You just threw him a 70mph fastball right down the middle.

Let's break this down a bit.

In your view, diseases exist because of man's wickedness. In other words, Gold caused disease to exist on earth as a way of punishing humans for their wickedness. Sinful behavior can put people at higher risk for disease, which arguably would be consistent with God creating disease as a mechanism to punish human wickedness. Many diseases (muscular dystrophy, ALS, etc.), however, are completely or mostly uncorrelated with human behavior. And you seem disinclined to argue that a person afflicted with ALS is being punished for especially sinful behavior. So what's the explanation? Has God decided to afflict a random selection of human beings with ALS as a way of punishing humans for their collective wickedness? Why is that just? Wouldn't it be more fair to afflict the especially wicked with terrible diseases like ALS?

I did not think the explanation was that tricky. Lots of special people back in the day thought AIDS was some form of punishment for being gay. Clearly that dude believes that, though he will not say that directly for some reason. Its a repulsive belief system, but since what he believes has no real value nor significance, it kind of equals out in the end. Sometimes things work in not so mysterious ways.

I never said that smoking cigarettes per se is a sin. I would like to encourage you to please read my posts more carefully before responding to them.

Thanks in advance.

It is IMPOSSIBLE to get to Heaven by good works.

I am probably no less than a sinner than anyone in this whole Forum.

There are only two kinds of people in the world:

1. Repentant sinners, and

2. Unrepentant sinners.

Nobody can EARN entry into Heaven.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

1. If the scientific method unambiguously showed that X is false, and

2. If the Scriptures unambiguously said that X is true, then

3. I would believe that X is true.

Just as in baseball a tie goes to the runner, based on my Biblical worldview, a tie would (for me) go to what the Bible says.

You also took the fine jewelry I gave you, the jewelry made of my gold and silver, and you made for yourself male idols and engaged in prostitution with them.

Ezekiel 16:17

Like it or not, even those that wrote the old testament knew that sex sells...

Right so O.A.F.K. was correct.

It MUST go thru that faith lens FIRST, and then and only then can the science of data be considered.

If when it goes thru that faith lens the science and data happens to agree then you can also agree with the science and data.

But at no time, in any conflict, will you accept the science and data that is in conflict with your beliefs.

So why do you think you thought O.A.F.K. was wrong?

So you believe more a book telling you what is real instead of your own reality perceived through your senses, being able to see scientific experiences in front of you ?

I wonder why gods would have equipped humans with senses if not to use it in the first place …

+1

I'm not aware of any Western (or Eastern) religion in which self-harm is not considered sinful.

I am imagining it....now what?

And I am quite grateful that he did so. Thanks, KS!

That's a fair characterization of my view for the purposes of this discussion.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. - Romans 3:23

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. -Romans 3:10

1. The existence of all diseases is a consequence of mankind's sin nature ; that is to say, all humans are subject to the possibility of disease as a consequence of our living in a world corrupted by sin.

2. Not all diseases are the direct result of specific human behavior on the part of the person afflicted with the disease (e.g. ALS). But, all diseases are the direct result of sin (note well Romans 3:23 and Romans 3:10, cited above)

No idea - maybe The Rapture or something? That is assuming you are on the right religious team among all those that have existed (some long before the one you are part of). Think the South Park guys declared that the Mormons were the correct ones all along for what it is worth.

All the best.

Sorry, I'm not up-to-date on wicked programs like South Park.

The reason can be summarized in one word: banhammer!

O..A.F.K.1.1 wrote this:

I would not characterize my views as either superstitious or occult.

Maybe one of you could provide a dictionary-definition of one or both of those words that would be an accurate way of characterizing my views.

Thanks.

Since I believe that the Bible is truly the Word of God, it would be illogical for me to reject a clear teaching in Scripture and instead accept a contrary conclusion drawn by the Scientific Method (which is based on induction, which is fallible).*

*The so-called PROBLEM OF INDUCTION is still a problem.

God has commanded us to use our reasoning skills and our senses.

Cool

Bible thumpers. Can't yall keep that fiction stuff to yourselves?

Big Banger's. Can't y'all keep that fiction stuff to yourselves?

Why are you referencing a children's fiction book in a covid thread?

You just committed the COMPLEX QUESTION FALLACY. If you don't know what that fallacy is, I would be delighted to provide a link for you.

As a former Logic instructor, I can direct you to some excellent resources to learn about Logical Fallacies.

Did you have bible group therapy sessions during logic classes you taught?