http://www.bigthink.com/adobe/Logo_250X250.jpg http://www.bigthink.com/adobe/Background_1024X576.jpg http://www.bigthink.com/adobe/Banner_686X60.jpg http://www.bigthink.com/adobe/Half-Banner_234X60.jpg http://www.bigthink.com/adobe/Logo_250X250 http://www.bigthink.com/adobe/Logo-Watermark_250X250.jpg http://www.bigthink.com/adobe/Background_1024X576.jpg http://www.bigthink.com/adobe/Half-Banner-ALT_234X60.jpg Bigthink - User Ideas Feed Bigthink http://www.bigthink.com/feed/rss/user/8813 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:41:22 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 the dilema of free will http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/7928 It occurred to me that if it were ever possible for me to travel back in time and witness my earlier self, while not interfering in any way with my previous actions, that the prior me would continue about with my already predetermined actions, thus begging the question; Does the earlier me have free will? Or is the universe, ultimately, deterministic?

 

Supposing I had not interfered with my former self, it would stand to reason that I, the former, would follow along in the same manner as I, the latter, until the prior me was spying on his prior and so on and so forth…unable to deviate from his fate.

 

How arrogant would it be to assume that I am the present me…or the most future me possible (if that makes sense)?

 

Do I have free will?

 

Or is time travel just a bunch of science fiction malarkey?

 

 

Yet if I don’t put faith in that malarkey and decide to believe in a higher power capable of knowing all my actions ahead of time, can my will be considered as my own…to be free? ]]>
Bigthink Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:33:44 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/7928
where can one find faith? http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/7039 if all religion is illogical or, at the very least, inconsistent, yet one desperately wants to believe in something to fill some sort of metaphysical void, how does one overcome his or her predilection for rationality in order to embrace fantasy?

How can I commit to a religion, when it just doesn't make any sense?

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Bigthink Wed, 06 Feb 2008 07:57:41 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/7039
is evolution our downfall? http://www.bigthink.com/science-technology/medicine-biology/7038 Bigthink Wed, 06 Feb 2008 07:48:49 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/science-technology/medicine-biology/7038 evolution as a theory http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/6660 There are quite a few people who inaccurately dismiss evolution as a mere theory. They are using the word theory incorrectly however. A theory is a scientific conclusion based upon a lot of evidence after numerous tests. But their line of thinking would have you believe a theory is something similar to a hypothesis. "Oh that’s just a hypothesis," is a better way of stating what they’re implying.

 

To those people, I ask this; do you believe in gravity? Because guess what! Gravity is just a theory also. In fact there is more evidence in support of evolution than there is in the theory of gravity. Can you describe what gravity looks like to me? Draw me a picture of it. How does it smell? Etc, etc. We know it exists because we don’t all float away, but what is it? What is the source of energy for gravity? It depends on mass and distance, yes…but what causes it?

 

 So don’t be too quick to dismiss a theory because you misinterpret what the word theory means, you silly ignorant fools.]]>
Bigthink Fri, 01 Feb 2008 07:54:42 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/6660
way too crowded these days. http://www.bigthink.com/the-world/6555 Bigthink Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:25:08 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/the-world/6555 where do non-catholic christians get the nerve? http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/6325 Bigthink Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:40:10 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/6325 where do non-catholic christians get the nerve? http://www.bigthink.com/life-death/6324  

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Bigthink Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:36:30 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/life-death/6324
does the english church have any justification? http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/6294 Bigthink Sun, 27 Jan 2008 16:42:14 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/6294 where do all our problems go? http://www.bigthink.com/the-world/the-united-states/6158 We certainly didn't fix them.

I remember the simpler times when overpopulation was what scared everyone. Then it was the aids epidemic. Now its global warming. But what happened to th earlier problems. Did we tire of them? Is there more money in selling different world catastraphies to us? Does this mean that all of our concern over the planet will fade in time as well?

That's not a very efficient attitude to have..

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Bigthink Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:47:40 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/the-world/the-united-states/6158
The infinity paradox involving God. http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/6110 I realize that the idea of space being infinite is somewhat suspect, but assuming that it is, what does infinity mean to you? To me it means that if you were to go far enough in any direction, you would encounter another planet that resembles this one in every way. If you were to go far enough in any direction, you would encounter a planet where people fly. To me it means that whatever you can conceive of, no matter how opposed to the physical laws, which govern our reality, you will encounter it. That’s what my idea of infinity is. So since we not only conceive, but also believe in an (insert omni-quality here) creator, is it possible that if you venture far enough into the abyss, that you will encounter such a deity? Is this a theory that supports God's existence?

I think it’s interesting, but I don’t believe so. For instance, I can conceive of an indistinguishable omnipresent God...well where is it? If he were omnipresent, he'd be here and if he's indistinguishable, I could easily detect him. 

Oh well, perhaps our ability to conjure thoughts of something doesn't necessarily means it exists. Just a thought.  

