I am a Christian, but I think we should ask ourselves the tough questions like this.  How can we explain the ebola virus?  If evolution is not true, and if there was no death before the fall of man, and if all life was created before the fall, how do we explain the ebola virus?  Or any deadly germ for that matter?
123773
First, you need to define evolution.  You're talking about micro evolution which has no problems with Christianity.  When you start getting into macro, stellar, cosmic and chemical evolution, we've got problems.\n\nIf the ebola virus evolved, it evolved from another virus.  That is micro evolution.  Macro evolution says that that process is evidence that a virus can turn into a dog over time.  This is where you're getting into religious faith and not science.  \n\nThere are hundereds of different breeds of dogs to include wolves and foxes, etc.  Micro evolution says that all those breeds of dogs came from a common ancestor...a dog.  Again, no problem with Christianity.\nMacro evolution will say that the dogs, cats, birds, snakes, plants, blah, blah, all came from a common ancestor.  That's ludicrous and severely contradicts the bible.\n\nNow, as far as your question about before the fall of man...\nGod told Adam that if they ate of the fruit, they would die.  We know that they didn't drop dead on the spot, so what did He mean?  He meant that they would change world events to bring death into the world.\n\nThe world event that possibly changed all of this was the flood.  When man knowingly was sinful (because of Adam), God had to destroy the world (death from the sin of Adam).  Before the flood, the earth had much different living conditions than we do today.  There was the protective canopy of water around the earth that made it paradise.  It increased the oxygen and air pressure to double, it blocked UV rays and had many other benefits.  This is how people were able to live to be 900 years old.\nIt's possible that viruses and other diseases started forming after that protective canopy was gone.  Add in man's industrial chemicals and we've got a recipe for disaster.\nThere was research done with poisonous snakes.  They put the snakes in a hyperbaric chamber and pumped the air pressure to double.  The snakes came out non-poisonous.  How was the world before the flood?  We can't know for sure, but some amazing scientific research has been done on this topic.\n\nAnother possibility is that many viruses were always there, but was just recently released because we went into the rain forest and started cutting down trees.  If it was locked in its environment before and we released it, then it didn't evolve, it was discovered.\n\nYou should check out www.drdino.com and download the seminar titled "The garden of Eden".  It will explain these things in much greater detail.
577163
I agree.  Evolution is the basis of life as we know it?  Where is the evidence?  Even if I wanted to believe that evolution was the method that God used to create our world, where is the evidence of that?  \n\nThe evolutionist isn't looking for a "missing link"...they are looking for countless missing links between EVERY species, and have nothing to show for it.  The fossil record would be rife with evidence if the theory had one ounce of merit.  Rather, it shows the complete opposite.\n\nLikewise, mutations are an extremely implausible vehicle through which upward change can occur.  They put their "faith" in mutated DNA somehow producing new species, I put my faith in a Creator.\n\nWhy do they still believe evolution is plausible?  Because they want to reject God, and evolutionary theory is the best they've got...
