Theists: Why are the writings in an ages-old book more plausible to you than the bulk of scientific evidence?

Question

...that has been gathered for thousands of years for explaining the origins of the Universe, and the evolution of life forms on Earth?

If lightspeed can be measured accurately, what's wrong with understanding that some galaxies are millions of lightyears away?

How can you still believe the Noah's Ark fable as having been true, with all the plausible evidence against?

Does he fact that stringer antibiotics must be developed constantly not show you that bacteria, in fact, evolve and adapt to antibiotic attacks?

And if such small changes in bacteria occur in the span of a lifetime, what can these changes cause in millions of years?

(I meant "stronger antibiotics")

Answer 1

Although I agree with you, let me play devil's advocate for a second.

When two teachings come into conflict, it is both reasonable and intelligent to let the evidence decide which is correct. However, just because something is old doesn't make it false. The Golden Rule ("Treat others as you would be treated") was invented a long, long, LONG time ago -- it appears in some of the first writings of mankind. Yet that rule is still considered the most universally accepted statement of morality today.

Likewise, humans have a natural tendency to enjoy and partake in rituals. Have you ever paused and reflected before throwing out a favorite T-shirt? Or held a funeral for a dead hamster?

Religions capture the rituals and traditions of various cultures, and preserve them for the present culture. That is part of the reason it has such a strong emotional appeal to so many people. Even if this adherence and fondness of tradition is an evolved need that no longer plays a role in survival, it would be as silly to ignore this as ignoring any other evolved need -- like the need to sleep.

The fundamentalists who cannot grasp the fact that science has moved beyond their 4000-yr-old book will always be there, but they are a minority. The only way they have the power to do anything is through the complacency of the middle -- the christian moderate who have no problems with evolution or vast expanses of time and space, but still want to believe (if not simply hope) for some greater unseen explanation to all of it.

Aim for them. Your arrows will do nothing to the fundies. Trust me, I've tried.

Answer 2

It's not a matter of being more or less plausible. The Bible makes certain promises, as well as providing a number of predictions and comments. Science actually backs much of the Bible, and with just a little bit of thought, can easily mesh with the information given in the Bible. The 'evidence' against Noah's Ark is thin at best. We simply don't know enough details to make a true determination. Any true scientist will tell you the same. Stop jumping to conclusions. Science gets closer to the truth every time it examines its assumptions. Coincidentally, it also gets closer to Scripture at the same time.

Answer 3

what scientific evidence? Everything is called a theory. Which is someones idea of what happened. Scientist use words like probably, maybe, could have, might have. That is not evidence. What evidence goes against Noah Ark? Scientist proved there was a great flood long ago,why is it hard to believe in the ark.Atheist say they don't believe in God, God don't believe in atheist. We were made to worship, whether it's God or not, we worship something, The odds are 50/50.If christians are right about God, they win, if they are wrong they still win by living a life of love, peace, respect, happiness, wholeness. If atheist are right, no problem, if they are wrong they lose, for eternity, I like my odds better than an atheist's.

Answer 4

The problem with the "bulk of scientific evidence" is, that it changes constantly. 300 years from now scientific knowledge will make what we know now look like foolishness (as what scientists knew 300 years ago was so much foolishness -- some of it may have laid a foundation, but much of it was discarded). If you think that the scientific 'truths' of today will be 'truths' 300 years from now (some of them, even decades from now), then you are deluding yourself. Take a medical text from 1600, for example -- would you treat a patient for some disease with procedures and theories from that text, knowing what we know today?

Yet, the Bible is constant, from the time the first old testament books were being written over 3000 years ago, until today, and will be centuries into the future.

I am willing to stake my life on this: when it is "all said and done" the Bible will be shown to be more accurate than any scientific theories, past, present, or future.

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Answer 5

I see nothing wrong with your "facts" -- Micro evolution makes perfect sense and does not contradict the Bible. I don't know what your galaxy question is about. Why would that be a problem? I believe that God created this earth and set into motion the laws of science that are still used today. I do not see God and science as contradictory.
http://www.godandscience.org/

God is real because I have experienced Him in my own life. With the Holy Spirit in you, understanding comes. The Bible is full of indisputible principles on how we should live our lives. It talks of love and kindness. Treating everyone with respect. Why do you think it has lasted all these years? It's not becaue it is a book of outdated scientific facts. It's about love and a guideline for how to best live our lives, loving our neighbors and serving our fellow man. How can you argue with that?

Answer 6

1 Corinthians 1:27
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1 Corinthians 1:26-28 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 1 (Whole Chapter)

Answer 7

Have you ever tried to argue with a person who truly believes they were abducted by aliens...Evidence is ignored when compared to belief.

But keep up the good fight. Keep speaking truths. Understanding the other side is the first step.

Answer 8

in the movie War of the Worlds with Tom Cruise, the bacteria is what caused the demise of the aliens.

Answer 9

They do it for convenience. Its much easier to read one single book and say that its got all the facts than it is to actually do research about the world around you, suggest hypethesis, and then search to prove what you're seen. Most people are inherently unbelievably lazy.

Answer 10

Actually, every day there are more and more scientific facts prooving the actual happenings in the Bible. The Bible isn't just a story book filled with fairytales. They were real people that once walked this earth.