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[inaluct]

Thank you for concisely saying what I would have said to Ignoro if I had posted first.

Anyway, the "OH GOD LAKE OF MOLTEN LEAD IT HURTS FOREVER" envisioning, or the cool one where people develop heat tolerance and lounge all day in pools of boiling blood?

The point of this line of questioning is this: if you believe that anyone can deserve eternal suffering, I am going to be like "hey man, that's uncool. Be nice. What would Jesus think about this shit?"

[Strife26]

I reserve hell for the really evil in my mind, but it's the eternal molten lead one.

I don't give  damn what Hitler thinks, and I believe that there gets a point when one has lost their humanity. Although, in their lifetime, they could try to change it, if they cap themself first, they're screwed.

[inaluct]

Dude, if Jesus existed, he'd come out of the sky and break your window. Even if you go with that whole pound of flesh justice system, you can't exactly cause infinite, eternal suffering, so being punished for anything with eternal suffering is seriously overdoing it.

No one deserves to spend an eternity in unbearable pain. Not even Hitler. Honestly, can you see some benevolent divine being (in this case, Jesus) making someone suffer forever?

You seriously can't have thought this through. That, or you're a terrible, totally merciless person.

[Strife26]

I'm a terribly merciless person. Sorry, but I believe that, just like some people need shooting, some people warrent eternal damnation. If it makes you feel better, I occasionally waver and deide that they only suffer until the end of the world, and then fade into oblivion.

[SolarShado]

Haven't read the whole thread, but I'll share my opinions. (so assume everything as "imo" or "imho")

1 - Is Intelligent Design a valid scientific theory? Why or why not?
Can't say i know much about it, but from what i do know, it's not a very scientific theory as it assmues that god (or some-such else) exists, something that has yet to be scientificly proven. So, no, it is not.

2 - Is evolution a valid scientific theory? Why or why not?
It is a theory that explains observed results, and does so rather well. That's pretty well the deffinition of a scientific theory to my knowledge. So, yes.

3 - Do you consider evolution to be a theory, or a fact? Why?
hmm... well... is newton's theory of gravity a theory or a fact? newton's theory of gravity was assumed to be a fact (i suppose) for many years, until Einstein came along and showed that it was incomplete and inacurate in cerain cases. So for the moment i would say it's safe to accept evolution as a fact.

4 - Do you consider Intelligent Design a scientific way of thinking, or mainly a religious way of thinking? Why?
Again, i'm not very familiar with inteligent design, but it seems to be an attempt to science-ify a religious beleif.
(Just as an aside, I believe that any attempt to combine faith and logic is doomed. They're like oil and water.)

5 - Should evolution be taught in public schools? Explain.
Any scientific course of study should include evolution. As i said above, i consider it a sound scientific theory.

6 - Should Intelligent Design be taught in public schools? Explain.
If it can be taught without a bias toward any specific faith, I don't see why not. I'm not sure if that's possible, however. If it were to be taught with a bias towards a certain religion, it would be in violation of the US's "segregation of church and state" policy. (Yes, in know it's in the Constitution... it's one AM and i'm not great with words to begin with.)

7 - Should Intelligent Design and evolution both be taught alongside one another? Explain.
I believe i answered this one in #6, but to be clear: If ID can be taught without bias, there is no reason not to teach both. Let the children decide for themselves.

8 - Is it possible to believe in a divine being, as well as Evolution?
Although I am am atheist personally, i can understand the possibliity of this belief. Say that "god" (for lack of a better term) created the universe and all the matter in it (and possibly crafting the more complex structures like stars, planets, etc.) and has more or less left things to run there course since. Although i can't imagine why one would worship such a creature, i have a hard time understanding faith of any sort.

[Jonathan S. Fox]

1 - Is Intelligent Design a valid scientific theory? Why or why not?

No. A valid scientific theory must make testable predictions.

2 - Is evolution a valid scientific theory? Why or why not?

Yes, on the same distinction that makes intelligent design not science.

3 - Do you consider evolution to be a theory, or a fact? Why?

Facts are observed phenomena. Theories are plausible explanations for observed phenomena. No one has observed the last few million of years, and no one ever will. No matter how overwhelming the evidence may be, evolution is and will remain nothing more than a plausible explanation for other things that we are certain to be true.

4 - Do you consider Intelligent Design a scientific way of thinking, or mainly a religious way of thinking? Why?

Intelligent Design is a nonscientific way of thinking because it is without scientific method.

5 - Should evolution be taught in public schools? Explain.

