CreateDebate


Debate Info

85
114
Yes, it is the word of God No, it should not be believed
Debate Score:199
Arguments:139
Total Votes:248
More Stats

Argument Ratio

side graph
 
 Yes, it is the word of God (56)
 
 No, it should not be believed (77)

Debate Creator

judas(295) pic



Noah's Ark, Jonah and the Whale, Adam and Eve....Do you believe in fairy tales?

         The story of Noah's Ark in the Old Testement asserts that 'Noah' built a ship of gopher wood, 300 cubits (or 440 feet) long, that would eventually house two of every of the millions of species of animals that inhabit the earth today. These animals were apperently compelled to travel to noah, (flying over or swimming though oceans?), board the ship willingly, and not eat one another for the duration of the trip. These are the remenants of life on earth that god apparently spared during a flood which was sent due to mankinds evil deeds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noahs_Ark

 

         Jonah son ofappears in 2 Kings in the Old Testament as a prophet from Gath-Hepher (a few miles north of Nazareth) active during the reign of Jeroboam II (c.786-746 BC), where he predicts that Jeroboam will recover certain lost territories. Jonah is purposely thrown overboard by his shipmates and is eaten by a "great fish". Jonah spends 3 days and 3 nights apparently living without water or oxygen inside of the stomach of the fish before he preys to God and God makes the fish vomit him out.

 

        In the story of Adam and Eve in genesis, Adam is created by God from a handful of dirt. Eve is created by god from a rib taken from Adams chest. This apparently occurs on the 6th day of creation.  Adam and Eve are then commanded to name the various animals who exist in the exact form that they do today. Evolution is not implied or mentioned at all.

 

 

Yes, it is the word of God

Side Score: 85
VS.

No, it should not be believed

Side Score: 114
2 points

I believe that Noah's ark, Jonah and the Whale and Adam and Eve actually happened. Adam and Eve were the first human beings on this earth and that's how we got populated because through male and female.

Jonah and the whale symbolizes that if Jonah was in the whale 3 days and 3 nights so was the Son of Man (Jesus) would lay in His tomb for three days to the resurrection.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
ChuckHades(3197) Disputed
2 points

Adam and Eve were the first human beings on this earth and that's how we got populated because through male and female.

You do realise that would require mass inbreeding, which would make our gene pool more of a gene puddle...

Ew God... you nasty ;)

Side: No, it should not be believed
Jace(5222) Disputed
1 point

You believe it, but can you prove it? Faith is not knowledge, it is an unsubstantiated set of beliefs that definitionally cannot be proven.

Side: No, it should not be believed
TudorRose(117) Disputed
1 point

Okay so please explain how, on 'Noah's Ark', the lions didn't eat the zebras? How did two of EVERY living species get on that ark? How did the flies get on, the bacteria? It's impossible. Where did all the wood come from to make it, the Amazon? Cause believe you me to make a boat that size requires A LOT of material.

Adam and Eve...the Genesis story right? Oh wait.. the SECOND Genesis story.. don't you find that just a tad suspicious that the OT tells of a fiery, war-like warrior God and then the NT describes how 'loving and forgiving' God is...? Contradictory? I think so.

Side: No, it should not be believed
Srom(12206) Disputed
2 points

Okay so please explain how, on 'Noah's Ark', the lions didn't eat the zebras? How did two of EVERY living species get on that ark? How did the flies get on, the bacteria? It's impossible. Where did all the wood come from to make it, the Amazon? Cause believe you me to make a boat that size requires A LOT of material.

I don't know what happened inside the ark. It never says in the Bible what happened in the ark. What I can predict is that God probably tamed the animals to not fight or to not do thing to each other.

The wood? Isn't it obvious? Trees? And it worked the ark they actually built a replica of it.

Adam and Eve...the Genesis story right? Oh wait.. the SECOND Genesis story.. don't you find that just a tad suspicious that the OT tells of a fiery, war-like warrior God and then the NT describes how 'loving and forgiving' God is...? Contradictory? I think so.

I can point out that back when Adam and Eve were created the snakes has arms and legs but then once the serpent tempted Eve and then they sinned God said from now on you will crawl on your belly for the rest of your life and we have snakes crawl on their bellies.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
2 points

Are you asking me about the Holy Bible of fairy tales? Pick one.

It is completely unfair to put it into one question implying that the holy bible is untrue without question. Which is funny because one who is mocking Christianity is usually an atheist who claims to rely on science.

