The devil

I don't know how to answer that so I'll go and have my tea.

Thank you for engaging nadateturbe.

How do you square away the existence of fossils that show the evolutionary path from (e.g.) homo erectus to us?
I don't. It doesn't disprove my belief.

It doesn't matter, of course not nadateturbe, as I've said several times in this thread people can believe what they like. But this is a discussion forum. So I'm discussing and pointing out things that don't add up.

Please don't be offended by this...but...

We are just animals. We have evolved. There is lots of evidence and proof that this has happened. If religious people want to believe that we are somehow "chosen by God" then I can't argue with that, because its a circular argument. God exists therefore he made us special and because we're special God must exist.

How do you square away the existence of fossils that show the evolutionary path from (e.g.) homo erectus to us?

Of course you don't have to answer. I just think its interesting.

volver
I didn't deny evolution, just in regard to human beings. You think that's daft ( and I'm glad you apologise for rudeness) I think that's intelligent.
But why be rude? What does it matter to you what I believe?

I think "the devil" is just a way for people to explain things they dont understand

Sadly most of us are hurt by people close to us, people we love or are supposed to love us. Understanding why that would be is something science still can't fully explain now so no surprise a supernatural other got the blame

Some people are just not good people and the worst thing about them is the mental gymnastics they do to excuse and justify their own behaviour. Think the man who hits his wife "its your fault I hit you, you made me angry".

I would have thought at times the idea of an evil supernatural other suited them too when they got caught.

Without abusive people there would likely be no need for the idea of a devil at all

Not all scientists believe in global warming either. (They're wrong too) Not all scientists think the same.

However to say that "human beings are too complex to have evolved" is just daft. I'm sorry if that's rude. I don't think that facts work at convincing anyone with that delusion, so I won't bother trying to explain.

But just this...there is no conflict between believing in evolution, the Big Bang and supernatural beings. There are scientists who believe in all of them. I'm not one, but there are plenty. Jocelyn Bell Burnell, my scientific "hero" for instance, is a Quaker. But denying evolution because you think humans are too complex is just denying science. Sorry, but it is. 🤷🏼

We are all entitled to believe whatever helps us to get through this life which can be flipping difficult at times. For myself I prefer not to trust in myths, legends and supernatural beings but am more comfortable with scientific explanations and evolution through natural selection.

Of course science isn’t perfect but logic and reason tells me it’s the best explanation so far.

That sounded just a little bit rude volver. I thought we were all just giving our views.
Not all scientists agree on this issue.
You have a good afternoon too.

Yes we are all entitled to our beliefs.

Just saying that human beings are too complex to have evolved is missing the whole point of evolution though.

Have a nice afternoon, denying science.

I believe human beings are much too complex to have evolved. But we have been here on another thread. We are all entitled to our beliefs.

OK, understood.

I would love to know the answer to Farzanah's question, though.

OK Volver I put the word theory in by mistake.

THAT certainly concentrates the mind of the 'unsure' or so called 'cultural Christians'

In Germany, churches can collect taxes from their members. This is called the church tax (Kirchensteuer). Around half of German tax payers pay the church tax1. The church tax is 8% of your income tax in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, and 9% in the rest of Germany.

I spent many hours completing diversity forms for children and families I was involved with through work. Yes there was a tick box for no faith/atheist/humanist.
So many faiths, races, cultures in so many families, reflecting our country

Farzanah

Fleurpepper

'So they can believe what they like, as long as they don't try to convince me it's true.'

I'd go beyond that- as long as they don't force their views on the political, educational, social, cultural, ...life of the country. Time for religion to become a private matter- and all the above institutions to be freed, and become secular.

I agree. Particularly when in the 2021 Census 22.2 million professed no religion.
I suspect many just tick CofE when filling forms when there isn’t an option for “no religion”.

One way to solve this, is to ensure there is such an option!

Another and sure way is to do what happens in some countries- have to pay a Church Tax if you tick either Catholic or Protestant. You then get a truer picture!

Me too - out of local Church.

Fleurpepper

But no Blondie- you just have to believe, don't ask questions ;)

To be honest, if you are Christian and live by the Bible- I don't know how xou could believe in God but not in Satan.

Asking too many awkward questions was why I got kicked out of Sunday School!

I wonder if in U.K. religious affiliation, or none, affects how people vote. It does in USA.
I’m not sure how representative surveys are. The CofE used to be considered the Tory Party at prayer, but things may have moved on since?

I find it interesting.

We weren't created by the Big Bang Theory.

We created the Big Bang theory to explain how the universe came into being.

We don't know what was there before the Big Bang, and if anyone wants to believe it was God, then fair enough. I, however, don't believe that.

I didn't say it was evil or not. 'Evil' was not the first poster's query - the Devil was. The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary defines 'evil' as 'a force that causes bad things to happen; morally bad behaviour'. I think the Tory example of jam tomorrow fits the bill. It's morally bad of them to try to hoodwink the nurses into accepting no wage increase now in the hope of delivery tomorrow. If I were them I wouldn't trust the Tories an inch given their history of deliberately underfunding the NHS, in itself morally reprehensible.

Why is that nadentube?
belief in god much more believable than we were created by Big Bang Theory.

I agree that religion has been used to keep people in their place (The rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate...from a well known hymn), but that doesn't prove that God doesn't exist.
I find belief in God much more believable than we were created by the Big Bang Theory.

Fleurpepper

'So they can believe what they like, as long as they don't try to convince me it's true.'

I'd go beyond that- as long as they don't force their views on the political, educational, social, cultural, ...life of the country. Time for religion to become a private matter- and all the above institutions to be freed, and become secular.

I agree. Particularly when in the 2021 Census 22.2 million professed no religion.
I suspect many just tick CofE when filling forms when there isn’t an option for “no religion”.

I certainly don’t take Lucifer the devil seriously, it’s much more important to watch out for evil intentions, male and female, big and small, because they can make your life miserable, never mind the afterlife enjoy this one.

Interesting programme on BBC at the moment about the history of witches. The images of the devil and his involvement in everyday life seem to coincide with the discovery of witches. Linked with puritanism and the hatred of all frivolity in life which women (apparently) are especially inclined to. Of course it also links to the suppression of women who had standing in the community-midwives, healers etc.