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[EveryZig]

I really don't think the Big Bang theory makes any sense whatsoever. I believe that most Atheists i've talked to state that a combination of gases caused the explosion (Yes, gas from nothing, makes sense, right?) While the real theory is much... much more... crazy. I can't remember the specifics, but it has something to due with probability of things spontaneously existing. I'm probably wrong though, so...

That the Big Bang happened is fairly well established.
It was proposed from light-speed based calculations, but there is now quite a lot of evidence supporting the predictions of those calculations (distribution and movement of galaxies, lingering gas clouds, etc) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bang#Observational_evidence .
Of course, there is still the question of why it happened, which has only theoretical math answers at best.

On the other hand, I would argue that these facts have little to do with religious debates (unless you are trying to argue creationism).
Sure, we don't know much about why the Big Bang happened, but without the support of evidence or theories derived from evidence, a religious explanation doesn't have any more support than a random guess.

>Mormons as Christians
I have spoken to people who say Catholics are not Christians.

(Wow this thread can update fast.)

[Darvi]

Fun fact: The Big Bang Theory was conceived by a catholic priest.

Take that, creationists!

[KaelGotDwarves]

Speaking of Mormons and Evangelicals: 150 Evangelical Conservative activists scrambling to find alternative to Romney

Since, you know, Mormons don't count.

[Nadaka]

The southern baptists (most of them anyway) don't believe Catholics are Christians. There are even quite a few who believe that the Pope is the anti-Christ.

And the big bang isn't really that incomprehensible. And it has a whole universe of consistent data indicating that it did happen, or at least something close enough that we can't tell the difference with our primitive tools.

On the side of religious explanations? No such evidence exists for any of them, at all. And the only sources of unreliable 3rd hand information massively contradict each other and even themselves.

[Darvi]

There are even quite a few who believe that the Pope is the anti-Christ.

Just in case your belief in humanity hadn't been completely shattered yet.

[ChairmanPoo]

The Pope isn't the Antichrist, but there's circumstantial evidence that suggests he might be the Sith'ari

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[Darvi]

Old hat.

[Truean]

The southern baptists (most of them anyway) don't believe Catholics are Christians. There are even quite a few who believe that the Pope is the anti-Christ.

And the big bang isn't really that incomprehensible. And it has a whole universe of consistent data indicating that it did happen, or at least something close enough that we can't tell the difference with our primitive tools.

On the side of religious explanations? No such evidence exists for any of them, at all. And the only sources of unreliable 3rd hand information massively contradict each other and even themselves.

Yup, and this is the problem with "no one's ever provided [religion] wrong/didn't exist." You've fundamentally misunderstood a lot if you say that and here's why.

First, religion isn't about proof, it's about faith. Proving it is impossible by definition.
Second, no one can prove religion existed either. You can't prove the existence of any of those metaphysical places. "Heaven," "Hell, "Nirvana," "Hades," whatever. Either point out where they are or chill....
Third, the burden of proof isn't on anyone to prove something DOESN"T exist. This is called "proving a negative." This is by definition an unfair burden.
Fourth, this is why its laughable that people say "their" religion is the only real one/the true one. It's insulting to everyone else on the face of the earth and paints you as some sort of royalty chosen to be saved merely because you happened to be born into [insert religion here]. Moreover, most religions are just as illogical as all the others. Remember, it has absolutely and completely nothing to do with "proof."
"It doesn't make sense that [thing from other religion]," but you believe in a dude walking on water and another guy parting the red sea because he pretty much asked his invisible best friend to do so? That makes so much more sense than the Hindu version of things, yup, sure.... "Clearly." 

[SalmonGod]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[kaijyuu]

I like Deism (and religions like it) since they only say "God made the universe how he made it. Science is just figuring out the how."

Too bad it faded mostly into obscurity.

[ggamer]

@Truean:

You seem to have us confused with Mormons Catholics (Who aren't Christians Baptists. I mean really.)

On the topic of mormons:

Let's see, Mormon faith was founded because a man found golden tablets in his backyard, and the relationship to Christianity is... tangential, at best, and nonexistent at worst.

Catholics... Well, they ARE Christians (Like, the original ones), but I have personal issues with the whole Church Hierarchy thing...

@SalmonGod

My first thought was that he was a total Jackass, just from the look on his face.

(Also, Christians aren't really supposed to ignore science, but embrace it. It's where science tries to substitute God that relationships get rather strained.)

[kaijyuu]

Let's see, Mormon faith was founded because a man found golden tablets in his backyard, and the relationship to Christianity is... tangential, at best, and nonexistent at worst.

You should probably read up on people before throwing out silliness like this. Their entire holy text is pretty much Christ Christ Christ Christ; the first prophet listed flat out states who he is, from there on the majority of the conflicts are about contention between believers and non-believers in Christ, and the climax of the friggin' book is Christ showing up and curiously explaining answers to a bunch of the common questions thrown around during the 18th and early 19th century (like baptizing babies and what "works" and "grace" mean).

Again you can call it wacko and made up, but it's definitely a religion about Christ. Dunno how else you'd define someone as "Christian."

[SalmonGod]

@SalmonGod

My first thought was that he was a total Jackass, just from the look on his face.

Blame the person who made the image.  I've seen the interview where he made this quote, and he was not making any such face.  The guy seems to be skyrocketing in fame recently.  I've only become aware of him in the last couple months myself.  He seems like a pretty cool guy.

(Also, Christians aren't really supposed to ignore science, but embrace it. It's where science tries to substitute God that relationships get rather strained.)

That's the point of the quote, though.  Where does science try to substitute god?  Is that when science figures out the answers to questions for which god was previously the only explanation?  Is that science's fault or is that just the natural consequence of religion masquerading as an answer, when it's actually only dismissing the question?

FYI, I'm not anti-religious, but I agree with the quote.  Religion has been used to dismiss questions for which we didn't have a true answer throughout history.  If we don't understand something, the typical suggestion has traditionally been "God did it."  But this sets up a conflict for when someone figures out an actual explanation, consisting of reason and evidence. 

If people base their religious belief on the blanks that science hasn't yet succeeded in filling in, then that basis is going to continually shrink.

[ggamer]

@SalmonGod

Exactly. For Christians, "God did it" Is sort of a given. For everything (Excluding, I believe, the creation, which is... Hotly contested) the study of any kind of science is not only acceptable, but is glorifying God in a way.

@Kaijyuu

Saying that Mormonism is Christianity is like saying Halo is Modern warfare, just change the plot, the characters, and the setting, and the gameplay, and it's the exact same.

On a more serious note, where does the whole believing in other planets (Okay, that does sound stupid, I know, but i'm reeeeeally fuzzy on this.) come into the picture?

EDIT: Okay, that was a really stupid metaphor. And a really stupid statement. Stupidity in general. Also, Darvi, I laugh at that.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I feel the need to inform you all that my Troll Alarm has been tripped by ggamer's recent contributions to this thread. Thank you, and good day.