So tell me how scientific is it to assume Christianity to be false without question?? It's laughable how unscientific atheists tend to be when poking fun at Christians.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
2 points

Tell me how scientific it is to assume Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, etc are fiction. It can be safely assumed that the stories in the bible are no more valid than the stories in the books I just referenced.

They're quite loaded with physically impossible things, according to the current laws of physics. Oh and please don't try appealing to future evidence regarding the laws of physics. That would be a logical fallacy.

Side: No, it should not be believed
JakeJ(3255) Disputed
2 points

"Tell me how scientific it is to assume Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, etc are fiction."

That's not an assumption. We know J.K. Rowling is a person who admittedly wrote fiction as did Tolkien. We have their birth records. Comments on what inspired their writing etc.

The bible however is inspired of God. Yes written by prophets who are men. So it's a different ballgame.

But even if you don't believe that, it still doesn't make sense to directly compare the two ideas as you did.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
Troy8(2433) Disputed
1 point

It can be safely assumed that the stories in the bible are no more valid than the stories in the books I just referenced.

Actually it can't be. The Bible matches up pretty accurately with archaeological findings from that period of time.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
AveSatanas(4443) Disputed
1 point

No actually, we don't even need science in this case. We only need logic and freaking common sense. Also, atheists are extremely scientific when disproving christianity what the hell are you talking about? We don't even need science half the time. There's also logic, reason, common sense, historical fact, and lack of such for god. And rarely do we "poke fun". Mainly we give very detailed supported evidence that you either make excuses for or deny altogether. And actually it is fair to question the factuality of the bible as a whole. Historically and Scientifically it has been proven absolutely non factual. Save for a handfull of people and places.

Side: No, it should not be believed
JakeJ(3255) Disputed
3 points

"No actually, we don't even need science in this case. We only need logic and freaking common sense."

It's your common sense vs mine! This is exactly why we need science.

"when disproving christianity"

When? (;

"We don't even need science half the time. There's also logic, reason, common sense, historical fact, and lack of such for god. "

So we don't need science half the time because we have science?

"And rarely do we "poke fun"."

K big shot, you must be new to create debate, and that's fine but I'm sure you will observe what I am talking about.

And I realize that you individually may not poke fun and I would applaud you for it.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
1 point

I believe it to be true. It is not a fairy tale, but that's up to people to decide for themselves.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
Apollo(1608) Clarified
2 points

I believe it to be true.

Why ?

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
1 point

Its not fairy tales. It is the word of the lord, acts of God.

If you don't belive in this fine by me but you will not turn me if you try.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
0 points

If they help me become a better person, then yes.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
LeRoyJames(372) Disputed
1 point

How does believing in a bunch of myths make you a better person?

Side: No, it should not be believed
Troy8(2433) Disputed
2 points

You're not believing in myths, you're believing in what you know is the truth.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
_deleted0_(850) Disputed
1 point

A story can make you a better person even though it isn't true.

Once there was boy who lied to his mother. Then he had to be punished, because he disobeyed his parents. His punishment was, that he would take care of the pigs in the pigpen. It was very gross in there, and he did not like this job.

He begged his mother to let him go, he promised that he would never ever lie again.

So the mother let him go, and since then the little boy never told another lie.

What did we learn from that really boring story I just wrote? You shouldn't lie.

Therefore you just made yourself a better person by reading a story which wasn't real.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
Axmeister(4322) Disputed
0 points

They create moral guidlenes for people to follow, they also encourage us to help one another and make a better society. Unlike the atheistic "Survival of the Fittest" which infers that you should do everything for yourself.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
Apollo(1608) Clarified
1 point

How, for example, did the tale of the 10 Egyptian Plagues help you become a better person?

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
Axmeister(4322) Disputed
0 points

Don't make other people into slaves.

Side: No, it should not be believed
Dremorius(861) Disputed
1 point

...

...

...

...

TRIANGLES.

O.o

... Btw you mad bro? So you believe that every story that has a moral really happened?

Side: No, it should not be believed
Axmeister(4322) Disputed
1 point

Spam? I wouldn't expect that sort of thing from you Dremorius.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
0 points

The purpose of the Bible isn't to be believable but is a vehicle for God to deliver His Word to His children. The Bible doesn't bare the burden of believability or to prove itself out to those that oppose it. Even more, it is clear from scripture that it is Gods intent to hide His truth from those that refuse to believe.

Yet, it can be said that the Bible is consistent to itself and to the intent of its God. Odd it is that no one challenges Jesus turning water into wine, which implies a concession that some miracles are easier for God than others.

God Himself says that His Gospel is foolishness and the Creation stories bare this out from our perspective.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
judas(295) Disputed
1 point

"Gods intent to hide His truth from those that refuse to believe"

Does god intend to exclude the critical thinkers from his kingdom? Does god only want the gullible dummies that believe whatever they are told?

