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Homosexuality and Evolution: God's Will and Human Belief

BilliardsBall

Veteran Member
I've asked you before, and I"ll ask you again. Where can I read those 500 accounts that you claim?

Anybody can say, "I saw a thing and so did 500 other people." That doesn't make it so. Especially if I can't examine the accounts of the 500 other people.

I wrote that "the gospel records". You are not addressing the reliability of Matthew's gospel, you are going beyond my claim on a fishing expedition.

Of course, the standard you're using exceeds what a juror does in a courtroom. Recently, I was for the second time a foreperson on a felony case. I never asked my fellow jurors, "Sure, we have some eyewitnesses, but can we not talk to the people they are claiming were also present before we DECIDE THIS CASE?"

Plus, I bet by the time you die, 500 persons will have spoken to you about Jesus on air, in print, in person, on the web. We're all sent to you, I believe. :)
 

SkepticThinker

Veteran Member
I wrote that "the gospel records". You are not addressing the reliability of Matthew's gospel, you are going beyond my claim on a fishing expedition.

Of course, the standard you're using exceeds what a juror does in a courtroom. Recently, I was for the second time a foreperson on a felony case. I never asked my fellow jurors, "Sure, we have some eyewitnesses, but can we not talk to the people they are claiming were also present before we DECIDE THIS CASE?"

Plus, I bet by the time you die, 500 persons will have spoken to you about Jesus on air, in print, in person, on the web. We're all sent to you, I believe. :)
I am directly addressing your claim. I've asked you to back it up. Instead of doing that, yo've altered the claim to something else.

If I walked into a court room and said "I saw Joe Shmoe kill that girl in cold blood and five hundred other people also saw him do it too," do you think the judge would ask to hear their sworn testimonies as well, or do you think (s)he'd just take my word for it? Come on now. Try to be reasonable.
 
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Sapiens

Polymathematician
What I said was: "This points out a problem with most people who do not go on to advanced University study. They lack often basic knowledge (the oldest complete set of the gospels dates from the 4th Century, and there is a complete lack of provenance prior to that); and, they fail to grasp the difference between a reference and a claim ... just as you do."

I think you've had neither advanced nor basic study. Argue against THIS list:

Dating the Bible - Wikipedia
There is no need for me to argue because that wiki list agrees with what I've said.

You really must learn to remember the details of the debate and to read your quoted sources before advancing them.

We were not discussing the entire bible, just the gospels. Check back to wiki: Earliest gospel fragment: Papyrus 104 (150–200 CE). Earliest full set of gospels: Papyrus 9 (Codex Sinaiticus, 3rd/4th century CE). The provenance of these items are completely unknown.

You have just provided an excellent and clear example of my original point: "This points out a problem with most people who do not go on to advanced University study. They lack often basic knowledge (the oldest complete set of the gospels dates from the 4th Century, and there is a complete lack of provenance prior to that); and, they fail to grasp the difference between a reference and a claim ... just as you do;" just as you demonstrate your rather stark weakness on the subject in general. About what I'd expect from a Bachelor of Arts in Religion who has never really been pushed intellectually.
 

BilliardsBall

Veteran Member
What I said was: "This points out a problem with most people who do not go on to advanced University study. They lack often basic knowledge (the oldest complete set of the gospels dates from the 4th Century, and there is a complete lack of provenance prior to that); and, they fail to grasp the difference between a reference and a claim ... just as you do."

There is no need for me to argue because that wiki list agrees with what I've said.

You really must learn to remember the details of the debate and to read your quoted sources before advancing them.

We were not discussing the entire bible, just the gospels. Check back to wiki: Earliest gospel fragment: Papyrus 104 (150–200 CE). Earliest full set of gospels: Papyrus 9 (Codex Sinaiticus, 3rd/4th century CE). The provenance of these items are completely unknown.

