Messages

556

Add-Ons / Re: oRBs Official Release

« on: October 16, 2015, 06:17:50 PM »

Requiring an account to view posted add-ons is ridiculous.

557

General Discussion / Re: Could BlockLand make a comeback?

« on: October 16, 2015, 04:39:44 PM »

This is literally as simple as Badspot adding bricks to the collision mask. It's a one word change. Huh, I wonder why he hasn't done it yet?

Ya this does seem like it would be a very simple change. It would save tons of people the hassle of putting zone bricks all over their rooftops.

For those that missed it,

-Beautiful building environments

indicates high quality maps.

558

Off Topic / Re: Anime and Manga Megathread

« on: October 15, 2015, 02:01:26 PM »

Also since I'm returning it should I get Deadman Wonderland instead of No Game No Life?

Do you want to read about people playing games or getting tortured? Wait, Deadman Wonderland is about games of torture...

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General Discussion / Re: Could BlockLand make a comeback?

« on: October 15, 2015, 12:49:23 PM »

That being said, a "sequel" to Blockland would be really cool. I know some people in the community that are considering working on such a project in the future. It's obviously no easy task, but the potential such a game has is huge.

Just imagine:
-A simplified building process
-Beautiful building environments
-Bricks reflecting light properly
-Bricks stopping precipitation
-Darkness increasing in areas further away from a light source
-Vehicle physics that work
Etc improvements to the original game, as well as whatever new ideas the developer comes up with. It could garner loads of attention in the current indie development scene.

That's just fantasy though.

560

Off Topic / Re: What are your reasons for believing whatever you may believe about Christianity?

« on: October 15, 2015, 03:31:17 AM »

I'm personally a young earth creationist, but at the end of the day it really doesn't matter which version you believe. It just makes for some interesting discussion.

561

Off Topic / Re: What are your reasons for believing whatever you may believe about Christianity?

« on: October 14, 2015, 11:03:40 PM »

pretty sure in a scientific context, time is understood to be the secondary "axis" relating to space

therefore when space came to exist, so did time.

That's understandable. So then it really just comes down to the question of how there was even a singularity/matter in the first place.

And the universe said, "let there be a singularity", and there was a singularity.
Granted, this article says the Big Bang does not start with a singularity.

562

Off Topic / Re: What are your reasons for believing whatever you may believe about Christianity?

« on: October 14, 2015, 10:42:14 PM »

yes its a giant clock that bangs when it hits twelve

But how do we determine that the Big Bang clock has 12 hands? Why didn't it have 11 or 13?

Stephen Hawking says the Big Bang starts time. So then the Big Bang occurred without the existence of motion? Basically since there was something there (a lot of something in a very small space for some unknown reason) it banged and started time?

563

Off Topic / Re: What are your reasons for believing whatever you may believe about Christianity?

« on: October 14, 2015, 10:31:27 PM »

http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/31068/can-a-scientific-theory-ever-be-absolutely-proven
A scientific law is a rational explanation of a single event or phenomenon based upon what is observed, but which has not been proved.

564

Off Topic / Re: What are your reasons for believing whatever you may believe about Christianity?

« on: October 14, 2015, 10:26:13 PM »

That is scientifically impossible because the Big Bang created time itself.

Doesn't the Big Bang require time to bang? I thought it did but I could be wrong.

Oh and things are getting a little confusing, so maybe we should define time. I'll give it a go:
time: the progression of the universe as observed through motion

I agree with you Filipe, but still find it fun to discuss these things in a purely academic environment. The problem is when people lack tolerance and believe only they can be right.

A scientific theory explains something that is proven.

A theory provides an explanation for something observable that is supported by experiments (which can be replicated to produce the same result). It is not necessarily "proven" (e.g. the theory of relativity, evolution...).

A scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is acquired through the scientific method and repeatedly tested and confirmed through observation and experimentation.
-Wikipedia

565

Off Topic / Re: What are your reasons for believing whatever you may believe about Christianity?

« on: October 14, 2015, 09:41:18 PM »

isn't this established like everywhere though

Yup, it's a very valid point when you think about how drastic the probability gets. Apparently with enough time, life is supposed to be able to arise, but I don't think it would be possible no matter how much time you throw at it if the probability is small enough. I'm quite possibly wrong though, would need to try some kind of probability simulation.

Time can go on forever, the present is just how far it's currently gone on

Time can be infinite in the future, but not infinite in the past. If we have an infinite past it would be impossible to have a present. Imagine if you had an infinite family line leading up to your birth. You can't have such a thing, because no matter how many children are born, infinite more are necessary for your birth.

the problem i have with using christianity as a scientific basis is that it cannot ever be truly scientific. the would-be theories provide no predictions and do not establish a basis for additional research. it eventually comes full-circle back to the fact that a compelling force exists which made it come to be.

Well if God exists outside the laws of nature how can religious theories ever be "truly scientific"?

566

Off Topic / Re: What are your reasons for believing whatever you may believe about Christianity?

« on: October 14, 2015, 09:27:31 PM »

That's the weather trying to punish you for the carnal sin of misrepresenting modern physics.

The cruel irony is that my roommate is a physicist.

