OT: Jibjab, Politics, the Big Bang and more!

[Zapmeister]

Originally posted by NTJedi:
Even if there is only a .0000000001% chance that God does exist is more then enough reason to do what's right or risk burning in Hell eternally.

I couldn't resist responding to this one, since it's the exact fallacy parodied by my signature :-)

It is a mistake to apply the mathematics of probability to existential questions. In this case, that's easily demonstrated by proposing the existence of a different god (who I shall call Frank) who is the real creator of the Universe, and whose will happens to be the exact opposite of the will we attribute to Jehovah. By making up an associated scripture that is more plausible and consistent than the Bible, I could even argue that Frank's "probability of existence" exceeds Jehovah's.

So now, what do we do? Avoid the risk of offending Jehovah, or do the exact opposite to avoid offending Frank?

Fire and brimstone arguments (with or without the reference to probability) are an attempt to garner converts by intimidation, and I think that most of the successful religions have used them in some form. And of course, no more than one distinct religion can be telling the truth.

Originally posted by NTJedi:
God doesn't stop mankind from doing Evil actions such as killing, suicide or abortion, however mankind is expected to stop Evil.

Which brings up an interesting question about God's Will. Consider the following 2 Bible passages. Firstly, from Leviticus, a passage that unambiguously identifies homosexuality as a crime against God, and the penalty for said crime as death:

If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. - Leviticus 20:13

Secondly, from Matthew, we have Jesus telling us just as clearly that there's no wriggling out of the law of the Old Testament just because He's shown up to redeem us:

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:17-19

So then, is killing a homosexual evil? Or is it merely implementing God's Will? Or is the Bible wrong?

Originally posted by Norfleet:
I can't think of any other analogue that would explain why a being would willfully create the universe, an object which seems to serve no particular purpose.

Not knowing anything about God's nature or environment, it's hardly surprising that we can't fathom His motivation for any particular action. That in no way implies that said motivation doesn't exist, and certainly doesn't imply that the true motivation is recognizable in terms we can understand (such as boredom).

Originally posted by Norfleet:
That also doesn't fit the depiction as given by mainstream religion.

Quite. Redefining the term "God" to mean something other than the popular conception (sentient being with an independant will, which includes the desire to be worshipped) is simply an attempt to dodge the issue of whether or not that popular conception is existant.