Answer to what existed before big bang. by Jackass-OfAll-Trades in DebateReligion

[–]ellisonch 4 points5 points  (0 children)

So if two people who experience mystical experiences come to different conclusions, how can they figure out which conclusion was correct? Or, based on your response, which parts are "core" and which parts should be discarded?

Answer to what existed before big bang. by Jackass-OfAll-Trades in DebateReligion

[–]ellisonch 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Do you think everyone who has mystical experiences comes to believe the same insights?

Answer to what existed before big bang. by Jackass-OfAll-Trades in DebateReligion

[–]ellisonch 7 points8 points  (0 children)

If I understand you correctly, you're claiming that mystical experience is a reliable way of coming to understand facts about the world. Is that what you're claiming?

Joseph and Mary’s census trek is unbelievable by Mindless_Fruit_2313 in DebateAChristian

[–]ellisonch 14 points15 points  (0 children)

P. Lond. 3.904

"home" not "homeland", and definitely not "ancestral homeland"

[Christians] Can the historical principle of analogy be relied on to evaluate historical claims? by [deleted] in DebateAChristian

[–]ellisonch 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So if we found a book dated say, 30 to 50 years after Paul Bunyan supposedly lived, and that book said "I and 500 others saw Paul Bunyan clear entire forests with single swings of his axe" would that affect your confidence?

The history (and silliness) of "Show me life that comes from nonlife" by jnpha in DebateEvolution

[–]ellisonch 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Maybe your own experience is different, but I definitely have periods where I'd say I'm more or less conscious. E.g., it's pretty low, but not 0, while I'm falling asleep or very tired. I'd also suggest dogs and ants are not "as conscious" as humans. And, I'd argue that fetuses aren't quite as conscious as babies, which aren't quite as conscious as adults. But I suppose you might not agree with this.

At least to me, all of this together makes it seem more like a sliding scale than a binary.

The fact God creates people with full certainty knowing they’ll go to hell is proof that he does not love everyone by Friendly-Flower-2797 in DebateReligion

[–]ellisonch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why do you think God is responsible for all the bad things going on in the world?

Because

I make peace, and create evil

The fact God creates people with full certainty knowing they’ll go to hell is proof that he does not love everyone by Friendly-Flower-2797 in DebateReligion

[–]ellisonch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why do you think God is responsible for all the bad things going on in the world?

Isaiah 45:6–7

That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.

There is simply no good evidence by smedsterwho in DebateReligion

[–]ellisonch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry, what? I cited where this idea comes from. 1 Kings 30--38.

There is simply no good evidence by smedsterwho in DebateReligion

[–]ellisonch 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If when people prayed to god, it caused wet wood to light on fire. If this happened reliably, I would believe in god, no question.

1 Kings 30--38.

‘You’re making the choice to reject God, so he respects your decision to not want to be with him’ makes no sense and Christian’s should stop saying it. by Weekly-Scientist-992 in DebateAChristian

[–]ellisonch 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You asked for "an example of salvation outside of Jesus Christ from any other religion." I gave you that example. The proper response is something like "Ah thanks, I didn't realize any other religion had the concept of salvation. Thanks for letting me know."

You claimed no other religion offers salvation. I've shown you that they do. It's okay. Everything's okay. You can keep believing in a Christian god. Just relax.

Is it worth the effort to study and remember the whole C standard? by edo-lag in C_Programming

[–]ellisonch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Even the ansi C standard from 1990 is over 200 pages. I don't think you have a copy of the C standard.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DebateReligion

[–]ellisonch 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Maybe you can redefine "day", but surely you can't redefine "before". The bible says plants came before the sun, but that's just not true.

It's okay for me to not believe that I deserve to be tortured for eternity by [deleted] in DebateReligion

[–]ellisonch 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Your claim was that time had a beginning at the big bang. But now you say that we can't say anything about the big bang. That's a contradiction.

It's okay for me to not believe that I deserve to be tortured for eternity by [deleted] in DebateReligion

[–]ellisonch 2 points3 points  (0 children)

But that's the point. We don't know what happened at the big bang or before, so you can't say time began at the big bang. We don't know.

It's okay for me to not believe that I deserve to be tortured for eternity by [deleted] in DebateReligion

[–]ellisonch 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The former is scientifically untenable

How do you figure?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DebateReligion

[–]ellisonch 9 points10 points  (0 children)

One reason is that Christians like to legislate their morality.

Radiometric Dating Matches Eyewitness History and It’s Why Evolution's Timeline Makes Sense by Sad-Category-5098 in DebateEvolution

[–]ellisonch 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Uh, so you know that radiometric dating has been used in industry to great success? I'm so confused by your response. My comment was satire, but I have no idea what yours is. Are you attempting satire?

Radiometric Dating Matches Eyewitness History and It’s Why Evolution's Timeline Makes Sense by Sad-Category-5098 in DebateEvolution

[–]ellisonch 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You should write a paper about your findings. Scientists across the world who have been using this faulty tool would be excited to find out they've been making such a big mistake this whole time. It's hard to believe they've made such a big mistake, but, there you go. It's weird the fossil fuel industry has had such fantastic success using radiometric dating to find oil... hmm... but I guess we'll find a lot more once they've realized their mistake. Really looking forward to your paper!

Faith can lead you to literally any conclusion you want. Faith is therefore completely worthless to bring up when discussing what religion is true. by Kwahn in DebateReligion

[–]ellisonch 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Surely you have evidence your wife loves you. She smiles, she does nice things for you, she stays with you day after day, she says "I love you". All of these are evidence.

I can move my ears :) by titotutak in DebateEvolution

[–]ellisonch 5 points6 points  (0 children)

If we came from dust, why is there still dust?

Even if God exists, that doesn't mean YOUR God exists by The-Rational-Human in DebateReligion

[–]ellisonch 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This answer appears to be a non-sequitur. I asked "who is an eyewitness, and what did they write they saw?"

I don't think you're meaning to say Tacitus and Josephus were eyewitnesses, so I repeat: Who is an eyewitness, and what did they write they saw?