You have just provided an excellent and clear example of my original point: "This points out a problem with most people who do not go on to advanced University study. They lack often basic knowledge (the oldest complete set of the gospels dates from the 4th Century, and there is a complete lack of provenance prior to that); and, they fail to grasp the difference between a reference and a claim ... just as you do;" just as you demonstrate your rather stark weakness on the subject in general. About what I'd expect from a Bachelor of Arts in Religion who has never really been pushed intellectually.

Which of these ACCORDING TO THAT WIKI were written after the close of the 1st century?

Book Date or range of dates most widely held by scholars Earliest known fragment
Gospel of Matthew 80–90 CE.[69] This is based on three strands of evidence: (a) the setting of Matthew reflects the final separation of Church and Synagogue, about 85 CE; (b) it reflects the capture of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 CE; (c) it uses Mark, usually dated around 70 CE, as a source.[70] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}104 (150–200 CE)
Gospel of Mark 68–70 CE.[71] References to persecution and to war in Judea suggest that its context was either Nero's persecution of the Christians in Rome or the Jewish revolt.[72] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}45 (250 CE)
Gospel of Luke 80–90 CE, with some scholars suggesting 90–100.[73] There is evidence, both textual (the conflicts between Western and Alexandrian manuscript families) and from the Marcionite controversy (Marcion was a 2nd-century heretic who produced his own version of Christian scripture based on Luke's gospel and Paul's epistles) that Luke-Acts was still being substantially revised well into the 2nd century.[74] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}4, {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}75 (175–250 CE)
Gospel of John 90–110 CE, the upper date based on textual evidence that the gospel was known in the early 2nd century, and the lower on an internal reference to the expulsion of Christians from the synagogues.[75] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}52 (125–160 CE)
Acts 95–100 CE.[71] If Acts uses Josephus as a source, as has been proposed, then it must have been composed after 93 CE; the social situation is one in which the faithful need "shepherds" to protect them from heretical "wolves", which again reflects a late date.[76] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}29, {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}45, {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}48, {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}53, {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}91(250 CE)
Romans c. 57 CE. One of the genuine Pauline letters, written to the Romans as Paul was about to leave Asia Minor and Greece, and expressing his hopes to continue his work in Spain.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}46 (late 2nd century or 3rd century CE)
Corinthians c. 56 CE. Another of the Genuine Pauline letters. Paul expresses his intention to re-visit the church he founded in the city c. 50–52 CE.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}46 (late 2nd century or 3rd century CE)
Galatians c. 55 CE. Paul does not express any wish to revisit the church in Galatia, which he founded, and so some scholars believe the letter dates from the end of his missionary work. The letter concerns the question of whether Gentile converts are required to adopt full Jewish customs.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}46 (late 2nd century or 3rd century CE)
Ephesians c. 80–90 CE. The letter appears to have been written after Paul's death in Rome, by an author who uses his name.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}46 (late 2nd century or 3rd century CE)
Philippians c. 54–55 CE. A genuine Pauline letter, it mentions "Caesar's household," leading some scholars to believe that it is written from Rome, but some of the news in it could not have come from Rome. It seems rather to date from an earlier imprisonment, perhaps in Ephesus, from which Paul hopes to be released.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}46 (late 2nd century or 3rd century CE)
Colossians c. 62–70 CE. Some scholars believe Colossians dates from Paul's imprisonment in Ephesus around 55 CE, but differences in the theology suggest that it comes from much later in his career, around the time of his imprisonment in Rome.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}46 (late 2nd century or 3rd century CE)
1 Thessalonians c. 51 CE. One of the earliest of the genuine Pauline epistles.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}46 (late 2nd century or 3rd century CE)
2 Thessalonians c. 51 CE or post-70 CE. If this is a genuine Pauline epistle it follows closely on 1 Thessalonians. But some of the language and theology point to a much later date, from an unknown author using Paul's name.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}92 (300 CE)
1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Epistle to Titus c. 100 CE. The two Timothy epistles and Titus reflect a much more developed Church organisation than that reflected in the genuine Pauline epistles.[71] Codex Sinaiticus (350 CE){\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}32 (200 CE)
Philemon c. 54–55 CE. A genuine Pauline epistle, written from an imprisonment (probably in Ephesus) that Paul expects will soon be over.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}87 (3rd century CE)
Hebrews c. 80–90 CE. The elegance of the Greek and the sophistication of the theology do not fit the genuine Pauline epistles, but the mention of Timothy in the conclusion led to its being included with the Pauline group from an early date.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}46 (late 2nd century or 3rd century CE)
James c. 65–85 CE. Like Hebrews, James is not so much a letter as an exhortation; the style of the Greek makes it unlikely that it was actually written by James the brother of Jesus.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}20, {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}23 (early 3rd century CE)
First Peter c. 75–90 CE[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}72 (3rd/4th century CE)
Second Peter c. 110 CE. This is apparently the latest writing in the New Testament, quoting from Jude, assuming a knowledge of the Pauline letters, and including a reference to the gospel story of the Transfiguration of Christ.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}72 (3rd/4th century CE)
Epistles of John 90–110 CE.[77] The letters give no clear indication, but scholars tend to place them about a decade after the Gospel of John.[77] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}9, Uncial 0232, Codex Sinaiticus (3rd/4th century CE)
Jude Uncertain. The references to "brother of James" and to "what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold" suggest that it was written after the apostolic letters were in circulation, but before 2 Peter, which uses it.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}72 (3rd/4th century CE)
Revelation c. 95 CE. The date is suggested by clues in the visions pointing to the reign of the emperor Domitian.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}98 (150–200 CE)
 