417147
I try not to bring religion into these kinds of arguments because you can't be objective about these kinds of questions if you do. The bible is just someones version of events and not necessarily the right one. \n\nYour questions is a simple one. Yes. It comes down to numbers and the nature of life. There are trillions upon trillions of stars out there so it's impossible not to imagine a solar system not so dissimalar to ours. To be perfectly frank you wouldn't even need a similar system you would just need the right conditions. As you can see by our own earth, life seems to survive. Whatever is thrown at earth, life keeps on evolving. We start with simple molecules which form amino acids which form proteins which form dna which is the basis of life. The universe has been around for over 12 billion years, it only took 4 billion for us to go from microbe to human. I can only imagine in wonder at how different and developed other species are. I have absoultely no doubt we are not alone. I don't beleive life was constrained to one planet. I beleive life does indeed find a way, througn snowball effects to meteor strikes, to supernovas. It has this incredible ability to adapt and to become more and more complex. Our creation is a miracle of sorts. Life tried with the dinosaurs, it didn't work, it tried again with a species which was more resiliant and we evolved from that. One day we will face extinction yet life will continue in some other form. And it's this reason I know there is life elsewhere in the galaxy.\n\nthe other gay world you talk about is in your head. The reason why the galaxy does exist because rules are rules, and they apply eveywhere in this dimension. So if you can't fly here, it's not likely you can fly on some distant plant 2 million light years away. That's not to say that an alien species hasn't got the technology to interact with natural physics. The only reason we can't fly is because we still don't know the nature of gravity. Once we do, and we fully understand why gravity exists, only then can we begin to manipulate it
512145
we and the universe were created for God himself...we are here for him. i apologize, i cant find the scripture, i know its there.\ni don't know the types of people you are hanging around. I love Jesus....and i love all(most animals). we are to care for all creation. the only thing i have problems w/ are insects/spiders
316011
The ingredients you find to rationalize your disbelief amuses me! Come on, dude, FLEAS!!!LOL that is your way of proving their's no God!? Weak proof at best. You should go back to the guy who put that into your head and slap him!!!LOL( just kidding, don't do that!) Appendectomies, right? Well I don't remember any of God's prophets killed from a lack of appendix surgeries! Yet God has always healed HIS CHILDREN who love Him. God uses such problems as the appendix to judge grown ups,yet things go wrong, and little children die, but isn't it better that they don't have to go on in this world but rather in a perfect world with their Father? Ohh yea, you believe that's it for the child, no chance, no hope, no love. Your beliefs sentence those children to nothingness and loss. Is that right? The "beef" as you say is in the Bible and you're starving yourself trying to devour the scraps dropped from Darwin's table. But his table is empty by Darwin's own admission. Darwin said "If one could prove that single-celled organisms can split then I am wrong." (I'm paraphrasing) And they can split as your precious science has proven. So why do scientists continue to back Darwin's THEORY? Because they would rather back a lie that they discovered rather than the truth that makes them useless. I'll tell you another miracle of God, friend. The miracle of God changing your heart, and that's the one that's harder than any other, but IT CAN HAPPEN if you'd let it.
400192
I understand your confusion.  I am on here to try to figure out some things also about christians...so here is mmy answer.\n\nI believe in evolution, and will make a very long story very short.  Please just use this as a starting point, because it really is not this simplistic.  I believe animal life started in the water then evolved into land life, and I believe humans are animals also.  I believe plant life evolved from the soil.\n\nAs far as where it all started...I just don't know and I am not ashamed to admit it.  Science hasn't figured out everything.  There is a lot of research being done on it, and you can read more here http://origins.jpl.nasa.gov/index1.html\nClick on astrobiology.  This is just too much for me to explain here but it is a great starting point for you!
631272
Where in the Bible does it say that the Church will be ruptured at a different time from everyone else?  Did God deliver the Hebrews from the Egyptian plagues or did He deliver them through the plagues?  The Church will be here for everything if you believe what the Bible says!
325665
