@sacerdotus we repeat ourselves because our arguments still hold and have yet to be answered by the religious
— Krzysztof (@Krzysztof87) January 1, 2013

No atheist arguments hold.  Atheists who enter a discussion with a closed mind have their minds already settled on how to respond to any proof provided to them.

Did the first born male Egyptians in Exodus go to heaven or hell? Stop avoiding the question. @sacerdotus @zink30rebecca @ronin51
— Mouse Cop (@justfole) January 1, 2013

I already answered the question.  The Vatican in 2005 denounced the 800 year old Limbo hypothesis.  See more here:  http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/cti_documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070419_un-baptised-infants_en.html

@sacerdotus #atheism Ur bible is a description of what ur god did, what he expects & how he punishes transgressions.It “reflects” nothing
— Gary Bernier (@ronin51) January 1, 2013

Not at all.  It is the story of how God has directed the redemption of man and prepared the world for the Christ.

@sacerdotus #atheists #atheism Ur bible is a manual and sanction for any atrocity anyone would care to commit. Makes Mein Kampf seem tame.
— Gary Bernier (@ronin51) January 1, 2013

Hogwash.  The Bible contains the story of man’s salvation; of course, any story involving human beings will have the drama of the human experience.

@sacerdotus Ur god doesn’t kill, he just repos lives. U r really sick. That is the dumbest thing I’ve heard. No wonder #atheism is growing.
— Gary Bernier (@ronin51) January 1, 2013

Sick how?  How can God kill if He created it?   God gives and takes.  We belong to Him.  Atheism has the lowest retention rate of any religion.   It appears to be growing, but this is due to the social media which exaggerates reports.

@sacerdotus @zink30rebecca @justfole @ronin51 Try saying that to a grieving mother sometime. But don’t be surprised if you get punched.
— Rebecca (@Zink30Rebecca) January 1, 2013

I seriously doubt it since abortion is the thing that is slaughtering children today, not plagues.  You asked me about the Bible, not current times.  People thought differently then than they do now.

@sacerdotus @ronin51 The bible clearly states the flood wiped out all humanity save Noah & his kin; effectively world wide.
— Meat Bagg (@MeatBagg88) January 1, 2013

You have to remember that the people at the time thought the world was not this huge thing we know it is now.  They literally thought the Earth was a semi dome.  The “whole” world was whatever they saw.  They had no idea there was more to the Earth than their local areas.  In light of this. other species could have survived without being in an ark.

Good thing I don’t have to @ysabellecharest @sacerdotus #BurdenOfProof lies on those who claim the positive.
— Meat Bagg (@MeatBagg88) January 1, 2013

The Burden falls on anyone who makes any claim, negative or positive.  See:  http://www.sacerdotus.com/2011/12/burden-of-proof.html

@sacerdotus You implied you accepted the flood mythology; those are the problems present in that myth.
— Meat Bagg (@MeatBagg88) January 1, 2013

The problem exist when one reads the account as if one were reading a newspaper.

@sacerdotus Pseudo-scientific claims regarding the age of the earth; the beginning of time; evolution & minimum viable population
— Meat Bagg (@MeatBagg88) January 1, 2013

No one really knows the age of anything.  Carbon dating is not perfect.  We can only make estimates.  Some believers believe the Earth is only about 5000 years old but this is because they are basing it on the Jewish calendar.  In my opinion, knowing the age of the Earth will not answer anything.   

You cannot prove god is real; I cannot prove he isn’t. If he is real, chances are #god has better things to do than judge you. #RealTalk
— Meat Bagg (@MeatBagg88) January 1, 2013

God can be proven.  You can prove God is not real if you can trace God to an original thinker.  If you can find the person responsible for formulating the idea of God, then you have successfully proven that God is nothing more than fiction.  When we say God will judge, we don’t mean that He will be there like Judge Judy yelling at people.  God will measure our lives by the love we gave and how we put faith and hope to work alongside it.  An atheist like Hitchens or Dawkins who are angry, hateful can easily be forgiven and enter heaven just by saying I’m sorry.   God is not this cry baby.  He holds us to high standards and expects us to be that Image of God that we are.

@sacerdotus @ex_muslim @ronin51 Who’s justice was the slaughter of 1st borne? People’s, God’s, or both?
— Meat Bagg (@MeatBagg88) January 1, 2013

I would say the Hebrew’s.  The Egyptians enslaved the Hebrews and had their first born killed.  Moses was spared from this.

