does faith make you a better person?

[Turf1600]

The mechanism (God if you want to call it that) is unexplainable but the Big Bang is not. The Big Bang theory really has nothing to do with the mechanism. All the Big Bang says is that the universe is expanding so at one point all matter must have been compressed into an infinitely small and dense point.

It's the same way with evolution. Evolution doesn't concern the mechanism which brought life into existence (Again, God if you want to call it that). It merely explains how things are the way they are currently.

There is still room for God within science as long as you give up on the literal interpretation of the Bible. Some people, both scientists and religious folk, have a really hard time grasping this concept.

There's plenty of room for god if you disregard everything else.

[LBJefferies]

This makes no sense.

Actually it makes a lot of sense. If you didn't have any hope, wishes, desires, ambitions, etc. would life even be worth living? People have faith that these things will be fulfilled which keeps them from jumping in front of a bus. It is also why so many people are depressed and commit suicide because they lose faith in these things being fulfilled.

[LBJefferies]

Perhaps we're debating the wrong thing here. Let me be clear, the Big Bang theory, while in and of itself is flawed, still hasn't explained clearly or in any logical way, how things began. There was nothing. Then there was something. A compression of hot gases that are cooling (Cosmic Background Radiation). Then stuff happend, the "bang". Which wasn't a bang. Just something that happend.

Something can't come from nothing. One of the ONLY things the big bang theory determined circa '68-'70 (S. Hawking, G. Ellis, R. Penrose) is that there was a beginning to time. Which they expounded from Einstein's relativity theory.

TBB is the as sure as Gravity? Yet it's totally unexplainable?

You're right. I'm totally ignorant...

The mechanism (God if you want to call it that) is unexplainable but the Big Bang is not. The Big Bang theory really has nothing to do with the mechanism. All the Big Bang says is that the universe is expanding so at one point all matter must have been compressed into an infinitely small and dense point.

It's the same way with evolution. Evolution doesn't concern the mechanism which brought life into existence (Again, God if you want to call it that). It merely explains how things are the way they are currently.

There is still room for God within science as long as you give up on the literal interpretation of the Bible. Some people, both scientists and religious folk, have a really hard time grasping this concept.

[Turf1600]

Everyone needs something to believe in, simply because no one know what will happen next. Hope is faith. Wishes, goals, ambitions, desires, they're all faith-based.

.

This makes no sense.

[ben312]

There is no way to prove or disprove a "big bang." Its funny and ignorant of both of you to fight about it. Well its true that humans have never been able to make something from nothing, it does not mean it is impossible. Black holes, for example, they suck up countless amounts of light and mass and no one has any idea where it goes. At the same time there is black matter floating around, also unexplainable as of this point in time. There are many things in the universe that are far behond what we know, and may very well at some point change what we think we know. ANYTHING scientific is only proven as humans can prove it, it DOES NOT mean it is a universal law.

[ck_taft325is]

Wow you are one ignorant person if you honestly believe this. The Big Bang has not been disproven. In fact, there is VERY strong and simple evidence in support of the Big Bang. Have you ever heard of the redshift? How about cosmic background radiation? Go tell the smartest man in the world, Steven Hawking, that the Big Bang has been disproven and he will use his computer to laugh at you.

The Big Bang is as truthful as the theory of gravity. Sure, it can never be proven without a doubt but then again nothing can. That is the beauty of science! It changes with new evidence and new discoveries. Religion on the other hand is based on dogma and is unchanging and is having a very hard time adapting to our times. Organized religion is going the way of the dinosaur.

Perhaps we're debating the wrong thing here. Let me be clear, the Big Bang theory, while in and of itself is flawed, still hasn't explained clearly or in any logical way, how things began. There was nothing. Then there was something. A compression of hot gases that are cooling (Cosmic Background Radiation). Then stuff happend, the "bang". Which wasn't a bang. Just something that happend.

Something can't come from nothing. One of the ONLY things the big bang theory determined circa '68-'70 (S. Hawking, G. Ellis, R. Penrose) is that there was a beginning to time. Which they expounded from Einstein's relativity theory.

TBB is the as sure as Gravity? Yet it's totally unexplainable?

You're right. I'm totally ignorant...

[LBJefferies]

The "Big Bang" has been disproved.

Wow you are one ignorant person if you honestly believe this. The Big Bang has not been disproven. In fact, there is VERY strong and simple evidence in support of the Big Bang. Have you ever heard of the redshift? How about cosmic background radiation? Go tell the smartest man in the world, Steven Hawking, that the Big Bang has been disproven and he will use his computer to laugh at you.

