Is Atheism an Intellectual or a Moral Issue?

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.”¹

I recently watched the DVD, “Journey Toward Creation … Travel Back to When Light First Sprang from Darkness,” narrated by astronomer and author, Dr. Hugh Ross. Because of modern technology we are now able to view vast areas of the universe going back millions of light years. The incredible vastness of the universe and its formation is staggering. To accept all of this as happening by chance would take a mountain more of faith than to believe it all happened by intelligent design by a divine creator. And still the atheist says there is no God.

If I say there is no God, I make myself the final voice of authority and therein usurp the role of God in my life. I become a god unto myself. Furthermore, the more we learn about life and the more educated we become the more we realize how little we know about this world let alone about the vast expanse of the universe. As Thomas A. Edison said, “Until man duplicates a blade of grass, Nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge … it is obvious that we don’t understand one millionth of one percent about anything.”²

Undoubtedly there are many factors as to why we believe what we do. For many, much is shaped by their upbringing and what they were taught in their formative years. One’s belief system is also affected by how personally honest or dishonest he/she is with his/her inner truth. For instance, if I have unresolved supercharged repressed negative emotions, the defenses I have developed to protect myself from being in touch with these painful emotions give me warped lenses through which I view life’s events and end up with a distorted world view. As Cecil Osborne said, “Every unshed tear [and buried emotion] is a prism through which all of life’s hurts are distorted.”

In the end we ultimately believe what we choose to believe—often what is the most convenient for us. For instance, if I choose to believe in God, I know I am morally responsible. On the other hand, if I chose not to believe in God, I delude myself into thinking I am not morally responsible and can live as I please. For example, “Philosopher Mortimer Adler, one of the great intellectuals of the twentieth century, believed Christianity was true, but refused to accept it because it would interfere with his lifestyle. In time, he overcame that objection and became a Christian, which, given the evidence, was the only rational thing to do.”³ I would dare to suggest that maybe, just maybe, his honesty led him in his choice to make a commitment of his life to God and become a Christian.

So is atheism an intellectual or a moral problem? As Bill O’Reilly would say, “We report—you decide.”

Note: If you have never made a commitment of your life to God and would like to do so today, be sure to read the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian—without having to be religious” at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be personally honest so that I will not have a distorted world view and a distorted view of reality. Please lead me on the path to truth so that I will clearly see all truth including the truth about you, the universe and all creation. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

from DailyEncounter, 02-13-2008

Camera can see through clothing

LONDON (UPI) — Developers of a specialized camera that can help police detect weapons and drugs under clothing say they will show it off in England this week.

The camera, which can see through clothing at distances of up to 80 feet, could be used by authorities in such places as railway stations and airports, The Sunday Times of London reported.

The newspaper reported that while the T5000 system can detect objects under clothing, it does not show anatomical details. It works by detecting and measuring terahertz waves, or T-waves for short.

Because each object emits different wavelengths, the camera can distinguish, for example, between sugar and cocaine, the newspaper reported.

The technology, originally designed for use in spacecraft to see through clouds of cosmic dust, was developed by ThruVision, an English company.

“Acts of terrorism have shaken the world in recent years and security precautions have been tightened globally. The T5000 dramatically extends the range over which we can scan people,” said ThruVision Chief Executive Clive Beattie.

The camera will be showcased at the Home Office scientific development branch’s annual exhibition at an airbase in Buckinghamshire, the newspaper said.

From Arcamax Science and Technology e-zine, 03-11-2008

The Miley Cyrus responsibility…

I got the chance to watch Oprah last night from Studio23. I know that Studio23’s Oprah episodes are way so yesterday. Well, in yesterday’s episode, the guests were Miley Cyrus and her dad Billy Ray Cyrus - I guess everybody knows who these two people are; if you don’t, you’ve been living under a rock for quite long.

There was a part when Miley was talking about her getting a credit card. She said something like,

“I got a credit card and my dad told me to be responsible with it. And I lost it in just two days!” [this is not exactly how she said it]

Oprah: “With your name on it?!”

So much for being responsible…

Whoever finds it, or whoever found it, is so lucky. Miley can just close that account but the card, with her name on it!, will be worth a lot. For auction?

The episode was fun. But for me, that was the most fun of it.

the timing is so right…

05-11-2008:

Notice the date.

Great! Just great! What’s the date today? May 11. Yeah. And Ghost Whisperer is talking about disasters that happened May 3. Cool. Awesome. The timing is just so right. It’s 2008. The first tragedy happened 2003. The last one “will” happen 2007. They were talking about five’s. Bummer that it’s 2008? Dunno. it’s just creepy cool.

Robots may someday operate without doctors

DURHAM, N.C. (UPI) — U.S. engineers say the world is moving closer to the day when robots will perform surgery with minimal or no guidance from a doctor.

Duke University researchers say their feasibility studies may represent the first concrete steps toward achieving such a space age vision of the future.