I don't refuse to believe anything. If your god stood out at all from the hundreds of other religions and value systems I would know what to do. Apparently god has made me so damaged that I cannot understand. I guess I deserve to be set on fire...and burned for eternity. My bad.

Side: No, it should not be believed
-1 points

Yes, it is the Word of God. Praise be to Him and to the Lamb!

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
judas(295) Disputed
1 point

Not a fan of logic?

The words were written by men. God supposedly even gave us some hand written documents, (the ten commandments) but he did not include the Bible. Clearly a work of man.

Side: No, it should not be believed
Troy8(2433) Disputed
2 points

The words were written by men.

But inspired by God.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
lolzors93(3225) Disputed
1 point

I'm pretty logical if you don't mind me saying... haha

The Bible has been written by man but all spoken by God. It is clearly a case of divine inspiration.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
Dremorius(861) Disputed
1 point

XD LAMBS XD

Sounds like a cult to me.

Side: No, it should not be believed
5 points

Talking snakes and donkeys. A flood covering the whole Earth, yet no trace of the extra water. Fantastical beasts and people being turned into, of all things, salt. They pretty much checked off every number on "Fairy Tale Writing for Dummies".

Side: No, it should not be believed
Axmeister(4322) Disputed
1 point

In the beginning there was nothing, then nothing happened to nothing. This consequently caused a huge explosion from which the universe appeared! This lead to lot's of rocks floating around in nothing smashing into each other, which then caused life!

However this lifeform was only tiny and wanted to gain an advantage over the other lifeforms (if there were any) it had to change and evolve. This led to life appearing in all it's forms and the world becoming what it is today.

It's very easy to ridicule something if you ignore all the explanations.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
IronManic(54) Disputed
5 points

In the beginning there was a singularity, then it had a quantum fluctuation. This consequently caused the Big Bang, from which all of the energy of the singularity now began to experience Space and Time and the Laws of physics, leading to the potential for the universe to form as we know it. The simplest elements, hydrogen and helium formed, and in certain gravitational regions, formed stars. These stars created the remaining elements through fusion. When the first generation of stars died, the matter within them was spewed throughout the universe, creating rocks, dust and gas. Sometimes gravitation or the effects of nearby supernovas would cause these regions to condense and coalesce, forming solar systems. In most cases, planets and often entire solar systems are probably not in the position to form life, but since water and organic materials are both very common throughout the cosmos, it stands to reason that, once in a great while, the features of a new solar system would be able to eventually foster life, once the planet in question has cooled down.

Combining organic compounds with other chemicals and heat can create self-replicating "bubbles". If one of the bubbles happens to develop a method of using the outside heat energy we already discussed, this process can go on for quite some time, and with more time, bigger bubbles and more elements and molecules being added, we increase the possibility of internal metabolism and nucleic sequences that propagate themselves and the molecules riding along with them. Then we get simple life. Not yet locked into a complex DNA code and only needing a few relatively simple structures, this may have been the most versatile life ever known. It could have taken on countless forms, most of which were failures, but a few managed to be well suited to the environment, and some of those became suited to surrounding environments. The increasing range of life combined with opening up new environments created a smorgasbord of possibilities for natural selection to sculpt them even further. Huge events like some life releasing oxygen when they metabolize and later life forms becoming predators made huge changes in the course of evolution for most organisms, and the radiation to land also opened up many possibilities. This led to life appearing in all it's forms and the world becoming what it is today.

It's very easy to ridicule something if you ignore all the explanations.

Side: No, it should not be believed
Elvira(3446) Disputed
1 point

Nah- It's the big crunch: that is the best theory out there. Evolution- it's all to do with radiation knocking away atoms in dna causing mutations... pretty simple stuff really.

Side: No, it should not be believed
Troy8(2433) Disputed
0 points

You are aware that God is supernatural right? It seems like you're putting some hefty limits on what he is capable of doing...

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
IronManic(54) Disputed
2 points

Its not like I'm saying he could not do these things. I'm saying I do not find the Bible convincing. If these sorts of things were going on today and had better historical support, I might be singing a different tune. Everybody from the ancient Greeks, to the Brothers Grimm to Disney has conjured up similar kinds of tales, and we don't give them credence.

Side: No, it should not be believed
4 points

No evidence? Just thoughts?

So, we're all in agreement then? The Bible is just a bunch of silly stories?