The Big Bang is as truthful as the theory of gravity. Sure, it can never be proven without a doubt but then again nothing can. That is the beauty of science! It changes with new evidence and new discoveries. Religion on the other hand is based on dogma and is unchanging and is having a very hard time adapting to our times. Organized religion is going the way of the dinosaur.

[hoveringuy]

I am agnostic. From a sociological perspective, organized religion offers many benefits to followers. Slightly better physical and mental health, a wide variety of social perks (job allocation, localized disaster support, organizational skills, information distribution, etc...), and a general sense of purpose. Collective effervescence is powerful and real. These sort of correlations show very little variance between different religions and different denominations. The function of religion, as I see it, is not really individual enlightenment. If that was the case, a "church" would be unnecessary. The main function is social cohesion.

So R3VLIMITED is a church? BMW is a religion?

[ck_taft325is]

We have a winner here. So from now on, earth is flat and sun revolves around the earth. Welcome to the 16th century.

That's it? Pithy personal attacks? That's all you can respond with? Heh, so what you've surmised is, I'm an ignorante believer? Because, why? The Big Bang theory was proved to be a sham? There MUST only be two alternatives by your standards. Big bang or bust, right? You're the type of person that makes religion a terrible thing. You just haven't come out of the religious "closet" yet.

[Massive Lee]

Yeah, Really.

We have a winner here. So from now on, earth is flat and sun revolves around the earth. Welcome to the 16th century.

[Jordan325iC]

I am agnostic. From a sociological perspective, organized religion offers many benefits to followers. Slightly better physical and mental health, a wide variety of social perks (job allocation, localized disaster support, organizational skills, information distribution, etc...), and a general sense of purpose. Collective effervescence is powerful and real. These sort of correlations show very little variance between different religions and different denominations. The function of religion, as I see it, is not really individual enlightenment. If that was the case, a "church" would be unnecessary. The main function is social cohesion.

[ck_taft325is]

Really?

So... Earth was created in 6 days while on the 7th, God had a latte and a few crescents? Hmmm... Maybe earth is flat after all, and the sun revolves around the earth, which is the center of the universe.

Interesting point of view. But hey, whatever floats your boat.

In regard of the initial topic, "Does faith make you a better man?". I don't see how being religious can make one a better person. It is what you do on earth that makes you a better or worst person. People who make a difference, even in small things. "Better persons" are not just people who don't harm others. "Better persons" are altruistic individuals who make their environment a better world.

Those who think they have strictly no purpose in life and will make no difference, should at least try.

Yeah, Really.

As for the rest of the crap you said? I have no idea. But at least I've got the balls to say I don't know. Pushing the "big bang" theory, which was broken awhile ago, but gets continually vomitted back up because it's, "What I was taught in school" is just about as naive as you seem to think I am for saying it's a theory, not a fact. I'm not dealing in absolutes here, but it seems you are. It's either the "Big Bang" or you believe in fairy tales and such. Odd how that works out...

Furthermore, when did anyone ask "Does Religion make you a better person?" exactly? I seem to remember clarifying that they are not one in the same. Are you an "altruistic" person? Define this, please. From where I'm standing you're one step away from being just another religious nut of another variety calling the kettle black when it comes to "judging" people. And if they are the same (Religion and Faith), you should know it takes just as much or more "Faith" and thus "Religion" to believe in something that you have no physical evidences of today.

[hoveringuy]

I'm Agnostic, which basically means "I don't know" (and don't care), whereas atheists are certain there is no god. I believe in god in the sense that it is synonymous with nature.

I also belong to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and worship at Landover Baptist "guaranteeing salvation since 1620" http://www.landoverbaptist.org/

[87e30]

As someone raised in a very religious atmosphere and someone who at the moment doesn't care at all this is a very interesting thread. I'm a bit indecisive on what I believe so I choose not to think about it.

There are a couple personal things that make discussions like this very challenging.

What is being happy?
What makes you a good person?
What are "good" morals?

Very few people would respond to all of these questions exactly the same... so it's pretty hard to argue where you should place your faith in order to become a certain type of person.

[Massive Lee]

The "Big Bang" has been disproved.

Really?

So... Earth was created in 6 days while on the 7th, God had a latte and a few crescents? Hmmm... Maybe earth is flat after all, and the sun revolves around the earth, which is the center of the universe.

Interesting point of view. But hey, whatever floats your boat.

In regard of the initial topic, "Does faith make you a better man?". I don't see how being religious can make one a better person. It is what you do on earth that makes you a better or worst person. People who make a difference, even in small things. "Better persons" are not just people who don't harm others. "Better persons" are altruistic individuals who make their environment a better world.

Those who think they have strictly no purpose in life and will make no difference, should at least try.