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Bigthink Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:53:24 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/6110
is immortality out of the question? http://www.bigthink.com/science-technology/medicine-biology/5883 Bigthink Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:19:12 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/science-technology/medicine-biology/5883 Can the depression happen again? http://www.bigthink.com/business-economics/5882 Im probably the least knowledgable when it comes to economics, but I cant help but feel reminded of history and highschool economics class when it comes to all this current fear about our economy.

Can this fear lead to a depression?

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Bigthink Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:14:38 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/business-economics/5882
has culture beat out biology? http://www.bigthink.com/truth-justice/5866 Our culture teaches us that we are all created equal, and it is a principle that the majority of us endeavor to live by. Yet is that true? We are all different in that some of us are stronger, smarter, better looking, etc. Perhaps it is more accurate to say we are all deserving of equal opportunity, but we are not all equals.

Culture seems to be slowly erasing biological imperatives. It isn't the strongest person best seen more fit to survive these days, but the smartest and how soon before cloning erases the need for reproduction?

I think biology is, of course, still incredibly relevant, but is culture gaining ground?

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Bigthink Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:04:08 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/truth-justice/5866
Is the Christian faith dying out? http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/5779 Bigthink Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:17:03 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/5779 Free will contradicts God being all knowing. http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/5767 If you subscribe to the idea that God has bestowed free will upon us all and, simultaneously, maintain that he is omniscient to the degree that he is already aware of our decisions before we make them, then you are kidding yourself.

 

If you are at a crossroads and are wondering which direction to take, you can go east, west, north, or south, but God already knows you’re going east, can you make any other decision, but to go in that predetermined direction?

 

If you could, then God isn’t omniscient, but if you cannot, then you do not posses free will.

 

If there is a God, and this God does, in fact, have prior knowledge of our entire lives, then is it so radical of an idea to think we exist solely to carry out his intention? His will? Can it be taken further to say that we are an extension of his will? That God is akin to a 6 billon legged centipede like insect, with all of us, his many legs, scurrying about on a predestined course to get God where he needs to go? Are we all God?

 Or is it just more likely that religion is hogwash?]]>
Bigthink Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:56:04 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/5767
If I dont believe in you, do you exist? http://www.bigthink.com/life-death/5704 Do we influence our mutual existences?

 

If a tree falls and no one is around is said to make no sound, then do we exist ourselves without being perceived by others? Or is our capacity for existence predicated on our own individual perceptions?

 

Does God exist if we perceive him to? Do we exist if God perceives us? Is it a mutually beneficial relationship of dependency?

 Do aliens exist on other planets because they believe we do and, consequently, does our belief in extraterrestrial life determine their existence?]]>
Bigthink Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:14:55 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/life-death/5704
Patriots: bad for America http://www.bigthink.com/truth-justice/5628 Football is a love/hate relationship for me. Something wouldnt be able to make you so happy if it couldnt also tear out your fucking heart and shit all over it. But Im still screaming Go Chargers! Im just doing it in a fetal position at the edge of my bed with Sarah McLachlan's, "in the arms of an angel" song playing the background...and Im sobbing like a bitch.

So who do you guys want to win the superbowl?

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Bigthink Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:31:38 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/truth-justice/5628
Is the Noah’s arc myth even feasible? http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/5538 How big does a ship have to be to have carried 2 of each of all the species we have today?

 

How, if the World was covered in water, were they able to feed each animal, keeping in mind that various species have various diets, for 40 days and 40 nights? Again we must reflect on the size of the arc to store this amount of food as well.

 

If Noah’s family was the only one on the ship and everyone else was killed, how do we explain the many differences in race and culture found throughout the world? That’s some pretty rapid evolution when you consider how old the world is said to be in the bible!

 

What say you?

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Bigthink Sun, 20 Jan 2008 04:17:36 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/5538
Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings. Yes or No. ..Scandalous. http://www.bigthink.com/history/5389 It is rumored that our esteemed founding father, TJ, had affairs of a sexual nature with one his slaves. Do you believe he did or not.

Also, do you think it makes him a hypocrite for owning slaves, given his opposition, in principle, to the idea of slavery, or was he simply just a product of his environment?

What say you?

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Bigthink Sat, 19 Jan 2008 05:54:52 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/history/5389
What did Jesus die for? God's amusement? http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/5342 My understanding of Christian dogma is somewhat limited and in lieu of this, I have always had trouble digesting the following:

 

If Jesus died for all of our sins, then why is baptism still necessary? Did original sin persist?

 

Why would an all-powerful God need to send His own son to die for all of our sins to allow us into heaven? This notion is somewhat ludicrous. It’s pointless, really. God is, presumably, quite capable and could easily wipe the slate clean without this pointless symbolic act. What’s the point, really? Justice?

 

What kind of justice is sending your son to die for the sins of the world? That’s like playing football when you’re hungry. The punishment is independent of the crime.

 What say you?]]>
Bigthink Sat, 19 Jan 2008 01:53:48 +0100 http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/5342