For their experiments, the engineers used a rudimentary tabletop robot whose “eyes” used a 3-D ultrasound technology. An artificial intelligence program served as the robot’s “brain,” taking real-time 3-D information, processing it and giving the robot commands to perform.

“In a number of tasks, the computer was able to direct the robot’s actions,” said Stephen Smith, director of the university’s Ultrasound Transducer Group. “We believe this is the first proof-of-concept for this approach.

“Given that we achieved these early results with a rudimentary robot and a basic artificial intelligence program, the technology will advance to the point where robots — without the guidance of the doctor — can someday operate on people.”

The research appears online in the journal IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control. A second study, published in the April issue of the journal Ultrasonic Imaging, demonstrated the robot could successfully perform a simulated needle biopsy.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

from Arcamax Science and Technology e-zine, 05-11-2008

Witnessing Made Easy

Witnessing - some, I mean most, of us find this part of our faith hard to do. So we need some tips to do that. Here’s some…

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things.”¹

“Do you remember the Mercedes TV commercial a few years ago that showed a Mercedes crashing into a concrete wall during a safety test? An engineer in a white lab coat walks over after the crash and kneels down to examine the damage, which is minimal. A reporter then asks the engineer about Mercedes’ energy absorbing car body. After the engineer tells all about the unique design the reporter asks him why Mercedes doesn’t enforce their patent on the design, a design evidently copied by several other companies because of its success.

“The engineer then replied matter-of-factly, ‘Because some things in life are too important not to share.’ How true this is. There are many things in life that fall into this ‘too important not to share category.’ Advances in science, in medicine, in technology. But all of these pale in importance to that of sharing our faith.”²

As Billy Graham said, “I am convinced the greatest act of love we can ever perform for people is to tell them about God’s love for them in Christ.”

There are many ways we can do this. Here’s one very simple way. For example, whenever I eat at a restaurant, I always leave one of my Good News business witness cards with the tip. And whenever a suitable opportunity arises, without being pushy, I ask the person I am talking to if I can give him or her one of my cards. It is a very attractive card that invites people to visit one of our Good News websites. The site has many articles that speak to the felt needs of the average person—articles that deal with overcoming worry, stress, marriage, relationships, and the like.

And, by the way, speaking to an individual’s felt needs is the only known sure-fire way to get people to read any message. The website also has a highly visible link to the clear gospel message, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian … without having to be religious.” The general card I give out in the U.S. points to: www.GoodNewsfor.com/usa. (In time we will have them for other countries and in other languages as well.)

I’ve never had anyone ever refuse to accept one of these cards. They are attractively printed and are not in any way preachy. This is a very easy, attractive, and non-offensive way to witness even for the most timid person. If you live in the U.S., or have friends who live in the U.S., I encourage you to send for a package of 50 of the “Good News for USA” business witness cards to give to family, friends and contacts. They are only a web click away at: https://actscom.com/donate.php and are available for a donation, not only to cover the cost of printing and postage, but also to help support the building and maintaining of this gospel web outreach ministry.

It is true, the gospel message of Jesus Christ is far too important not to share. Please send today for a pack of Good News Business Witness cards so you, too, can be involved in what God is doing in the world today.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, I come to you with all my fears making myself available for you to use as a witness for Jesus Christ. Please use me to be ‘as Christ’ in some way to someone in need today, and give me the courage to share my Christian faith in a non-offensive and gracious way. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

from DailyEncounter, 02-11-2008

Mother or father?

For mother’s day…

from Arcamax e-zine Saturday May 10, 2008…

Space Tourism

Space tourism: the next frontier?

NEWARK, Del. (UPI) — U.S. and Italian researchers predict outer space will become a frequent tourist destination during this century.

“In the 21st century, space tourism could represent the most significant development experienced by the tourism industry,” said University of Delaware Professor Fred DeMicco.

DeMicco, along with Professor Silvia Ciccarelli of the University of Rome — a consultant to the Italian Association of Aerospace Industries — said while there are global policies to be determined relating to private ventures in space, the technology to make space travel safer and cheaper is moving forward.

Ciccarelli said suborbital trips will likely be available to tourists by 2015, while tourism in space hotels is predicted to become a reality by 2025. She also noted the low-gravity of space will make possible novel recreational and sports activities that are impossible on Earth.

The study is to appear in the journal Hospitality Educator.

from: Arcamax Science & Technology e-zine 03-12-2008

I am so happy… ecstatic maybe!!!

I was finally able to play my all-time favorite online game ROSE Online… (that was yesterday…)

wahahahahaha…

It just rocks!!!

thanks AruaROSE…!!!

I’ve just started but I’m gonna continue playing and make my character stronger and better…

It really was very sad when pROSE had to shut down but…

ROSE Online, I’m back! I am so back!

Maximum Ride manga… cool!

Awesome!

This post told me that a new Maximum Ride book in manga is coming out! And Max looks cool on the cover…

Check this out!

Ain’t it just awesome?

Cool, cool…