Evolution is the overwhelmingly prevalent scientific theory of the development of life on Earth, and it has a large body of evidence in favor it. For this reason, it is unquestionably appropriate for science classes.

6 - Should Intelligent Design be taught in public schools? Explain.

There is no reason that Intelligent Design could not be discussed, but it would be inappropriate to include it in science curriculum unless it is part of an exercise in discussing the difference between science and mere guesswork.

7 - Should Intelligent Design and evolution both be taught alongside one another? Explain.

The appropriate place for study of evolution is in a science class presenting the current state of scientific understanding. It is difficult to justify giving Intelligent Design the same amount of classroom time, even outside of this context.

8 - Is it possible to believe in a divine being, as well as Evolution?

Of course. Why wouldn't it be?

[inaluct]

I'm a terribly merciless person. Sorry, but I believe that, just like some people need shooting, some people warrent eternal damnation. If it makes you feel better, I occasionally waver and deide that they only suffer until the end of the world, and then fade into oblivion.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Do you know what that means? That means that if you're right, you're going to hell. Enjoy.

[Ignoro]

but is not applicable to the original creation of life.

That wasn't the point though. The point was if it is a valid theory, and inherently should be taught in schools

Your reasoning works fine...
Thank you for concisely saying what I would have said

and reading that sounds like you admit.

We've nothing still on the origin of life, but my money is on spontaneity.

Go make a religion thread to try to screw with strife's beliefs.

EDIT: Wrong word bolded there.
Also, if he goes to hell for that depends on his particular religion.

[inaluct]

Go make a religion thread to try to screw with strife's beliefs.

There are a lot of things I want to tell you to go do right now, if only because you just told me to go do something.

A lot of them are offensive things.

One of them is, "Go X a Y."

That was one of the wittier ones.

[Strife26]

I'm a terribly merciless person. Sorry, but I believe that, just like some people need shooting, some people warrent eternal damnation. If it makes you feel better, I occasionally waver and deide that they only suffer until the end of the world, and then fade into oblivion.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Do you know what that means? That means that if you're right, you're going to hell. Enjoy.

I've always wondered about that facet of my personality, I'd probably sell my soul if my country needed it. I've got Fiddler's Green (basicly, it's a field with a bar that's halfway down the trail to hell where all clavarymen when they die).

EDIT: Added a space

[Ignoro]

There are a lot of things I want to tell you to go do right now, if only because you just told me to go do something.

A lot of them are offensive things.

One of them is, "Go X a Y."

That was one of the wittier ones.

Mission complete!

But seriously, we have enough derails around here. And if you've nothing left to disagree with you admitting to my reasoning, I'm claiming that as another mission complete (eat ninja edit!).

[inaluct]

I'm a terribly merciless person. Sorry, but I believe that, just like some people need shooting, some people warrent eternal damnation. If it makes you feel better, I occasionally waver and deide that they only suffer until the end of the world, and then fade into oblivion.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Do you know what that means? That means that if you're right, you're going to hell. Enjoy.

I've always wondered about that facet of my personality, I'd probably sell my soul if my country needed it. I've got Fiddler's Green (basicly, it's a field with a bar that's halfway down the trail to hell where all clavarymen when they die).

EDIT: Added a space

So... You're in some type of cavalry division in the US military?

There are a lot of things I want to tell you to go do right now, if only because you just told me to go do something.

A lot of them are offensive things.

One of them is, "Go X a Y."

That was one of the wittier ones.

Mission complete!

But seriously, we have enough derails around here.

I couldn't resist. I needed to say something about an X and a Y. To make me look smart.

[Strife26]

Nope, aiming to get into heavy armor (see avatar). With a lot of luck, I'll get into the Academy (West Point) sometime next year (junior right now). If that doesn't work, I'll either try for a free-ride ROTC (reserve officer training corp) or (don't tell anyone!) enlist.

I scored a 96 for the AFQT on my ASVAB. Which means that I did better than 96% of the twenty somethings who took it. This would allow me to pick my specilization as anything if I enlisted.

[inaluct]

Hmm. They offered the ASVAB at my school. I had a friend who took it as a joke. And a friend who might not have taken it, but he signed up to join the Air Force anyway.

Speaking of standardized tests, how'd you do on the PSAT? I'm not sure whether or not to consider a 96 percentile ASVAB score impressive or not, since I have no idea how hard it is.

[Strife26]

I wanted to take the bloody thing (to enroll in a WP ummer school, but I couldn't sign up in time.)
I'll say this much, I got a higher score than living memory provides in my JROTC unit, and we've had some smart people.

I'm making a new thread now, so this one can get back on track.