Side: No, it should not be believed
Troy8(2433) Disputed
0 points

Just because there's no evidence doesn't mean its not true. If that's your conclusion, that's fine, you can believe whatever you want.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
judas(295) Disputed
1 point

But there is evidence that it is not true.

The discovery of evolution and dinosaurs and carbon dating are all evidence that there was no garden of eden in the beginning or couple that named all the animals and talked to snakes. I can provide plenty of evidence that snakes do not talk if you'd like. I can provide evidence that you cannot start a healthy population from two individuals.

The now known world of millions of species of animals is very good evidence that they did not all get on the boat before this worldwide flood of Noah. Did kangaroos hop over oceans to get to Noah in the middle east? How is it that the kangaroos survived the flood? I can provide plenty of evidence that kangaroos cannot hop over oceans.

There is nothing but evidence to support the claim that these are all silly stories. It's quite easy to explain why a human being could not live in a fishes stomach for 3 days, or why Noah's Ark is not likely, or why there was no garden of eden.

Is there any real evidence to the contrary besides this silly book?

Side: No, it should not be believed

When I read them, they lower my opinion of God. Here's a guy who can sit upon the Infinite and say "Let there be light" and THEN 'THERE'S LIGHT". But when it comes to saving the world from a flood, he's gotta go to the desert and tell an old man to build a boat, a really HUGE fucking boat. But wait! There's more. Now, we need you together two species of every kind ---even though scientist would later prove that the ark could have even come close to holding all of them--- and then they gotta wait for it to rain. That just seems like an awful lot of work for both Noah and God. It seems that if I were God I may want to... I dont' know.... DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE RAIN!!! And that makes me think that this God that everyone worships isn't all that bright.

Side: No, it should not be believed
lolzors93(3225) Disputed
2 points

How is God not smart? He created the cell that has a "tail" that spins at 100,000 rpms... not even our smartest scientists can create anything like that let alone from nothing!

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
2 points

He uses violence to solve his problems, typically a sign of extreme stupidity.

Side: No, it should not be believed
ChuckHades(3197) Disputed
1 point

Prove it.

Side: No, it should not be believed
Dremorius(861) Disputed
1 point

Then that means he created viruses, bacteria and parasites. ISN'T THAT AMAZING?

Side: No, it should not be believed

Here's an interesting article with references concluding that; based off recent genetic research, a Biblical Adam and Eve never existed. (Also that the Noah's Ark story cannot be taken literally). http://biologos.org/blog/does-genetics-point-to-a-single-primal-couple

Basically, it shows that the human population could not have originated from a single breeding pair, nor has the breeding population ever been below a few thousand, based on 3 different genetic studies.

It seems to me that, if the Adam and Eve story must be relegated to being an analogy or myth, not to be taken literally, than the entire foundation of Christianity is on very shaky ground. It would appear, based on the evidence, that this is exactly the case.

It is also interesting to note this article is found on the Biologos website- an Evangelical Christian apologetics site, dedicated to reconciling scientific discoveries with Christian scripture. Of course, they have yet to make an official stance on the matter.

Supporting Evidence: Article Link (biologos.org)
Side: No, it should not be believed
JesusSaves(2) Clarified
2 points

Any citations from Christian organizations that are reconciling creation to science can be pretty much thrown in the trash. Most learned Christians are embarrassed by these oddballs.

Side: Yes, it is the word of God

Yeah, I think I can agree with this sentiment. This doesn't invalidate the actual research however, which is published in scientifically peer-reviewed papers.

http://www.genetics.org/content/147/4/1977.full.pdf+html

http://genome.cshlp.org/content/17/4/520.short

and here's more recent one:

http://mbe.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/08/09/molbev.mss175.abstract

Side: No, it should not be believed
Axmeister(4322) Disputed
2 points

"Basically, it shows that the human population could not have originated from a single breeding pair, nor has the breeding population ever been below a few thousand, based on 3 different genetic studies."

Doesn't that also destroy the theory of Evolution? For a species to maintain a breeding population, thousands of creatures from another species would have had to evolve at the same to do it?

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
1 point

Hahaha upvote for you! Believe in FAIRY TALES Nice. No, no i don't! I would explain but am currently in the middle of a religious dispute with someone else, an quite busy! Check it out!

