The creation of the Universe.

**Lemur** · 03-12-2006, 04:16

Didn't mean to offend you, Zain, and I'm sorry that I have. Please accept my apologies.

Would you care to respond to the points I made?

Exempli gratia:

Originally Posted by Lemur

Yes, of course, but how did God use those vessels? And was he using them all in the same way? And since we have been given free will by the Lord, to what degree have we managed to mess these texts up?

**Zain** · 03-12-2006, 04:19

I wouldn't know how God used the Vessels, but I'm sure the way religious fanatics are, the bible's text shouldn't have been messed with.

You didn't offend me, it was just annoying. I hope we are nicely debating, instead of angrily debating.

**Lemur** · 03-12-2006, 04:23

By Backroom standards, this is a terribly nice debate. We should serve tea and crumpets, it's so nice. We're probably sitting on wicker furniture, watching people play croquet in summer whites while servants bring us mint juleps. That's the kind of nice I'm talking about.

The overriding point I'm trying to make, Zain, is that fundamentalism is a slippery slope. It's very comforting to say, "I have God's will right here and nobody can tell me otherwise," but that way madness lies. And I really doubt that it's pleasing to God.

**Zain** · 03-12-2006, 04:33

You sound sarcastic about the kind of debate we're having.

I doubt debate makes God happy because my father once told me that debate is one of the things that Satan wants more then ever, because it can create a shaky belief. I just like to debate because it feels like I'm testing myself, and makes my knowledge greater.

-ZainDustin

**Lemur** · 03-12-2006, 04:41

I was trying to be silly, not sarcastic. Sorry, tone gets lost in forums. I was attempting to make a funny.

Debate is what Satan wants us to do? Well, I guess that's one way of looking at it. Let's do a little side-by-side comparison:

Debate is fundamental to:

Democracy (let's form a governmental system where everybody can voice their opinion, and then we all vote on it)
Moderation (hard to be an extremist when you're digesting other peoples' views)
Learning (disputation is a cornerstone of all knowledge)

A lack of debate is fundamental to:

Dictatorships (listen and obey)
Extremism (everybody agrees with me or is silent! Yay!)
Rigid-mindedness (there's this one way of looking at things, and I don't want to hear different)

Which of these sets of characteristics do you suppose Satan would prefer?

**Zain** · 03-12-2006, 04:48

The way you talk about it, he would want less debating, but there are other ways to think about it. I've got to go, so I'll talk to you later.

-ZainDustin

**Ice** · 03-12-2006, 04:43

Oh good, another one of these threads. We just need our friendly fanatical liberals and we will be good.

I'm a Christian, I believe God did create the universe, but I also believe in science. I believe he did through the big bang theory. As it was stated earlier in the dicussion, you can't take the Bible litterally. Well you can, but think about it...