Do You Believe in a God?

**NickInTheNorth** · 08-Nov-09, 20:47

Originally Posted by Rheghead

Nature cares not for what is potentially benefical. If it is beneficial then it is beneficial, if it's not then then it's not. There is nothing left to chance there.

But a mutation can be of demonstrable benefit to the individual organism, and yet not be passed on as an evolutionary change simply because the individual organism fails to reproduce.

**shazzap** · 08-Nov-09, 20:51

Originally Posted by Alan16

Well the chances are he is referring to the Christian god. He wasn't talking about Hinduism as Hinduism has many gods; he probably isn't Muslim as most Muslims I know don't refer to "God", they refer to "Allah"; and living in Caithness as I think he does, he is probably not Jewish.

I don't know if that was aimed at me or not, but I was not intending to mock you or be an arse about your grammar, I was merely pointing out that WBG's insistence that god have a capital "g" is grammatically incorrect.

No it was not aimed at you.

This just brought on a rant about certain people on here, who find great pleasure in pulling others down less fortunate than themselves in the brains department.

**Rheghead** · 08-Nov-09, 20:52

Originally Posted by NickInTheNorth

But a mutation can be of demonstrable benefit to the individual organism, and yet not be passed on as an evolutionary change simply because the individual organism fails to reproduce.

Your point falls down when you mentioned individual.

**Hoida** · 08-Nov-09, 20:56

Yes I believe in God and have been a Christian for many years but respect those who don't really want to know and feel some sadness that they will never know the true meaning of peace!

**Alan16** · 08-Nov-09, 21:09

Originally Posted by NickInTheNorth

If the god being referred to is God then capital G is required to be grammatically correct. At least according to the OED which has always been fairly authoritative.

Proper nouns and all that

Other gods don't require the capital as in other cases it is not a proper noun.

A god is a thing. A concept. When referring to the Christian god I do not need to capitalize "god" because I am talking about an object - it's the same as if I am talking about the Christian teacup. I don't need to capitalize teacup. If, however, I say "Therefore God created man" the capitalization is necessary because I am using the word as a proper noun - I am talking about a person/being called "God". You're right, the OED is authoritative, but you still need to read it properly.

Originally Posted by Hoida

Yes I believe in God and have been a Christian for many years but respect those who don't really want to know and feel some sadness that they will never know the true meaning of peace!

And this is why I hate a lot of Christians. Do you not comprehend how insulting you sound?

**golach** · 08-Nov-09, 21:15

Originally Posted by Alan16

And this is why I hate a lot of Christians. Do you not comprehend how insulting you sound?

You hate a lot of Christians do you? What does that make you? Do you actually comprehend how idiotic you sound. You IMHO need to grow up

**joxville** · 08-Nov-09, 21:20

Originally Posted by Alan16

And this is why I hate a lot of Christians. Do you not comprehend how insulting you sound?

Quite a strong use of the word 'hate' Alan.

Instead of hating them, learn to love them-it'll annoy the hell out of them.

**shazzap** · 08-Nov-09, 21:21

Originally Posted by Hoida

Yes I believe in God and have been a Christian for many years but respect those who don't really want to know and feel some sadness that they will never know the true meaning of peace!

And what do you base this statement on please.

**Rheghead** · 08-Nov-09, 21:21

Originally Posted by Alan16

And this is why I hate a lot of Christians. Do you not comprehend how insulting you sound?

I'm never insulted by christians but I know that some christians are insulted by the progress towards secularism and evidence based rationality. Speaking for myself, I need good firm evidence for my beliefs. Nothing more basic than that. It is the difference between keeping your eyes wide openand walking around freely and that of looking through a prism with blinkers and wearing your chains for Christ.

**NickInTheNorth** · 08-Nov-09, 21:35

Originally Posted by Rheghead

Your point falls down when you mentioned individual.

Any mutation that is of benefit to a species must be of benefit to the individual too.

**Rheghead** · 08-Nov-09, 21:38

Originally Posted by NickInTheNorth

Any mutation that is of benefit to a species must be of benefit to the individual too.

So if an individual organism that carries a beneficial mutation is killed before it has the chance to reproduce means that the mutation is lost? What about the others that carry it that do survive and pass it on?

**NickInTheNorth** · 08-Nov-09, 21:39

Originally Posted by weeboyagee

The question was do you believe in A GOD? I voted no. Not a god. I believe in God, capital G and the one and only. The question didn't address that belief.