@sacerdotus @mikecannytalk @tomdog38 You suggested Pangaea as an answer to a question and you were wrong. #God is your only answer.
— Meat Bagg (@MeatBagg88) January 1, 2013

I suggested Pangaea because of the ease animals had in traveling to and fro.  It is possible kangaroos could have been in the area, who knows?  Maybe traders could have brought some.  It is not uncommon for travelers and traders to bring back exotic things, including animal life.

@sacerdotus @ex_muslim @ronin51 People’s idea of justice had that much impact on #Gods actions?
— Meat Bagg (@MeatBagg88) January 1, 2013

Not at all.  The justice fell upon the Egyptians who enslaved God’s chosen people and had their firstborn male children killed.   Remember, these plagues were a sign to the Egyptians that the God of the Hebrews was GOD.

@sacerdotus @mikecannytalk @tomdog38 But, you claim to have the answers. Yet, here we are: neither of us know!
— Meat Bagg (@MeatBagg88) January 1, 2013

I never claim to have the answer.  I can answer based on the knowledge we have.  There is no such thing as not being able to give an answer.  Some answers will be more detailed than others based on the data available.  This does not mean the question cannot be answered.

@sacerdotus @joephys1 Israel came into existence WITHIN Canaan and that the Israelite religion is an offshoot. More than suspicious.
— Cinnanun (@notcreative388) December 30, 2012

Israel were an autonomous people who lived in Canaan.  The God Yahweh was added to the pantheon after the fact, and not during.

@sacerdotus @ex_muslim @ronin51 SHOW US YOUR PROOF
— Meat Bagg (@MeatBagg88) January 1, 2013

Proof of what?

@sacerdotus @mikecannytalk @tomdog38 So, Noah existed with the dinosaurs then? Why aren’t there giant reptiles around these days?
— Meat Bagg (@MeatBagg88) January 1, 2013

The text does not mention dinosaurs or any specific animal by name.  Gen. 6:19-20  says:

“You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive.”

It may have been possible that dinosaurs were on board.  The ark was a huge vessel which could have fit a pair of any kind of animal including dinosaurs.  I could imagine possibly young dinosaur pairs being accommodated on board as opposed to older ones.  However, the taxonomy list of the ark is not what the text is about.

@sacerdotus @mikecannytalk @tomdog38 Then, why did you bother to answer? Why not just “I don’t know;” #Atheists say it all the time.
— Meat Bagg (@MeatBagg88) January 1, 2013

I answered using the available information.

@sacerdotus @zink30rebecca @justfole @ronin51 Seems a bit selfish and arbitrary…
— Meat Bagg (@MeatBagg88) January 1, 2013

How so?

@sacerdotus – Your blog is convoluted to no end. Here, you can keep it simple and on point. I won’t even fact check. Just give me your side.
— Embreeology (@embreeology) December 30, 2012

I do try to keep it simple.  However, I am an academic so I have to stick to an academic style of writing.

@sdlaw2006 NO God gene? damn, and it was soo good for #atheism! @thom_roland @notcreative388 @sacerdotus @bye_dogma @atheistguy1021
— Martin (@Allocutus) December 30, 2012

Yes VMAT2 aka “God gene” does exist.  

@sacerdotus @meatbagg88 @ex_muslim @ronin51 how about you explain it then. How does free will exist if god is omniscient?
— Krzysztof (@Krzysztof87) January 1, 2013

Free will exists while God knows and sees all at the same time because we are subject to space and time, not God.  What does this mean?  It means that God can know every outcome and every decision we make because He is outside of space and time.  Being that He is God, His perception will be extremely advanced.

We are in space and time, they have an affect on us.  We exist in 4 dimensions and are limited to them.  We cannot perceive the others.  Because of this limitation, we are only aware of those 4 dimensions.  String theory is interesting when comparing it with free will and an all knowing God.

To sum it up, string theory is the idea that particles are strings existing within and interacting with different dimensions.  For example, string theory posits that what I am doing now is just one of the many outcomes within “reality.”  In this dimension I am blogging, in another, I could be blogging but chewing gum, etc etc.  All of this can happen at the same time or in different times.

In light of this, God who is outside of space and time can observe the many variations in the “strings” of reality.  Therefore, He can see all and we can be free in our respective dimension because we are part of that dimension and are subject to its laws.

You can test this with something that refracts light and a flashlight.  When you put the beam on it, the light will “split” into parts pointing at different points.  It is the same light, but they are in different points in space and time and in different dimensions.  You can observe this because you are outside of that light, but if the light were conscious it would not be aware of this and would only be aware that it can exist in its respective point.