17 comments:

• David Diskin posted at 11:03 pm on Fri, Feb 1, 2013.

  Posts: 121

  A warm thank-you to those who attended tonight, especially our new members!

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• David Diskin posted at 4:51 pm on Tue, Jan 29, 2013.

  Posts: 121

  " I came to the conclusion that much of science takes as much faith as religion does."

  Kevin, either you misunderstand science or we have an issue with semantics.

  Further, it sounds like you're creating a dichotomy where either a Creator exists or the Big Bang happened. Why can't there be both?

  Science has proven that Big Bang happened, and are now just working out the specifics -- and possibly what happened before it, or to create it. Like evolution and the theory of life, we know what happened and no one in the scientific realm disputes it. It is only the minutiae that is causing debate.

  And, like all of science, a theory can be tossed out the window if evidence comes along to disprove it. Faith, by definition, holds to a dogma even in the presence of contradictory evidence.

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• Andy Crowder posted at 3:26 pm on Tue, Jan 29, 2013.

  Posts: 243

  Kevin, science is based on evidence, not faith. Science is testable and self-correcting. In order for any scientific idea to stand, it must hold to rigorous testing and be supported by an avalanche of evidence. Not so with religious faith. Science does not have all the answers, but is a method for finding knowledge. If new evidence contradicts previous ideas, then more evidence is collected, more testing conducted, and the ideas revised. Faith is just the opposite; ideas are held to be true without any evidence at all, and often contradicting evidence causes the faithful to hold to the unfortunate idea even more tightly.

  I have not experienced a "Creator Being" so not sure what you mean by that.

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• Kevin Paglia posted at 2:03 pm on Tue, Jan 29, 2013.

  Posts: 1729

  I love science, have since I was a kid. A long time ago I came to the conclusion that much of science takes as much faith as religion does.

  The Big Bang theory may be the current belief, but it is not the only one. discovermagazine.com/2008/apr/25-3-theories-that-might-blow-up-the-big-bang

  Now science talks about floating Membranes and multi-verses that have to assume 20 something deminsions to make possible. To my knowledge NO ONE has ever experienced 20 something demensions, but they have experienced a "Creator Being".

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• David Diskin posted at 1:34 pm on Tue, Jan 29, 2013.

  Posts: 121

  That's fine, Kevin. We can agree to disagree.

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• Ed Walters posted at 1:09 pm on Tue, Jan 29, 2013.

  Posts: 143

  To even bring up the subject of, is there a God or not, I`ll leave that alone since no one knows for sure, some bibical scholars suggest that the earth is only 6,000 years old. That`s quite a stretch from 6,000 to 4.5 billion years old, evidently it`s all in what you want to believe. On that subject I would argue since scientists have discovered fossils and bones from animals dating back millions of years. The Jurassic period, the ice age and caveman cannot be argued with since they are facts, and cannot be argued against. After watching how the solar system was formed, hard to say it wasn`t the big bang theory. Modern science can actually watch new planets being formed. The arguement for or against is like wondering which is better, cable TV or Satellite since both are a means to an end, of the planet.

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• Kevin Paglia posted at 10:20 am on Tue, Jan 29, 2013.

  Posts: 1729

  "I'll simply answer with, "No evidence.""

  Qualifier: No evidence YOU can accept. I have experienced the entire spectrum of spiritual activity including physical that has left no doubt for me that there is a God.

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• David Diskin posted at 8:12 pm on Mon, Jan 28, 2013.

  Posts: 121

  Mr Maple, I would never attempt to prove that God does not exist. Such an attempt would be futile.

  I can, however, explain how liver and brain cells become what they are, how DNA works, how the finger nail arises out of a stem cell, and how the eye works. I would also be pleased to explain how the eye has evolved, if you care to listen.

  Again, I invite you and others to our meeting. Not to argue, but to discuss. If you're willing to do that, then please join us.

  The details of our next event are on our website at www.StocktonAAF.org.

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• David Diskin posted at 6:22 pm on Mon, Jan 28, 2013.

  Posts: 121

  For those unclear as to what Todd is referring to:

  https://syndikalismus.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/atheism.jpg

  If you're curious, the woman in the picture is the person who came up with the slogan and concept. These adverts started in the UK and have since made their way to the US and other countries.

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• David Diskin posted at 6:20 pm on Mon, Jan 28, 2013.

  Posts: 121

  Mr. Maple, I'm not sure I understand your "Why not God" question. Do you mean "Why do we believe that a god doesn't exist?"

  If so, then to be brief I'll simply answer with, "No evidence." If you're looking for more, you are welcome to come to our meeting or perhaps meet me for lunch some time.

  Of course, you're welcome to believe anything you like.

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• David Diskin posted at 6:16 pm on Mon, Jan 28, 2013.

  Posts: 121

  Mr Walters, I'm guessing that Joanne is referring to other posts of Mr Maple's in which he presumably used less-than-flowery language.

  I sincerely doubt Joanne is against the idea of asking questions.

  Whether she believes in the Pearly Gates, Heaven, or Hell, I suppose she can let us know if she feels up to it. However, I'm not sure that a belief in Heaven requires a belief in Hell -- unless Hell is defined as "not Heaven". It would certainly be an interesting discussion.

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• Ed Walters posted at 5:55 pm on Mon, Jan 28, 2013.

  Posts: 143

  Bobin: You mention the Pearly Gates, can you tell me where they are located. Patrick Maple askes a question, I see nothing foul about asking a question. I would like to know also. If you believe in heaven, then you also must also believe in Hell. Or perhaps both are fables.

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• Patrick W Maple posted at 3:36 pm on Mon, Jan 28, 2013.

  Posts: 1795

  So I ask:

  If not God...
  Why not God?

  You believe there is NOT a God...
  So, why should I NOT believe there is a God.

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• Todd Cronin posted at 12:52 pm on Mon, Jan 28, 2013.

  Posts: 74

  "start enjoying your life".........
  (sorry for the typo"[innocent][innocent][innocent]

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• Todd Cronin posted at 12:24 pm on Mon, Jan 28, 2013.

  Posts: 74

  [beam][beam][beam][beam][beam][beam][beam][beam]

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• Todd Cronin posted at 12:23 pm on Mon, Jan 28, 2013.

  Posts: 74

  Remember kids.......
  "There is no god. So stop
  worrying and enjoying your life"!!!!!
  (to para-phrase british)

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• David Diskin posted at 9:01 pm on Sun, Jan 27, 2013.

  Posts: 121

  Happy to announce we just added our 250th member this evening.

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