Why the Christian/Judeo/Islamic God?

Hang on, whut? Why would creation yield similar results from one species to another? Unless God's using His own... you know... to spark creation?

 

Well I'l be a monkeys unkle!

 

You're welcome, CanniEvergrow!

Well, we Christians believe, that God uses his own ... holy spirit (his force in action) and his own design. I never thought in depth why he chose to create us with so many similarities. I only know that we can learn a lot about God's personality and qualities from anything he created.
Here, for example, we see what great a variety can spring from one basic layout. What can we possibly learn from it? That even one basic layout makes possible endless variety. Practically, that even though we humans are what we are, limited within our limits (which to some seem too restrictive ;-D) as we are, still, life will never be boring to us in a thousand years, or million years. It will only depend on the right perspective.
Therefore, in my opinion, people who are trying to change themselves into what we humans are not (like cultivating in themselves some superhuman abilities), are looking in the wrong direction. The answers to our problems are in fully using what we already have. But that's another story...

 

Can you elaborate on this?

 

Are you getting your information from creationist sources? Most evolutionary biologists will still tell you that Archaeopteryx is a transitional species that has more in common morphologically with small theropod reptiles than with birds. Have you ever seen a bird with sharp teeth, three fingers, claws on its forearms, and a long bony tail ? Interestingly enough, a group of scientists who did challenge the authenticity of Archaeoptryx back in the mid-1980s maintained that it was really a reptile! That claim has also failed to be accepted by the scientific community. Of course, to the die hard skeptic or convinced creationist, it would be impossible to prove the existence of a transitional species, because they'd simply say it's a funny looking example of either the earlier species or the one it's supposed to have evolved into. Which may be true, but at least acknowledge that it isn't "clearly" the case or supported by objective experts. Also, you might qualify the "we Christians" statements, since I and lots of other Christians don't have a problem with evolution.

 

Actually, just to pull out the old Hoatzin again, there is a species of bird currently extant which has claws on its forearms, albeit only in infancy. Not sure what that means in the broader context.

I wouldn't bother arguing with him on this though. As you've said:

Aguest has basically said that he would do this to any transitory species he is shown, and has not given any reason or justification for doing so beyond his own hunches. So from now on, he need only be included in the "debate" as a punchline.

 

Does the sun still revolve around the earth. If so please inform me?

 

Nah, it revolves round Earth's third moon. OR SO I HAVE READ.

 

From the sources with fair choice of information. It is, not exactly, creationist sources -- I'd call them Christian. And that is the answer to your next question:

By "Christian" I mean those, who follow Christ's teachings, as found in the Gospels, and also those of the Bible.
So, when "God created them all according to their kind" and estimated them as being "very good" (says Genesis) -- then, I figure, there was no need for further "evolution" of these "very good" kinds into something better or more advanced (as the term "evolution" implies anyway). Christ quoted from Genesis chapter 2 (on marriage) , thus showing this book to be "still" fit for reference and spiritual education.This is the problem evolution presents for Christians in my opinion.

Yeah, I meant certain "spiritual practices", demonstrating "superhuman powers" et cetera. All this "reading of thoughts", moving of things with the powers of one's "will" and the like. Will these things make men happier, or , if you don't like the point about happiness, will they solve our problems? You know they will not.
I mean, what we humans really need is LOVE in all its expressions. Let them learn how to show love in real life situation and let them go out preach that to the people everywhere -- that would be a practical step, instead of locking themselves behind the walls of "ashrams" and monasteries, allegedly for the same purpose. Just let them do like Jehovah's Witnesses do! Those preach everywhere the things they believe in. Many ridicule them, but do nothing themselves...

...Love within a family, love towards those we don't know. Earth pollution, poor people's chronical malnutrition, marriage degradation -- all these need just this "simple" cure, love. "Love your neighbor as yourself" -- if this principle was made a cornerstone of home and foreign policy, I can only imagine, how many problems would be solved quite quickly.
People's thought would be united in this direction, so the problems tearing the world apart would not exist. A-ah! I need not play an intellectual or human guru: enough to mention, that all the military money will be freed for humanitarian use. That alone can cover everything!
:-D OK, many members here have already proved THAT for themselves, so I don't seriously think, that somebody will argue against this one.

Yes, I felt enough had been said to show: we believe in things, because we want it. It is not our evidence, but our motivation, that matters. That being so, I care much that things we believe in could deliver some practical help in making us better, more loving, more caring about the future. About the present in the first place.

For example, today you don't get convinced by any arguments -- because evolution fits well into your present frame of mind, allowing you to be what you want to be... But who knows, how your situation will change tomorrow? Then you might love my arguments a bit more, I'd suppose. When you say to yourself:"I need God!", then you will ask:"How can I make sure God exists? How can I practically draw close to God? Just what are the possibilities? How do other people do it?" And then you will view evolution and all evidence thereto from a different angle.

 

Are we getting taller and less hairy? If thats true, it would point to the fact that God's a short li'l hairy Guy.

 

Well no. You can argue that everyone's entitled to their opinion, live and let live, etc. all you want, and maybe it doesn't matter who is right and who is wrong. But that doesn't mean that no-one is right or no-one is wrong. There is, in my opinion, probably a reality within which we live. We may like to kid ourselves that our perceptions shape that reality, but we have little basis for thinking this, and it seems arrogant to imagine man matters that much.

So no, basically, it's not what matters, in this context. Plus, if you're arguing about the veracity of a theory, and then start arguing that it does not matter whether it is true or not, it looks a bit fishy.

 

Where am I as of late on this one? Have I been bumped off of it? Or, is that a matter of opinion? Oh yes, I was talking about money on Friday.