BilliardsBall

Veteran Member
I am directly addressing your claim. I've asked you to back it up. Instead of doing that, yo've altered the claim to something else.

If I walked into a court room and said "I saw Joe Shmoe kill that girl in cold blood and five hundred other people also saw him do it too," do you think the judge would ask to hear their sworn testimonies as well, or do you think (s)he'd just take my word for it? Come on now. Try to be reasonable.

My claim was a counter to "who saw Christ resurrect," as four authors whose works are extant claim a total of over one dozen appearances to over 500 persons.

My counterclaim to your response was that in a court of law, four eyewitnesses who claim that others were present is not hearsay, but eyewitness evidence.
 

Darkstorn

This shows how unique i am.
Eyewitness accounts are not considered reliable though. That is the point people are trying to hammer into your head.

It is essentially not evidence at all.

I think it's both cute and funny how you consider that equally or MORE valid than scientific evidence.
 

SkepticThinker

Veteran Member
My claim was a counter to "who saw Christ resurrect," as four authors whose works are extant claim a total of over one dozen appearances to over 500 persons.


My counterclaim to your response was that in a court of law, four eyewitnesses who claim that others were present is not hearsay, but eyewitness evidence.

This was your claim:
The gospel records, honestly, that Jesus appeared in Galilee to over 500 of His disciples, including ones who "doubted He resurrected". I would say that underscores a quite honest report. This accounting actually addresses your concern directly and concisely.”


I asked where I can find the accounts of those 500 people. You keep refusing to answer. Then you deflect to other things. Just like the last time I asked.

What reason do we have then, to believe that Jesus appeared in Galilee to over 500 of his disciples, including ones who ‘doubted He resurrected’?” And what reason do we have to believe the people who claim(ed) that 500 people saw anything? You tried to tell me that 500 people around the world have seen Jesus since then, but that does not address your claim at all. Nor does it answer my question. Or maybe it does. How on earth do you know that "underscores a quite honest report?" How could anyone know that without viewing the 500 accounts in question?? Like I said, anybody can say 500 people saw something.

I saw pigs fly. Five hundred people were also there with me and saw the same thing. I guess you're forced to believe that pigs can fly, if we're following your line of logic.



P.S. Those four authors aren't eyewitnesses either.
 
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Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
My claim was a counter to "who saw Christ resurrect," as four authors whose works are extant claim a total of over one dozen appearances to over 500 persons.

