Why

[nailit]

Just why do humans think that we are any different from any other life form on this planet?
No other animal makes up religions to explain our origin (or destination).
As much as I'd like to see myself as been different from a cow, elephant, flea, worm, spider, bacteria etc, I just cant.
All life is born, all life will die, and everything in between.
I (and you) are just bipedal, carbon based lifeforms. Why the need for humans to add to the mix with a million and one different religions? And everyone claiming to be the truth??

Maybe I'm thinking too much again....
Just don't get why we have evolved to be so arrogant as to believe that we have a 'special' purpose in the grand scheme of things.

[andres]

With regard to 'too much knowledge is a dangerous thing'. How about taking yourself as an ideal candidate ? You seem to be a person who over -thinks and has a huge thirst for knowledge. You post many deep and meaningful posts but get bogged down with always searching for answers. Yesterday you were drinking and bearing your soul to all on here. You said that you were not eating and felt low in mood yet today once again you are asking yet another complicated question.You need to give your brain a rest before you make yourself ill.

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

If you are looking for evidence of human arrogance, go no further than man saying 'there is no God', 'death is the end', etc. THAT is arrogance!

[vetuste_ennemi]

//'there is no God', 'death is the end', etc. THAT is arrogance!//

Either or both propositions may be false, Hazi-H, but believing and asserting them isn't necessarily"arrogance", is it? Seems to me you could make a reasonable case for each.

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

The animal kingdom and mankind differ because as human beings, we have responsibility to ourselves and to each other. If the concept of personal responsibility and morality was not recognised, civilisation would disintegrate immediately. Alongside this principle is the principle of accountability. Ie, we have the power to make our own decisions and choices and are accountable for them.

The concept that man will be held responsible for his actions and choices in life is perfectly reasonable and, as we know, actions have consequences.

As humans we do not act only with 'animal' instincts, like a lion, or a worm, but with knowledge, a conscience and a sense of responsibility.

[vetuste_ennemi]

I agree with all that. Why does any of it, however, lead you to the conclusion that there is a god and that there is an "I" which will continue to exist when the physical things which allows the "me" to see, hear and think are destroyed?

[beso]

-Talbot- //I don't believe we have a special purpose but I am very different from an earthworm. //

Earthworms perhaps, I think we only have about eleven percent of genes in common (but don't quote me). However seventy percent of human genes are equivalent to the genes in acorn worms.

[vulcan42]

//'there is no God', 'death is the end', etc. THAT is arrogance!//
That is not arrogance, that is an acceptance that there is not "eternal life" after death. We human beings are not that important, why should we be? It is arrogant to believe we are so important that we will have a spiritual life forever.

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

Vetuste: “I agree with all that. Why does any of it, however, lead you to the conclusion that there is a god and that there is an "I" which will continue to exist when the physical things which allows the "me" to see, hear and think are destroyed?”
Very simply put, I choose to believe in the overwhelming evidence presented in creation that there is a Creator God, and I choose to believe the Bible as a credible explanation for man’s existence, purpose, past and future.

Vulcan: //'there is no God', 'death is the end', etc. THAT is arrogance!// That is not arrogance, that is an acceptance that there is not "eternal life" after death. We human beings are not that important, why should we be? It is arrogant to believe we are so important that we will have a spiritual life forever.

The atheistic stance is basically unscientific and also arrogant- “There is no God because I say so!” You ask why are humans are so important- people have been wondering about this question since time began- the prophet Job beat Nailit to it and asked God this in Job Chapter 7 verse 17- “"What is mankind that you make so much of them, that you give them so much attention?” [NIV]

The answer lies in whether we choose to arrogantly state “There is no God” or come to the same conclusion as Job, “I know that my Redeemer lives”- Chap.19 verse 25.

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

Here we go round the mulberry bush!

[vulcan42]

I have never said " there is no God because I say so". I say there is no God because there is no proof. You say" there is a God, despite there being no proof".

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

I guess it depends on what you call "proof", Vulcan. If, the existence God cannot be "proved", then conversely no-one can say with any certainty "There is no God". Science cannot disprove the existence of God.

Personally, I need not look any further than creation for proof.

[naomi24]

//Personally, I need not look any further than creation for proof. //

That doesn't explain why you think, of all the gods, your God is responsible though.

I agree with Vulcan. It is arrogant to think you're so important that natural laws that apply to every other living thing don't apply to you.

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

Thanks Naomi- always interesting to hear of personal beliefs like yours and the faith you have in a Godless universe. I have no idea which natural laws you refer to though.

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

In answer to my own beliefs, Naomi, see Acts 17, v 23-25 where the Apostle Paul answers your question far better than I could.

[andy-hughes]

Hazi - // Personally, I need not look any further than creation for proof. //

Then you appear to be seeing something because you wish it to be there.

Creation is not proof of God, and saying it is does not make it so.

I have no issue with the notion that the existence of God cannot be proved, that is the textbook definition of faith - but to simply point at ancient writings and say that they are true because someone may or may not have said something a long time ago, is not proof of anything.

Faith is a personal perspective - but like all Christians, you get antsy when other people won't play along with you.

[naomi24]

Hazi-Hammenuhoth, //I have no idea which natural laws you refer to//

Strange. And yet you think that among all living creatures man alone has the option to accept or reject the gift of eternal life, don’t you? The rest have no alternative but to concede to natural law – and die.

I have no idea what you mean when you talk about my faith in a Godless universe. Faith doesn’t enter the equation. People generally become a product of the influence of the society by which they are surrounded, which is why you referred me to St Paul rather than to Mohammed, or to Buddha, or to Confucius, or to Plato, or to one of the other (alleged) great thinkers who have lived throughout the history of the earth. As a human being, St Paul, like the rest, knew no more about life and creation than you or I - in fact considerably less. St Paul doesn’t answer my question at all.

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

Hi Andy, you're quite right- I am only giving my personal perspective. And not out to prove anything to anyone else. Apologies if I gave the wrong impression.

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

Naomi- thanks for clarifying what you meant. You ask "you think that among all living creatures man alone has the option to accept or reject the gift of eternal life, don’t you? " Yes, I do.

Your original query was
As why I think, of all the gods, my God is responsible for creation. I really couldn't improve on St Paul's answer to the Aeropagites as I pointed out. I would like answer the question to your satisfaction but I doubt I will be able to do so, as my answer will be the same.

[andy-hughes]

Hazi - // Hi Andy, you're quite right- I am only giving my personal perspective. And not out to prove anything to anyone else. Apologies if I gave the wrong impression. //

Thank you - but no apology necessary at all.