After working with reptiles for so long... *scribbles out number 3.* While true that they can't survive so well in cold weather due to their low metabolic rate which results in a slower heat generation, they are not completely at a lack of heating. As for maternal instincts, it really depends on the species. Monitor Lizards? Yeah, daddy eats his young. Mamma leaves after they hatch, (even if she guards the egg nest like a monster before they do.) Though, when your nest is 7 strong and your starving, sometimes the quickest meal is the most delicious option. (Plus, to daddy it's a renewable resource.) There are, however, many things that reptiles have which we do not. I'm just going to example everything off of Varanus Prasinus, the emerald tree monitor. (For now.) Long prehensile tongue that can pick up scent particles which have traveled up to a mile in good wind. Skin that can be as thick as chain mail. A resistance to heat far beyond our own. Natural weapons that they can use from birth. Fair hearing, and vision which has a wider arc than our own. Add on a really long prehensile tail that they intelligently keep from harm. Now... Varanus familae can actually eat a large meal, and go without needing nourishment for a number of weeks. Most reptiles can, really. I knew a White-Throated Monitor who was smart enough to break himself out of multiple forms of enclosure. Finally the owner had to use sealed craft, seemless bullet-proof plastics viewer, and a padlock to keep the sucker in there. I swear, if he understood our language, the lizard coulda crawled over and used the computer, too. Turtles though... turtles are really stupid. Tortoises aren't as much, but making the distinction alone seems difficult for some people. - - Auto Merge - - Then I remembered the Albino Alligator Oceola, who would walk her human in warm months around Wal-Mart. Alligators, who have powerful enough vocal chords that they can communicate with others of their species through the ground for miles around. (Who needs cell phones?) No joke, by the way. When questioned about it, the human would merely say "It's my emotional support animal." Then there was Tatsu, the Water Monitor, who would get to swim in the Susquehanna River during nice weather. His humans would try to keep dogs away from him, since he hates them, but otherwise he does enjoy a pleasant walk. Often we have an issue with communicating to other species, and this is our problem. The body language of a different creature far different from our own becomes more difficult to discern than our own. So it's not intelligence that seperates us, per se, but instead it's that invention has been made for homo sapiens.
What Sparky means here is that God made the laws of physics the way they are, if he made them, then he can do what he wants, be it defy them of follow them. Does the potter not have the right to make the pot in his image, and do what he wants with it?
I dislike the view where I live that atheists are ignorant. I am an atheist and though I cannot bring myself to believe in a god/goddess/higher order, I do acknowledge that others do even if I do not (mostly cannot) understand why. I respect their views, but I really don't know how they can keep up believing in something and pour all of their being into this one idea... It does my head in. o.o" (Sorry if there is any aggressiveness. I am an INTJ and venomous debater. Had to edit those three lines a fair bit).
While the existance of an absolute power may or may not be true, there are a few things to think about when it becomes considdered. If it's a being of absolute power, then what is the actual meaning of creation to it. Or the meaning of body? Perhaps it does not need to have been created, or exist in the sense which we know, but is what we cannot perceive? We are "supposed" to believe, and "supposed" to seek fulfillment of such a gap without it. However, we're also genetically mentally crafted in a means where our instinct is to push against a grain that puts us into the same methods and means as everyone else. Instinctually, we want to go against the grain and change things. We're also instinctually afraid of change, which makes all three of these things we're "supposed" to be like a grand mix up. We think within manners of our own scope... we put these into words that we know... but what is language, body, and existance to an absolution? If there is such a being... how could we hope to understand it? Even faith puts us into just believing in its will... a word we made to understand the means which we make our own decisions.
Nope. No one knows what actually makes an electrical charge. It is protons and electrons that hold things together but those are broken down into smaller parts, and those are broken down into even smaller parts. These are things that quantum mechanics has not even revealed. No one knows everything about anything. Whether in the universe or the infinite that exist. God couldn't create anything unless he himself were created. It's not dangerous thinking, nor is it irrational thinking. It makes as much sense as what you are dishing out, perhaps even more. Now, straying away from the science aspect, I believe in free will. Any sort of religion does not offer this idea. Things are going to happen a certain way, and you cannot change what is going to happen. It's set in place. If I chose left, the only possibility is that I will go left. I never choose right. Back to science. c: Now I believe in parallel universes (actually I kinda want to make a thread about it). In these universes, chance, freewill and the constants dictate what is the ultimate fate of that universe. This solves any issues or paradoxes of time travel. There are universes with the same constants (force of gravity, speed of light) and different outcomes and there are ones with different constants. There are an infinite number of these universes, making a grand total of 10 (11 if you want to be picky). I believe it is up to me and me alone how I want to spend this afternoon. I could choose to skip piano lessons. What would be the results of that action? What if I chose not to study for a test? What would be the result? Conversely, what if I did study for that test and went to the piano lessons? Well, I've already done all four options for the exact same two events! So I pose a question. Why does God create the people that go to hell? Simple enough. I mean if he's all-knowing, he should certainly know where they're going.
I'm a Hindu. I'm still religious for 4 reasons: 1) It was the way I was brought up, so you could say that I don't know any better. 2) Having a religion isn't too hard. All you have to do is be a good person and remember God. Nothing too difficult. 3) If religion is legit, then I could get well rewarded. If not, I've been a good guy. 4) Hinduism, in particular, gives an interesting approach to life. It actually makes sense. It is also quite helpful for those few decisions in life where you need help. I'm sure that other religions are similar.
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoist are probably the three religions I most respect. Good on you, B-Dog. May your journey as a good guy be fruitful.
If we only had good people on Earth, it would be no different than heaven. I see Earth as a place where humans develop. If they don't get it right the first time, they reincarnate and try again. A lump of coal must undergo great amounts of pressure to turn into a diamond. Similarly, humans must undergo the struggle and hardship of Earth to reach their full potential as divine aspects of God. That's the view given by religions like Hinduism and Buddhism.
I thought Hindu's had 3 million gods. For the most part.What you said before goes with mine.I just dont believe in re-incarnation.And i've been brought up a Christian.I mixed it with Science and got a logical answer that both parties can agree with.Even Testy said it makes perfect sense.He just didnt agree.
Oh Sparky, rookie mistake. Hinduism has two ways of looking at it: duality and non-duality. Duality is where we see the many Gods as separate entities. The next step is non-duality, where all these many Gods are just different forms of one formless God (kind of like Abrahmic religions). A lot of Hinduism (and most of religions) is symbolic and needs to be understood fully. After all, if eternal bliss was the award, would getting it be that easy?
Makes more sense to have one instead of millions. Alright.Thats actually pretty close to what i believe. But i can see you're firm with what you believe.I respect that and wont bother you. "If you dont stand for something you'll fall for anything"
This basically. It's alot more relaxed than some other religions. Although all religions essentially teach the same thing, so it hardly matters which one you choose (if you do choose one). I still believe that as long as you have some morals, you're good to go.
Yea, what gets ya is being too stringent to what that religion's holy book says. Like I think the Bible is less a thing to follow word for word, and more a moral guide.
Now that is something I have always found fascinating. Reincarnation is really a beautiful idea. I've always thought humans should get a second chance if they screwed up in life. Everyone makes mistakes. Wouldn't it be just horrible if you screwed up right you died? I <3 Buddhism and Hinduism.