My counterclaim to your response was that in a court of law, four eyewitnesses who claim that others were present is not hearsay, but eyewitness evidence.

Biblical scholars know that the Gospels are not eyewitness accounts. They are anonymous accounts that were written a full generation after the event at the earliest. If you are relying on the Gospels you are not relying on eyewitness accounts.
 

Sapiens

Polymathematician
Which of these ACCORDING TO THAT WIKI were written after the close of the 1st century?

Book Date or range of dates most widely held by scholars Earliest known fragment
Gospel of Matthew 80–90 CE.[69] This is based on three strands of evidence: (a) the setting of Matthew reflects the final separation of Church and Synagogue, about 85 CE; (b) it reflects the capture of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 CE; (c) it uses Mark, usually dated around 70 CE, as a source.[70] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}104 (150–200 CE)
Gospel of Mark 68–70 CE.[71] References to persecution and to war in Judea suggest that its context was either Nero's persecution of the Christians in Rome or the Jewish revolt.[72] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}45 (250 CE)
Gospel of Luke 80–90 CE, with some scholars suggesting 90–100.[73] There is evidence, both textual (the conflicts between Western and Alexandrian manuscript families) and from the Marcionite controversy (Marcion was a 2nd-century heretic who produced his own version of Christian scripture based on Luke's gospel and Paul's epistles) that Luke-Acts was still being substantially revised well into the 2nd century.[74] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}4, {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}75 (175–250 CE)
Gospel of John 90–110 CE, the upper date based on textual evidence that the gospel was known in the early 2nd century, and the lower on an internal reference to the expulsion of Christians from the synagogues.[75] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}52 (125–160 CE)
Acts 95–100 CE.[71] If Acts uses Josephus as a source, as has been proposed, then it must have been composed after 93 CE; the social situation is one in which the faithful need "shepherds" to protect them from heretical "wolves", which again reflects a late date.[76] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}29, {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}45, {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}48, {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}53, {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}91(250 CE)
Romans c. 57 CE. One of the genuine Pauline letters, written to the Romans as Paul was about to leave Asia Minor and Greece, and expressing his hopes to continue his work in Spain.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}46 (late 2nd century or 3rd century CE)
Corinthians c. 56 CE. Another of the Genuine Pauline letters. Paul expresses his intention to re-visit the church he founded in the city c. 50–52 CE.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}46 (late 2nd century or 3rd century CE)
Galatians c. 55 CE. Paul does not express any wish to revisit the church in Galatia, which he founded, and so some scholars believe the letter dates from the end of his missionary work. The letter concerns the question of whether Gentile converts are required to adopt full Jewish customs.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}46 (late 2nd century or 3rd century CE)
Ephesians c. 80–90 CE. The letter appears to have been written after Paul's death in Rome, by an author who uses his name.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}46 (late 2nd century or 3rd century CE)
Philippians c. 54–55 CE. A genuine Pauline letter, it mentions "Caesar's household," leading some scholars to believe that it is written from Rome, but some of the news in it could not have come from Rome. It seems rather to date from an earlier imprisonment, perhaps in Ephesus, from which Paul hopes to be released.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}46 (late 2nd century or 3rd century CE)
Colossians c. 62–70 CE. Some scholars believe Colossians dates from Paul's imprisonment in Ephesus around 55 CE, but differences in the theology suggest that it comes from much later in his career, around the time of his imprisonment in Rome.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}46 (late 2nd century or 3rd century CE)
1 Thessalonians c. 51 CE. One of the earliest of the genuine Pauline epistles.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}46 (late 2nd century or 3rd century CE)
2 Thessalonians c. 51 CE or post-70 CE. If this is a genuine Pauline epistle it follows closely on 1 Thessalonians. But some of the language and theology point to a much later date, from an unknown author using Paul's name.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}92 (300 CE)
1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Epistle to Titus c. 100 CE. The two Timothy epistles and Titus reflect a much more developed Church organisation than that reflected in the genuine Pauline epistles.[71] Codex Sinaiticus (350 CE){\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}32 (200 CE)
Philemon c. 54–55 CE. A genuine Pauline epistle, written from an imprisonment (probably in Ephesus) that Paul expects will soon be over.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}87 (3rd century CE)
Hebrews c. 80–90 CE. The elegance of the Greek and the sophistication of the theology do not fit the genuine Pauline epistles, but the mention of Timothy in the conclusion led to its being included with the Pauline group from an early date.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}46 (late 2nd century or 3rd century CE)
James c. 65–85 CE. Like Hebrews, James is not so much a letter as an exhortation; the style of the Greek makes it unlikely that it was actually written by James the brother of Jesus.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}20, {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}23 (early 3rd century CE)
First Peter c. 75–90 CE[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}72 (3rd/4th century CE)
Second Peter c. 110 CE. This is apparently the latest writing in the New Testament, quoting from Jude, assuming a knowledge of the Pauline letters, and including a reference to the gospel story of the Transfiguration of Christ.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}72 (3rd/4th century CE)
Epistles of John 90–110 CE.[77] The letters give no clear indication, but scholars tend to place them about a decade after the Gospel of John.[77] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}9, Uncial 0232, Codex Sinaiticus (3rd/4th century CE)
Jude Uncertain. The references to "brother of James" and to "what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold" suggest that it was written after the apostolic letters were in circulation, but before 2 Peter, which uses it.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}72 (3rd/4th century CE)
Revelation c. 95 CE. The date is suggested by clues in the visions pointing to the reign of the emperor Domitian.[71] {\displaystyle {\mathfrak {P}}}{\mathfrak {P}}98 (150–200 CE)
Nothing in the morass of print you have cut and pasted contradicts what I have said, in fact, it supports my views ... can't you see that?