Side: No, it should not be believed

Ok really? How stupid do you have to be to believe this garbage? I could see arguments if these things were just improbable, but they are 100% IMPOSSIBLE in every way. 2 of every species CANNOT fit on a boat 300c long. Its not possible. There's also absolutely no evidence for a flood of the world. The whole story is so ridiculous that its honestly just plain retarded. Johah and the whale, again IMPOSSIBLE, not just unlikely, NOT POSSIBLE, i shouldn't need to explain why. Adam and Eve, ok really? God created a man out of dirt and a wife for him out of a rib in a magical garden? It sounds straight out of a fairytale book because it IS. This is downright impossible and also doesn't make sense. Why can god poof the universe into existence including dirt but needed substance to make man? Also mans entire structure cannot be found in a handful of dirt. Its impossible. A wife from a rib bone is even more impossible. If you sincerely believe this you are delusional. There is 0 evidence to support this scientifically, historically, and physically. It did not happen.

Now i know people say "oh well there just stories to teach morals". There are two things wrong with this argument. 1, the bible says over and over that everything in it is true and should be believed, so therefore if you believe in god and jesus you have to believe in these stories. You cant pick and choose just to not look crazy, even though you do already because you believe in a magical sky daddy but that's besides the point. 2, what morals? A Moral by dictionary standards is defined as: of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical: moral attitudes. Right and wrong, knowing this now lets look at these stories. Noah's Ark, what the hell does it teach us about right and wrong, just behavior? Believe god and do what he says otherwise you'll die like the rest of the world...or even more simply, do what god says. This isn't moral teaching, you cant apply this to real life in any way and it most certainly has nothing to do with distinguishing from right and wrong. Unless of course "right" is doing what god says, and if you do otherwise ("wrong") then you perish. Its just more brainwashing. Believe in god, do what he says. These things are repeated HUNDREDS of times in the bible. If god is real and we should believe in him WHY is it so hard to? And why does it need to be drilled into our heads over and over and over and over? So you don't question it. Anyway moving on. Jonah and the Whale. What does this teach us? What morals are to be found? None! Pray to god and he'll save you from danger. Believe in god. Again, this isn't moral. Just more drills. Adam and Eve. What morals?! And if by moral you mean do what god says is right, this is a twisted way of looking at moral behavior. The bible says do what is "right" (in this case obey god) because if you don't you'll be killed and sent to hell to suffer for eternity... But if you ask a normal person, they would say do what is right because it is the right thing to do and the right way to behave. Not for fear of hell or just to get into this happy place in the sky. Do what god says or you'll be punished. God has no morals. What do we consider to be right? Treat others well, don't kill, don't steal, ect ect. We know these things. We don't need a storybook to teach these to us. Were practically born with them in this day and age. Also, god is a hypocrite because he defies these morals he lays out for everyone else. He tells everyone these things, then floods the earth, commands genocide (thus making others into hypocrites), and more and more immoral things. I guess you just gotta look at it yourself and determine, do i do what is right because i am a good, just, and moral person fit for today's world? Or, do i do what is "right" because god told me to and if i don't ill burn in hell for eternity? The second option is basically saying that you're a weak, horribly immoral animal with no sense of right or wrong and need this infallible word of god as well as scare tactics and threats to make you do what is "right"? I for one, don't believe this is how humans are. I have faith in HUMANITY. In my fellow MAN. Not some evil sky daddy. I strongly believe that if Christainity just disappeared tomorrow, we wouldn't revert back to cavemen. Society would carry on as it always has.

Side: No, it should not be believed
Axmeister(4322) Disputed
2 points

What's the point of joiing in a debate if you're 100% convinced that everything the opposing side will say is completly false an wrong?

Side: Yes, it is the word of God
AveSatanas(4443) Disputed
1 point

Nobody joins a debate if they even agree a little with what the other side says. Its the whole point of a debate. One side who is 100% convinced they're right VS another who thinks the same. Debates aren't for the debaters. Its for the people who are undecided reading each side to make their own choice based on which side presented the best argument. Best arguments which only arise when the debater is 100% committed to his or her side. Also in this case, the other side IS completely false and wrong. Its not like one presidential candidate vs another. In that debate both could be right on things and wrong on other things. It varies greatly. In this one, there's indisputable FACT, reason, logic, science and history VS a few ridiculous fairy tales. This debate shouldn't even exist.

Side: No, it should not be believed
1 point

I'm quite sure scientists have already disproved Adam and eve. Found that Noah's arch told the story of the black sea over flowing and I'm pretty sure that if you were in a fishes stomach then the stomach acid would deteriorate your body.

Side: No, it should not be believed

You do not know where it came from. do not believe others sweet talking. I guessed the person who came up with those stories had a big mouth. Adam and Eve? Who would be alive? Adam and Eve only. Who will know that?

Side: No, it should not be believed

There are certain stories in the Bible that do equate to being fairytales. This is why questioning of the Bible is necessary.

Side: No, it should not be believed