“Which of the thousands (of creation stories) have you chosen to believe?”
It must first be pointed out that it is false to presume that the presence of many possible answers to a question/problem “proves” that none of them is correct.
Secondly, it is also false to presume that there exists “thousands” of creation stories. In reality, as has been astutely pointed out: “When it comes to the truly Big Questions, there are very few men (or women) in the room.”
Answers which have garnered significant adherents among different human cultures include: polytheism, monism, belief in the divine Trinity, and atheism.
One could obviously spend all day arguing for or against these alternatives. I, for one, believe that the strongest case can be made for Trinitarianism.
Why? Because it is an irrefutable truth and reality that unimaginable levels of inherent design and complexity CANNOT spontaneously arise from time plus chance plus matter.
To give an example, suppose that during a walk in the woods, you were to suddenly and inexplicably come across a wristwatch laying on the path. Would you spontaneously exclaim: “There must have been some amazing confluence of minerals in the soil, moisture, etc. along with perhaps a perfectly-timed lightning bolt that “created” this watch!”
Anyone who would seriously propose such nonsense would be a candidate for a mental institution. We all know and recognize objects which obviously have been “made” by humans. Similarly, anyone who has studied living things on a cellular level cannot help but be amazed at the level of complexity and inherent design that is evident.
The biological cell has been compared to the astounding complexities of a vast metropolis. Furthermore, it is believed that we only understand about 3% of what is going on inside a cell.
This in a nutshell is one argument for “Intelligent Design.” The concept of the Trinity holds that the universe is not empty silence, but from time immemorial there has existed a Divine communication and relationship.
I have gone on too long. Hope this helps. Full disclosure: I have an earned B.A. in Bible and Theology, an M.A. in Theological Studies, and a Ph.D. in Religion, all from respectable institutions of higher learning.
Where are your SCIENCE degrees?
--Ardent_Evolutionist(Hail Darwin!!)
I would remark, "This 'thing' - whatever it is - is apparently incapable of reproducing!"
(Grant me that I am permitted to take the watch into a lab and observe it long enough - to place it on growth media, etc. - to come to this conclusion.)
The mere fact that it cannot reproduce itself - that it thus lacks one of the basic properties or earmarks of life - is already a strong indication that it is a mere artifact, i.e., that it was MADE.
Whereas: A living organism is far more likely to be the product of countless generations of evolution over billions of years.
Regards,
Never said that that "proves" that none of them is correct. Rather, it merely supports the standpoint that anyone claiming to have THE answer is probably talking out of his hat. It supports the standpoint that one should therefore be very skeptical. It supports the policy of not saying, "Well, of course the religion *I* grew up with just *happens* to be the only correct one!"
Secondly, it is also false to presume that there exists “thousands” of creation stories. In reality, as has been astutely pointed out: “When it comes to the truly Big Questions, there are very few men (or women) in the room.”
"Objection, Your Honor! Counsel assuming facts not in evidence!"
Your claiming that it was an "astute" observation does not make it so. Else I could, with equal validity, point out: "When it comes to the truly Big Questions, there are literally thousands in the room."
Regards,