heard different theories but I'm just curious to know).

Here's another thing I thought of. I was watching the film Joan of Arc the other day and everything in it is 100% possible. Maybe she did hear voices. One of the symptoms of schitzophrenia is hearing voices! Maybe she was just a schitzophrenic who got lucky. The part where she pulled the arrow out of her chest- it was a type 16.

For more reasons not to belive in God, read Douglas Adam's The Salmon Of Doubt, 'Is there an artificial god?'

Why did God let the bible be so Boring? If it's his book with his name on it, he might as well make it so kids will read it. Even churches for kids are boring (and discriminate- I'm not allowed to wear my studs to any religious things in my area but doesn't matter 'cause I wasn't planning to go to any).

America is big on religion right. E.g I swear to tell the truth etc SO HELP ME GOD. IN GOD WE TRUST etc. So if the 6th commandment is THOUGH SHALLST NOT KILL why is America so keen on bombing everything for no real reason. This is expressed in the song I found on aol-
If you can't find bin laden bomb Iraq.
That's the only line I can remember but I'll see if I can find it for future reference.

I thank you- RULE ANARCHY.

Pope Edgar Montgomery? this is a joke right?

No I really am pope! Of corse it's a joke. Anyway, don't change the subject. RULE ANARCHY.

Okay I'll try and answer your questions -

>Why are there other religions other than christianity?

Because there are! There are many religions that predate Christianity.

>Not just the ones who belive in Moses because I am sure Jesus and Moses were real just taken out of context.

Huh? What do you mean taken out of context? Also there is no factual evidence for the existence of either - though there is good circmstantial and written evidence.

>I mean things like Wicca and I don't know Aztec.

The Aztec were a people not a religion.

>Speaking of which. You know the Aztecs had more recorded miracles than Jesus performed.

Paul Daniels has performed more - so what? Magic tricks are magic tricks!

>If God is all knowing, why did he need to make the garden of Eden or even the World. Why do you do something if you know what's going to happen?

no evidence ofr the existence of a god or the Garden of Eden.

>Has anyone seen Monty Python's life of Brian about how an ordinary man acidentally became the messiah without even trying?

Yes, good film - not actually based on a true story! What's you r point.

Where did Satan come from? (This is a real question. I've heard different theories but I'm just curious to know).

> Like all demons and devils and gods and angels, he came out of the imagination of people.

>Here's another thing I thought of. I was watching the film Joan of Arc the other day and everything in it is 100% possible. Maybe she did hear voices. One of the symptoms of schitzophrenia is hearing voices! Maybe she was just a schitzophrenic who got lucky. The part where she pulled the arrow out of her chest- it was a type 16.

Joan of Arc was a real person but many of the legends attached to her since her death are just that - legends.

>For more reasons not to belive in God, read Douglas Adam's The Salmon Of Doubt, 'Is there an artificial god?'

>Why did God let the bible be so Boring? If it's his book with his name on it, he might as well make it so kids will read it. Even churches for kids are boring (and discriminate- I'm not allowed to wear my studs to any religious things in my area but doesn't matter 'cause I wasn't planning to go to any).

The bible was written in greek and hebrew and loses a lot of it's poetry when translated into English. Despite being boring it's the best selling book of all time.

America is big on religion right. E.g I swear to tell the truth etc SO HELP ME GOD. IN GOD WE TRUST etc. So if the 6th commandment is THOUGH SHALLST NOT KILL why is America so keen on bombing everything for no real reason. This is expressed in the song I found on aol-
If you can't find bin laden bomb Iraq.
That's the only line I can remember but I'll see if I can find it for future reference.

>It's easy to call on god to help you or to blame for our own failings. Saying something and believing it are two different things.

>I thank you- RULE ANARCHY.

Anarchy is by definition the lack of rules - hence RULE ANARCHY is a paradox!

I am aware that RULE ANARCHY is an oxymoron. But I don't care and I'm not going to stop saying it. RULE ANARCHY.

'Why are there other religions other than christianity? Not just the ones who belive in Moses because I am sure Jesus and Moses were real just taken out of context. I mean things like Wicca and I don't know Aztec. Speaking of which. You know the Aztecs had more recorded miracles than Jesus performed.'

Uh... because there are more religions?

'If God is all knowing, why did he need to make the garden of Eden or even the World. Why do you do something if you know what's going to happen?'

Perhaps He doesn't know everything after all. Ask Insight for his theory.

'Has anyone seen Monty Python's life of Brian about how an ordinary man acidentally became the messiah without even trying?'

Yep.

'Where did Satan come from? (This is a real question. I've heard different theories but I'm just curious to know).'

He was an angel who rebelled against God before man was made. Read Milton's 'Paradise Lost' for an interesting version of events. And he's not the only one, one third of the angels rebelled; see Revelations. (Additionally, I don't consider angels a separate species from humanity, rather as disembodied spirits.)