Might as well deliver on my promise of providing issues with the Big Bang and add evolution into the mix because why not. Guess I'll add creationism as well, although you guys should probably help me out as I'm on the wrong side of the fence for that one. I'll keep updating this post as people combat my points (which are probably flawed currently, I'm rather preoccupied with homework and haven't thought it all out).

The Big Bang
1) How did matter exist before the Big Bang so as to start it?
2) How did the matter have some kind of motion to start the Big Bang if time did not yet exist?
   a) If time is infinite, how is there a present?
Resources:
This sounds legit but a physicist should probably verify it.

Evolution/Origin of Life
1) It has been proven that amino acids could arise from conditions on the early earth, but the probability of RNA and other cellular structures forming is incredibly small.
2) When an organism develops a new organ, it will be a long, slow process. Each mutation must take the organ in the correct direction for it to eventually function properly in a beneficial manner. During the evolution of this new organ, the developing organ does not provide any advantage to the creature (in fact, a half-baked organ could be viewed as a disadvantage) and thus natural selection would not help in its development.
3) Why have we not observed any cases of evolution on a scale larger than microevolution? Shouldn't we be seeing some branch of a species in a transitional stage?
Resources:
Here's the Wikipedia page with a bunch of other fun arguments.

Creationism
1) God is not observable.
Eh you guys can probably think of better ones, help me out.

Christianity
Arguments for
Arguments against

567

Off Topic / Re: What are your reasons for believing whatever you may believe about Christianity?

« on: October 14, 2015, 09:04:52 PM »

Wow, I didn't even see this.

This isn't even correct. Based on what we know about the density/temperature of the early universe (compounded with experiments done at the LHC), the universe didn't just 'start out with atoms'. It was made out of this stuff called quark-gluon plasma, which is kind of like a mushy mix of the stuff that makes up the nuclei of atoms, but dissociated because of the extreme conditions.

That's evading the point. No matter what it started with, it started with a certain determined amount.

I was going to say something about how stuff progressed from energy > quarks and leptons > hydrogen > helium > everything else, but it's basically been covered by seventh and otto. I also have no idea where you're pulling your choice of elements and values from, especially considering how relatively heavy phosphorus is and how starting with 12% hydrogen wouldn't let hydrogen currently be the most abundant element in the universe.

Also evading the point. I have very little clue what the universe was initially made from, just made up some random figures as an example. This point isn't a big deal, I'll just concede it to you guys for now. With so many people fighting me, my logic is likely flawed so I'll continue to work on that argument.

In other news, I just almost got hit by lightning while riding my bike.

568

Off Topic / Re: What are your reasons for believing whatever you may believe about Christianity?

« on: October 14, 2015, 07:52:39 PM »

What determined how much matter existed?

Nothing

So the universe started with an arbitrary amount of matter? If we look at the universe as a computer program (which I think should be a valid brown townogy, please let me know if/why I'm wrong), we would need to either specify values for the amount of each kind of element, as well as their positions, or use some random number generator to establish the amounts and positions of each element. There's no way for it to just start with 70% carbon, 15% phosphorus, 12% hydrogen, 2% sulfur, 1% nitrogen, etc for no apparent reason.

I'll discuss my issues with the Big Bang in a bit.

Then don't try to make the case that you know exactly what God is saying.

As established earlier, I am not saying I know exactly what God is saying. I am just trying to answer the question with my own personal belief.

569

Off Topic / Re: What are your reasons for believing whatever you may believe about Christianity?

« on: October 14, 2015, 07:31:10 PM »

By definition, yes. You can't believe in some prophet you've never even heard of.

Is non-believers referring to people that choose not to believe? I think so. Doesn't mean your interpretation is necessarily wrong, I just believe otherwise.

You know that's not evidence, right? I'm not saying you aren't entitled to view the universe as the product of a deity, but the 'existence of matter/life' isn't direct evidence for the existence of anything but life and matter...

Can life and matter exist without a creator? I have many friends that argue matter could have simply existed since time began, but I find that hard to believe. Why did the matter exist? Did the existence of time cause matter to exist? What determined how much matter existed?

570

Off Topic / Re: What are your reasons for believing whatever you may believe about Christianity?

« on: October 14, 2015, 07:08:57 PM »

You still continuously made assertions about why 'god does what he does'

Anything not specified in the Bible is not necessarily a truth of Christianity, but it is what I believe most likely to be true.

So in other words, you have really no clue what the Bible is saying, but you're certain that the world is some kind of test that you can only pass by believing in Jesus?

It's quite clear what that verse is saying. It states that those who believe in Christ will live eternally, and those that don't will receive the wrath of God. Is someone who has no way of receiving knowledge about Christ a 'non-believer'? The Bible indicates that we can always find God, no matter our circumstances.

"For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."
-Romans 1:20

Such as?

This is the question we should be focusing on. Personally, general revelation (God revealing himself through his creation) has played a large role in convincing me God must exist. There is no better explanation for the existence of matter, life, and ourselves than the existence of a creator, in my opinion.

Special revelation (God revealing himself through the supernatural) has not been big in my life, and I bet that is true for most people.