Pre-Tribulation.\nHere's why...\nQUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS.ON.GENESIS_  JEFF.IN  COD  WEDNESDAY_  53-0729\n  51-Q-7    7. Matthew 24:29, speaks of the sun being darkened, the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven. Will this happen before or after the rapture, or just before Jesus comes to r-i--reign on earth?\nTo my humble belief, now, I wouldn't... I don't know; I think he's speaking of Matthew 24, there. Now, Jesus speaking of the stars and things falling, I believe that is just before the tribulation period sets on earth.\nNow, I had a real funny thought here that many of you are going to disagree with me on this; I imagine some of the old-timers heard teaching that we went through it. See, I don't believe the church will go through the tribulation period. I believe the church will... Look, I... The only way I teach the New Testament is by the Old Testament shadow, just like the Holy Ghost here for the sabbath day and so forth. Everything is a shadow back there.\n \nQUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS.ON.GENESIS_  JEFF.IN  COD  WEDNESDAY_  53-0729\n  51-243    Now, look back in the Old Testament. When you see the plagues falling, they were in Egypt, wasn't they? And God was bringing His people out to the promised land. Is that right? And Israel never received one plague. Just as the plagues... Before it went, they went into Goshen. Is that right? And the sun never did dim out; no mosquitoes come; no frogs was there; no lice was there; no storms was there; no lightning was there; no killing of the cattle was there; and everything they had was preserved in Goshen. Is that right? It's a type of the church going just before the tribulation period. Jesus said, "When these things begin to come to pass, lift up your head, your redemption is nigh." See?\nI believe that the moon and sun and stars... And they said that... I'll go ahead and read It, said, "And man run and hid themselves in the--and fell upon their--sought to kill theirselves, and couldn't do it, and everything." I believe that takes place just before the tribulation.\nNow, watch, the tribulation comes. When the tribulation strikes, the church goes up. Now, remember, just an ordinary church without the Holy Ghost goes through the tribulation period. It's only the elect that goes through.\nOh, I could rub something hard here, just for a minute. Would you give me three more minutes? What is the--the raptured people called, the remnant? Is that right? All right... I--I mean it's--it's the Bride. Now, the remnant was left.\n \nQUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS.ON.GENESIS_  JEFF.IN  COD  WEDNESDAY_  53-0729\n  52-247    Now, when a woman goes to cut out a pattern for a skirt, you talk about it. She lays the goods out (Is that right?), the piece of goods. And she lays her pattern down on this. She does the fixing where the pattern's to be cut. Right?\nO brother, this really do you good. Who does the electing? God does the electing. Is that right? It's not me to say; it's Him to say. And He places the pattern over who He will. Is that right?\nNow, there were ten virgins went out to meet the Bridegroom. Is that right?\nWhat is "virgin"? "Virgin" means "pure, holy." Is that right? What is a virgin girl? It's a girl who's never been touched; she's a virgin. What is anything that's pure, like virgin olive oil? It means it's been distilled until it's in it's virginity; it's pure. What is virgin gold? It's when all the dross... It's went through the heat and everything and boiled out all the dross. Is that right? All of the iron and the pyrite, and everything else has been boiled out; it's just in its virgincy.\n \nQUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS.ON.GENESIS_  JEFF.IN  COD  WEDNESDAY_  53-0729\n  52-251    Now, there were ten went to meet the Bridegroom. Jesus said so. That right? How many agree with that, say "Amen." [Congregation
294414
Wow some of these answers are scaring me.\n\nAIDS is caused by a VIRUS - HIV - not by people.  \n\nWhoever it was that said its been around for a long time had it right - and we won't ever know for sure how and when it started.\n\nYes, it was first identified as a "gay man's disease," but obviously, or I thought obviously, we had moved beyond that.  \n\nAnd if its "punishment," then how do you explain babies becoming infected, and the people that were infected early on from blood transfusions, etc?\n\nCome on people.  Get logical here.\n\nViruses aren't punishments.  Viruses and bacteria don't take personal inventories of those they infect.  They just biologically do their thing, and that is to make people sick.  \n\nHIV isn't a punishment anymore than the common cold or the flu is.
488507
Interesting.  The Lord has put many in my life. Right now, I have a group of late teens, early twenties... I am preparing them for college,  by training them in Christian apologetics. This will help them defend their faith against the worldliness of college. My ex-wife... without her I may not have gotten to know the Lord and not be doing what I am doing now.  I had a wonderful class a few years ago and was able to teach science from a Christian perspective. One of the students, Sarah died last week. I believe she is in Heaven. This is rough when you see this happen to a 16 year old. But I hope I was able to make some difference in her and her families life.
633420
I asked too, and was told he has always been present, which scares me and answer a lot of questions.  I guess he was around forever.  He was the one who created everything like, dinosaurs, etc. So I guess he got better along the way and created man and we have been here every since.  WOW!  I never thought of it that way.  Still confused, I am on a mission know.  To be honest I don't think we are going to get a straight answer because that will prove the true existence and challenge everything that we believe.  Imagine what would become of the world if we found out this was all a farce to keep most of us straight.  It is because of religion that we are doing okay today, of course man has rules. laws, and regulations for the ones who are non-believer's and the slackers. That would open up another Pandora's Box.  WOW!
558502
Could you clarify your question?\n\n\nEDIT:\nRead the answer carefully from Leviter_atin... It is good.\n\nReally look at the website s/he provided.\n\nAlso, I recommend you look at at least one book about evolution- "Finding Darwin's God," by Ken Miller.  Miller is a Christian and a cell biologist.  He does a VERY good job of explaining how science/evolution are NOT incompatible with Christianity.