BTW: ctrl-shift-v lets you paste as plain text.
 

BilliardsBall

Veteran Member
Biblical scholars know that the Gospels are not eyewitness accounts. They are anonymous accounts that were written a full generation after the event at the earliest. If you are relying on the Gospels you are not relying on eyewitness accounts.

By generation, if you mean 20 years or even 30 years, since I remember a lot of details about my early Christian walk long ago, I can only imagine (pun intended) that you or me would remember the Christ "even" 20 or 30 years after we saw Him heal people, rise from the dead, speak wisely, etc.

Of course, you are skipping the obvious inference, too, that since some of the accounts claim they are eyewitness accounts, you are saying the accounts are lying. Please give some reasons why 12 different authors made up stories about the same dead person, who had died alone, with three followers looking at His cross, 20 or 30 years before, bearing in mind that if they were Jewish authors, they faced persecution from Jews, and if Gentiles, persecution for not adhering to the Roman pantheon:

Reason 1:
Reason 2:
Reason 3:
 

BilliardsBall

Veteran Member
This was your claim:
The gospel records, honestly, that Jesus appeared in Galilee to over 500 of His disciples, including ones who "doubted He resurrected". I would say that underscores a quite honest report. This accounting actually addresses your concern directly and concisely.”


I asked where I can find the accounts of those 500 people. You keep refusing to answer. Then you deflect to other things. Just like the last time I asked.

What reason do we have then, to believe that Jesus appeared in Galilee to over 500 of his disciples, including ones who ‘doubted He resurrected’?” And what reason do we have to believe the people who claim(ed) that 500 people saw anything? You tried to tell me that 500 people around the world have seen Jesus since then, but that does not address your claim at all. Nor does it answer my question. Or maybe it does. How on earth do you know that "underscores a quite honest report?" How could anyone know that without viewing the 500 accounts in question?? Like I said, anybody can say 500 people saw something.

I saw pigs fly. Five hundred people were also there with me and saw the same thing. I guess you're forced to believe that pigs can fly, if we're following your line of logic.



P.S. Those four authors aren't eyewitnesses either.

