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.

[Jahulaye]

“We may be the most intelligent species, and yet we refuse to accept that death is the end.”

And you know this how?

[andy-hughes]

Jahulaye - // “We may be the most intelligent species, and yet we refuse to accept that death is the end.”

And you know this how? //

If you mean how do I know that we as a species refuse to accept death as the end - it's because eternal life is a cornerstone of a seriously large number of the world's religions.

[Zacs-Master]

Eternal life? Do you mean the afterlife?

[andy-hughes]

Zacs - // Eternal life? Do you mean the afterlife? //

As I see it they are one and the same.

[Zacs-Master]

Not really. I would see eternal life as still being able to live on earth.....eternally; whereas the afterlife is some other sort of existence (depending on the religion).

[Theland]

How do you expect us to give an answer that would satisfy you? We are human and the subject of your investigation or experiment.
I really think you are seriously searching. I hope you find the answers. But I think you are too stubborn to recognise the answers when they come up and bite you. You are, I think, too proud to admit that it is time to leave your comfort zone.

[naomi24]

Hazi-Hammenuhoth, //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.//

In that case you can’t answer my question at all. You don’t know why you consider your God of all the gods to be ‘the one’. That said, I might be wrong but such is the influence of the society in which you dwell that I doubt very much you have ever taken the time and trouble to give the others equal, or even minimal, consideration. As Richard Dawkins said, ““We are all atheists about most of the gods that humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further.” …. and he’s right. Some of us do just that.

Theland, same response to you.

[RobNorth]

I get worried about my afterlife in heaven because God created the earth and everything on it starting 13 billion years ago. We had billions of years of fish, giant sharks and 50 foot crocodiles, then for 150 million years or so Dinosaurs..it's those that worry me because heaven must be teeming with them. As we've only been around for a couple of hundred thousand years we'll be well outnumbered and I don't fancy spending my afterlife being stalked by sabretooth tigers, even if they were good enough get to heaven...

[beso]

RobNorth //I get worried about my afterlife in heaven because God created the earth and everything on it starting 13 billion years ago. We had billions of years of fish, giant sharks and 50 foot crocodiles, then for 150 million years or so Dinosaurs..//

No actually, the Earth only formed about 4.5 billion years ago. And until about 600 million years ago, life only existed as single cellular organisms.

[Cloverjo]

Yes, but there's still masses of animal spirits up there somewhere. I don't believe in life after death, or a God, but it helps me to think that we might be reunited with our close friends and family in some way in the future.

[Theland]

I do not fear popes, bishops or priests etc and am perfectly happy and get comfort from my faith. Try it. Why would that rile anybody? But it does. In answer to the big WHY, Nailit, maybe because you are made in the image of God, and you are also a spirit being. Your emptiness is a God shaped hole and only God can fill it.

[beso]

Nothing can ever be utterly certain but we can assign very high probability to something being correct when the model used to describe a phenomenon is able to successfully predict what will be observed under conditions that have never been observed before.

When the atomic shrapnel in Large Hadron Collider included the particles expected by the Standard Model it gave very strong weight to the theory.

On the other hand, when observations contradict what is suggested by a model we can be completely sure that model is wrong, as is the case with what is claimed in the texts of the Abrahamic religions.

[naomi24]

Theland, you getting comfort from your faith doesn’t rile anyone. You shoving your faith down other people’s throats riles them.

[Theland]

I sincerely apologise for the perception that I am SHOVING MY BELIEFS DOWN ANYBODYS THROATS.
That is really meant most sincerely. After all, what is Answerbank without curtesy and honesty?
So apologies to those choking on my misdirected and erroneous posts. Really. But the way, to whom it may concern, many thanks for posting my prayer in the wailing wall in Jerusalem. Always remember it. A great kindness.

[Theland]

Yes I have problems. Who doesn't? But I feel so sorry for Nailit who appears to struggle but refuses the help that faith in Jesus Christ would bring?

[naomi24]

Theland, // many thanks for posting my prayer in the wailing wall in Jerusalem. Always remember it. A great kindness.//

You’re very welcome.