Here's another thing I thought of. I was watching the film Joan of Arc the other day and everything in it is 100% possible. Maybe she did hear voices. One of the symptoms of schitzophrenia is hearing voices! Maybe she was just a schitzophrenic who got lucky. The part where she pulled the arrow out of her chest- it was a type 16.

Living, as I do, with schizophrenia, I can testify that yes, one of the major symptoms are auditory hallucinations. If Julian Jaynes is right, everyone was schizophrenic a few millenia ago. What's a 'type 16'?

'For more reasons not to belive in God, read Douglas Adam's The Salmon Of Doubt, 'Is there an artificial god?''

Like...?

'Why did God let the bible be so Boring? If it's his book with his name on it, he might as well make it so kids will read it. Even churches for kids are boring (and discriminate- I'm not allowed to wear my studs to any religious things in my area but doesn't matter 'cause I wasn't planning to go to any).'

It wasn't. Unfortunately, it's mostly history, and some people are too backward to acknowledge that even our present translation can be improved. Milton made some goes at translating Psalms, and I think it's fine to use some poetic license so long as you don't lose the meaning.

And remember that it was written thousands of years ago. What do you expect - God to write a 'Sixth Edition New Testament'?

America is big on religion right. E.g I swear to tell the truth etc SO HELP ME GOD. IN GOD WE TRUST etc. So if the 6th commandment is THOUGH SHALLST NOT KILL why is America so keen on bombing everything for no real reason. This is expressed in the song I found on aol-
If you can't find bin laden bomb Iraq.
That's the only line I can remember but I'll see if I can find it for future reference.

I dislike America's mixing of religion and state in the first place.

'I thank you- RULE ANARCHY.'

I thank you - rule Order!

- Jordan

A type 16 is an arrow head that is so economical it is designed to be pulled out. Middle age thinking huh.

God should write a 6th edition of the new testament. If I see it in the shops sometime ill be very stimulated mentally.

Why disagree with just the state and religion. I disagree with everything. But Im an Anarchist so what do you expect.

RULE ANARCHY

>>Speaking of which. You know the Aztecs had more recorded miracles than Jesus performed.<<
Where did you get that from, Pope Edgar? (I"m not saying I don't believe you, just that I'd love to know where you got your statistics from...
>>America is big on religion right. E.g I swear to tell the truth etc SO HELP ME GOD. IN GOD WE TRUST etc. So if the 6th commandment is THOUGH SHALLST NOT KILL why is America so keen on bombing everything for no real reason. This is expressed in the song I found on aol-
If you can't find bin laden bomb Iraq.<<
The religious cant and hypocrisy used by bomb-happy Americans doesn't reflect on real religion because that's exactly what it is - being *used*. I am a Christian pacifist, and always have been - it is my belief (others disagree) that Christians are required to be pacifist... Check out my space for a journal entry listing quotes from Jesus and some early Church authorities on the subject...

Last year I had to do a group history project on the Aztecs so my resources are dotted from from various sources. But for example, the Atzecs predicted pale faced strangers from another world would come on the same day Hernan Cortez landed in Mexico. Coincedense? Changing the subject, what would've happened if the Aztecs found Europe before Europe found the Aztecs? Why does everyone assume Anarchy is chaos? My prediction is it'd be just the same but with more individuals taking advantage of not having a government.

To be really correct, Anarchy actually means everyones equal so it's just communism really.

RULE ANARCHY.

You need to do a few more projects. One like 'staying on the subject' would be good.

Anyway to help you - Anarchy is not defined as chaos; rather as the complete absence of Government and laws. That chaos would ensue if such a state of affairs ever existed is why Anarchy has been taken to mean chaotic.

Anarchists have four broad claims
(1) people are not obliged to follow the state.
(2) The state should be abolished.
(3) A stateless society is possible.
(4) the transition from state to anarchy is possible and desirable.

Rule Anarchy!

And I follow everyone of those.
RULE ANARCHY.

Back on topic:

It's a well-known fact that you cannot prove a negative (well, it should be if it isn't). Theists constantly challenge atheists to 'disprove God', usually in response to the athiest's reasonable request to provide a smidgen of proof to support God's existance.

We will never be able to disprove God, but that does not mean s/he exists. Some seem to think this is the case.

Can anyone supply positive proof, without resorting to this tactic?



Ste

You can prove a negative on some levels - "prove that the Moon isn't made of green cheese" for example, is provable by visiting the moon.

My understanding of the atheist position is that nobody can prove the existence of god by any logical means and it can be shown that the universe does not require the existence of a god to account for it's existence therefore there is no god.

As a chain of reasoning I suppose It's valid but it does seem torest on a couple of assumptions that smack of faith to me.