Okay--you hit on the heart of our discussion, I think. The gospel authors claim to be eyewitnesses at points and/or to have compiled eyewitness accounts. Then we have other authors, 12 NT authors in all. Why do you believe they were lying? If Jews, they would be expelled from synagogue for a false Mashiach. If Gentiles, persecuted for not adhering to the Roman pantheon...
 

BilliardsBall

Veteran Member
Nothing in the morass of print you have cut and pasted contradicts what I have said, in fact, it supports my views ... can't you see that?

BTW: ctrl-shift-v lets you paste as plain text.

I apologize if I'm missing your point. It sure looked like you posted several times "NT written 2nd century or later" but scholars believe--including skeptic and atheist scholars--that the entire NT was written in the 1st century.
 

Samantha Rinne

Resident Genderfluid Writer/Artist
You cannot pass on homosexuality. It's a biological dead-end. Homosexuals have a tendency NOT to reproduce, so the idea that it is genetic is absurd.

Do I condone homosexuality? I don't care. I'm LGBT myself. But I do believe in honesty. Just as I can honestly say that I was not born in the wrong body, I just wish I was a girl, I can honestly say that the idea that you inherited sexuality from your parents is nonsense.

Oh yes, they've done studies with twins. Not convincing.
They found that if one identical twin was gay, 52 percent of the time the other was also; the figure was 22 percent for fraternal twins, and only 5 percent for nonrelated adopted brothers.

52% is a coin flip. If it were genetic, identical twins would have closer to 80-100% since they have very similar genes.

If you have a brother, that you hang around with, share almost exact DNA, you either will or you won't also be the same sexuality. Ummmm, yeah, that's totally genetic. Barely even nurture. Meanwhile, 5% is not an "only". This means that a genetic complete stranger has a 1 in 20 chance of also being gay while being related to you.

Sexuality is decided at puberty, based on experiences during childhood. You can't be "cured" of it, because it is not a disease, any more than heterosexuality is a disease. It's a preference.
 

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
By generation, if you mean 20 years or even 30 years, since I remember a lot of details about my early Christian walk long ago, I can only imagine (pun intended) that you or me would remember the Christ "even" 20 or 30 years after we saw Him heal people, rise from the dead, speak wisely, etc.

Of course, you are skipping the obvious inference, too, that since some of the accounts claim they are eyewitness accounts, you are saying the accounts are lying. Please give some reasons why 12 different authors made up stories about the same dead person, who had died alone, with three followers looking at His cross, 20 or 30 years before, bearing in mind that if they were Jewish authors, they faced persecution from Jews, and if Gentiles, persecution for not adhering to the Roman pantheon:

Reason 1:
Reason 2:
Reason 3:
The earliest of Gospels was probably written about CE 66 to CE 70 according to most modern scholars. So stating a generation was being more than generous. If one goes by only 20 years for a generation, which at that time was likely, then it was actually two generations after the fact.

The Dating of the Gospels

And there is no reason to think that any of the tales are eyewitness tales. Besides that I have heard from far too many Christians that the Bible is the literal "word of God" and is without flaw. If that was the case we would see agreement on the most important parts of the story. We don't. And irrational beliefs die a hard death. Look at all of the Flat Earth nuts that are arising today. Look at the countless deniers of science that there exist among Christians.

Rather than going over the details with you here is a very short video that explains why the gospels fail:

 

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
You cannot pass on homosexuality. It's a biological dead-end. Homosexuals have a tendency NOT to reproduce, so the idea that it is genetic is absurd.

Do I condone homosexuality? I don't care. I'm LGBT myself. But I do believe in honesty. Just as I can honestly say that I was not born in the wrong body, I just wish I was a girl, I can honestly say that the idea that you inherited sexuality from your parents is nonsense.

Oh yes, they've done studies with twins. Not convincing.


52% is a coin flip. If it were genetic, identical twins would have closer to 80-100% since they have very similar genes.

If you have a brother, that you hang around with, share almost exact DNA, you either will or you won't also be the same sexuality. Ummmm, yeah, that's totally genetic. Barely even nurture. Meanwhile, 5% is not an "only". This means that a genetic complete stranger has a 1 in 20 chance of also being gay while being related to you.