WBG

Alan16

The above is the direct quote that you state does not require the capital G.

Res ipsa loquitur

**weeboyagee** · 08-Nov-09, 21:46

Originally Posted by Alan16

Well it seems your god did not grant you the ability to answer questions properly. The question was "Do you believe in a god?" (note no capitalization is necessary their) and you have clearly said that you do. Whether you consider your god to be greater than that of the Hindi/Islamic/Jewish faith, doesn't matter: the answer is still yes. Do you believe in a god? Yes, you believe in the Christian god. (Ref capital G) ... Not needed. Grammar is an amazing thing. Capital "g" required their.

Exodus 20:1 Thou shalt have no other gods before me

God is the only one true God.

Definition of a proper noun: nouns name people, places, and things. Every noun can further be classified as common or proper. A proper noun has two distinctive features: 1) it will name a specific, usually a one-of-a-kind, item, and 2) it will begin with a capital letter no matter where it occurs in a sentence.

Since God is the only one true God, the reference begins with a capital. Since the question considers other gods, the question in the same way references that they exist in order to believe in them. Since I believe in one true God, not any indiscriminant god, the question is therefore not relevant and I can't vote yes. Maybe one day your eyes will be opened to that.

Reference the term "grammar" - a wee lesson, "There" indicates a place as in, "I live here not there." It is the opposite of "here." "Their" is the possessive of "they", as in "They live there but it isn't their house."

WBG

**NickInTheNorth** · 08-Nov-09, 21:49

Originally Posted by Rheghead

So if an individual organism that carries a beneficial mutation is killed before it has the chance to reproduce means that the mutation is lost? What about the others that carry it that do survive and pass it on?

If the mutation is unique to the individual, yes, so for example a mutation in say an elephant calf (almost unheard of to experience multiple births) then if the individual dies without reproducing then that potential benefit to the species will be lost.

If the mutation is in an organism in which the reproduction is on a larger scale - say a cod which is capable of producing millions of eggs in a single spawning then the odds of that mutation being lost are smaller, but not impossible.

**weeboyagee** · 08-Nov-09, 21:54

Originally Posted by Alan16

And this is why I hate a lot of Christians. Do you not comprehend how insulting you sound?

Do you comprehend how insulting you sound when you a) fail to understand through your own lack of comprehension and b) teach me a lesson in grammar and fail to realise your own inabilities with the same subject matter?

People like you Alan16 fed people to the lions centuries ago. But you know what - here is the wonderful 11th commandment which, despite your hatred towards Christians, allows them to see past that - John 13:34

WBG

**Rheghead** · 08-Nov-09, 21:55

Originally Posted by NickInTheNorth

If the mutation is unique to the individual, yes, so for example a mutation in say an elephant calf (almost unheard of to experience multiple births) then if the individual dies without reproducing then that potential benefit to the species will be lost.

And that mutation is lost because it wasn't causal to its survival. It just gets binned with all the rest, it wasn't beneficial. Like I said before, there is no potentially beneficial mutations there are only survivors and failures, winners and losers.

**weeboyagee** · 08-Nov-09, 22:10

Originally Posted by Rheghead

It is the difference between keeping your eyes wide open and walking around freely and that of looking through a prism with blinkers and wearing your chains for Christ.

Sorry Rheggers, had to laugh at that one - wondered why I was slowing down in old age - chains getting heavier and all that !

WBG

**redeyedtreefrog** · 08-Nov-09, 22:11

Originally Posted by Alan16

Well it seems your god did not grant you the ability to answer questions properly. The question was "Do you believe in a god?" (note no capitalization is necessary their) and you have clearly said that you do. Whether you consider your god to be greater than that of the Hindi/Islamic/Jewish faith, doesn't matter: the answer is still yes. Do you believe in a god? Yes, you believe in the Christian god.

Not needed. Grammar is an amazing thing. Capital "g" required their.

Rheghead gave a very good reply, so I'm just going to simply say: no, you're wrong there.

Anyone else noticing the irony in the grammar lesson?

**Rheghead** · 08-Nov-09, 22:15

Originally Posted by weeboyagee

Sorry Rheggers, had to laugh at that one - wondered why I was slowing down in old age - chains getting heavier and all that !

WBG

Probably answers the observation of why the age of the typical cross section of congregation is of the older type. Last throes of doubt and desperation?