Posted by blue on July 12, 1998 at 23:08:56:
In Reply to: My beliefs & the case against abiogenesis. posted by Robert O'Brien on July 09, 1998 at 03:16:49:
: Here are my beliefs:
: 1) I believe in a Supreme Being.
Me, too.
: 2) I believe that the Supreme Being created us and all other life forms via the evolutionary process.
Probably.
: 3) I believe that He takes an active but "behind the scenes" role in governing our planet.
Yes, in that we don't see "miracles" today that, say, defy the laws of physics. But I would believe in predestination in that any creator would know the end from the beginning.
: 4) I believe that He is subject to the laws of the universe.
I wonder how you could conclude this. In order to create the universe one would have to be beyond its control, it seems.
: 5) I believe in miracles. However, I believe that what we (i.e., believers) refer to as miracles are actually a higher manifestation of the laws of the universe, not a violation thereof (yes, I realize I sound like a "TBM" here).
I think I am close to agreeing with you to an extent, but I would fine tune the definition of "miracles" differently than you have.
: 6) I believe that God works through a myriad of world religions (not necessarily through all, though, and to varying degrees).
This is probably true.
: 7) I also believe that God works through the hearts of good people everywhere, whether they believe in Him or not (everything good belongs to God).
I would agree to this as a subset of "everything belongs to God."
: 8) I believe in an afterlife.
Me too.
: 9) I do not believe in the Trinitarian concept of God, nor do I believe Jesus Christ was divine. I do believe, however, that he had a divine calling.
I believe in the trinity.
: 10) I agree with Islam when it emphatically states that God is God alone. Whether or not He is one of a "race" of Gods is not clear to me, nor do I consider it vital to know one way or the other.
I agree with the concept of "one infinite God."
: 11) I do not have a set belief as to whether God or the "Big Bang" came first. What is important to me is that He exists, not how He came to be. I will admit, though, that I am more inclined to believe that God has always existed.
Then you would have to get to the point where God has a God, which is where rpcman likes to say "Occam's razor" and stop right there. There must be a creator of the universe.
: 12) I interpret the Bible and other scriptures liberally, as opposed to literally. I do not, however, believe in or advocate "liberal" morality (such is the province of my archenemies, the "live and let live" libertarians).
I find some of the Bible must be metaphorical, such as Jesus being called a "rock" or a "lamb." I don't think anyone believes all the Bible to be literal. I certainly believe all the Bible is true, however. Would you agree there?