Sexuality is decided at puberty, based on experiences during childhood. You can't be "cured" of it, because it is not a disease, any more than heterosexuality is a disease. It's a preference.

Your knowledge of genetics is deficient. An inherited trait may simply increase the odds for a particular development. If the gene that causes homosexuality in some, if it exists, may interact with other genes giving an outcome that is not guaranteed. If that gene has other positive traits associated with it it may be a net positive and it would be passed on.

There could also be epigenetic causes. You can't simply dismiss the cause of homosexuality out of hand. Right now it appears to be a combination of both genetic and environmental traits. At any rate most people recognize that homosexuality is not a choice. And as to it being set a puberty, from my understanding a person's sexuality is set long before that. But perhaps you have some evidence that supports your beliefs.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
My claim was a counter to "who saw Christ resurrect," as four authors whose works are extant claim a total of over one dozen appearances to over 500 persons.

My counterclaim to your response was that in a court of law, four eyewitnesses who claim that others were present is not hearsay, but eyewitness evidence.

Your witness who presents eyewitness testimony-if he could not tell
you either the place, date, or even the year, and his testimony was
restricted to a sketchy written statement, no questions possible-would you
care to convict or acquit on such testimony?
 

Audie

Veteran Member
You cannot pass on homosexuality. It's a biological dead-end. Homosexuals have a tendency NOT to reproduce, so the idea that it is genetic is absurd.

You do know that is is now very dangerous in many places to be homosexual.
In the past, it was far worse for them.

Today, many "gay" people marry, for various reasons, live as heterosexuals,
have children.

Doenst make it genetic, or not genetic, but your presentation that it is
nonsense is itself nonsense.
 

SkepticThinker

Veteran Member
Okay--you hit on the heart of our discussion, I think. The gospel authors claim to be eyewitnesses at points and/or to have compiled eyewitness accounts. Then we have other authors, 12 NT authors in all. Why do you believe they were lying? If Jews, they would be expelled from synagogue for a false Mashiach. If Gentiles, persecuted for not adhering to the Roman pantheon...
Why are you always try to change the subject to something else? You said what you said about those 500 people. Should I take this to mean you are walking back that claim? I won't hold it against you if you do. We all make mistakes sometimes.

I could also point out that the gospels are not eyewitness accounts, but I see that has been pointed out numerous times already. Not that eyewitness accounts are all that trustworthy to begin with. They'd be more trustworthy if they all corroborated one another, but they don't even do that much.
 
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Audie

Veteran Member
Eyewitness accounts are not considered reliable though. That is the point people are trying to hammer into your head.

It is essentially not evidence at all.

I think it's both cute and funny how you consider that equally or MORE valid than scientific evidence.

Oh yeah???
What about THESE eyewitnesses?

"The Miracle of the Sun"

An Eyewitness Account by Dr. José Maria de Almeida Garrett, professor at the Faculty of Sciences of Coimbra, Portugal
"It must have been 1:30 p.m when there arose, at the exact spot where the children were, a column of smoke, thin, fine and bluish, which extended up to perhaps two meters above their heads, and evaporated at that height. This phenomenon, perfectly visible to the naked eye, lasted for a few seconds. Not having noted how long it had lasted, I cannot say whether it was more or less than a minute. The smoke dissipated abruptly, and after some time, it came back to occur a second time, then a third time

"The sky, which had been overcast all day, suddenly cleared; the rain stopped and it looked as if the sun were about to fill with light the countryside that the wintery morning had made so gloomy. I was looking at the spot of the apparitions in a serene, if cold, expectation of something happening and with diminishing curiosity because a long time had passed without anything to excite my attention. The sun, a few moments before, had broken through the thick layer of clouds which hid it and now shone clearly and intensely.

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"Suddenly I heard the uproar of thousands of voices, and I saw the whole multitude spread out in that vast space at my feet......."
 
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