605659
I agree. I have always had an answer that combines both.  When they( Adam and Eve) were banished from The Garden of Eden (punishment for eating the apple) they were told they would be amongst the lowest  life forms. Why could He not have sent them back as a bacterium, as part of punishment, with his divine plan to go through years (even millions of years) of evolution to finally be back to human form. If he is God, evolution could be part of his Divine Plan.
246
I happen to agree that evolution may not be the way god chose to create the world. There must be an intelligent designer - the more I learn science the more I see that must be true. I've watched dr dinos vids and as a scientist I see a lot of cool stuff, but also a bunch of flaws - I loved his work on dinosaurs though.\nThe only scientific evidence for evolution that really leaves me hanging is radioisotope degradation (I can see around C14, but what about the others)\nAnyone want to explain a way around that...I'd be interested!
584658
No evidence of God, this is the point.  It's about belief despite there being no proof.  \n\nI don't believe in God but I don't think that even if there was one anyone could prove the existence..\n\nUsing the human body as 'evidence' is just farcical - yes, it did happen through evolution - look at all the mistakes along the way!  Look at all the barren planets and planetless suns if you want proof that life isn't premeditated - it takes a lot of chances to come together to create life, not a 'creator'.\n\nBesides, if there is a creator I don't think much of 'his' design - bit faulty.  Too prone to disease, accident and mental disorder.\n\nYES I BELIEVE DARWIN as do most sane people.  It's ludicrous to expect people actually to believe that some creator built a world in seven days - here we have actual proof, not stories, of what happened.  Besides, for those of you who seem to think that the world was made by God, who made God?  You're question (which you seem to think is so unanswerable) about 'do you think you just popped into being' should be turned to 'God' - so 'God' just popped into being, hmmm?  The earth developed by itself - it was not created.
104850
Others have already answered the question of Jesus DYING for us.   But there's another major piece you seem confused about.  You say:\n\n"He suppose to survive to help you clean all your sin, not to kill himself and runaway from helping you if he is a god."\n\nIt looks like you missed the END of the story.  \nIn the Apostles Creed (the simple summary of the Christian faith used by Christians around the world) we declare:\n\n"on the third day he rose again from the dead..."\n\nJesus did not die and disappear.  To FINISH the work he ROSE from the dead and was exalted to reign at God's right hand.   (And, by the way, it was NOT just that "his spirit went to heaven" as some say.  No, it was a BODILY resurrection.)   \n\nNow, reigning at God's right hand (until he returns for us), he represents us and gives us the the grace we need (Hebrews 4:14-16) to live new lives, no longer enslaved to sin.\n\nThis is not just some tack on.  It is at the CORE of the message.  Throughout Acts we read that the apostles went about preaching the RESURRECTION.  \n\nPaul summarizes it this way:\n\n"He was delivered up for our trespasses \nand raised to life for our justification [that is, our being accepted by God and declared RIGHTEOUS]"  (Romans 4:25)
609185
First off I would like to say that the theory of evolution has nothing to do with humans or creation of our world as many anti-evolutionists seem to believe.  Next, if you deny evolution than how can you explain antibiotic resistant bacteria, insecticide resistant insects, etc, etc, etc.  If you confuse evolution and human evolution then that is your own issue as so many have previously posted.  Lastly, about our own HUMAN evolution, if you think that humans do not evolve, then you believe we are not a living part of this natural world and deny HERITABLE MUTATION.  If you deny all of this and still deny evolution, human or not, then I truly believe you are a lunatic and don't believe in worldly fact.  You might as well say the world is flat and pray to the sun God.  PLEASE DO NOT DISREGARD SCIENCE AS SO MANY PEOPLE DO, LOOK AT THE FACTS (NOT THE PROPAGANDA THAT RELIGIOUS PEOPLE MAY FILL YOU WITH) AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU WILL COME TO UNDERSTAND EVOLUTION AND ITS KEY CONCEPTS WHICH IS THE ONLY THING WE CAN REALLY BANK ON IN THIS WORLD.