Is the Earth Flat?

[Rollo Tamasi]

This idea taken from the science lab forum.
When I look out into the ocean, the Earth looks flat.
Yes, there are mountains and deep pits, but overall, the Earth looks flat.

Now I am told that the Earth is round.
Some guy up in space took pictures of it.
But even with pictures, I have to "believe" it is true, because I have not seen it myself.

So what is wrong with believing that the world is flat?
We believe that Jesus is alive.
What's the difference?

 

[Obadiah]

Seriously? Really?

 

[Gary]

So what is wrong with believing that the world is flat?
We believe that Jesus is alive.
What's the difference?

One's true and the other isn't.
.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

One's true and the other isn't.
.

Which one is true?

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Seriously? Really?

Are you substituting the word substance with the word faith?

 

[Gary]

Which one is true?

Seriously? Really?

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

The people thus far responding to this thread seem to be taking it as a joke.
Let's just say it is not a joke.
Let's say it is a group of theological doctorate students grappling with these questions.

What does God's word say about these things?
Certainly, God must have something to say about it, don't you think?

I'll ask it again, what's the difference with believing that the world is flat and believing that Jesus is alive?

 

[TOG]

This idea taken from the science lab forum.
When I look out into the ocean, the Earth looks flat.
Yes, there are mountains and deep pits, but overall, the Earth looks flat.

Now I am told that the Earth is round.
Some guy up in space took pictures of it.
But even with pictures, I have to "believe" it is true, because I have not seen it myself.

So what is wrong with believing that the world is flat?
We believe that Jesus is alive.
What's the difference?

When was the last time you looked out at the ocean, and just how big a piece of it did you see? If you ever go to a place where the entire horizon, or at least a large part of it, is ocean (as I have many times, since I live on an island), you can see that it doesn't look flat at all, but curved. Besides that, there's the fact that sunrise and sunset are at different times in different places, which would not be the case if the earth were flat. If it were flat, the sun would rise at the same time everywhere. Also, the days are longer in summer than in winter, and winter in the northern hemisphere is summer in the southern hemisphere, and vice versa. Both of those phenomena are caused by the earth being basically spherical.

The TOG​

 

[Willie T]

This idea taken from the science lab forum.
When I look out into the ocean, the Earth looks flat.
Yes, there are mountains and deep pits, but overall, the Earth looks flat.

Now I am told that the Earth is round.
Some guy up in space took pictures of it.
But even with pictures, I have to "believe" it is true, because I have not seen it myself.

So what is wrong with believing that the world is flat?
We believe that Jesus is alive.
What's the difference?

Actually, if you ask any Navy man or any mariner who has spent time on the open ocean, he will tell you that you truly CAN see the curvature of the Earth from the deck of a ship. I fly, and you can REALLY see it from up there.

 

[Obadiah]

The people thus far responding to this thread seem to be taking it as a joke.
Let's just say it is not a joke.
Let's say it is a group of theological doctorate students grappling with these questions.

What does God's word say about these things?
Certainly, God must have something to say about it, don't you think?

I'll ask it again, what's the difference with believing that the world is flat and believing that Jesus is alive?

Yeah, I admit I do have a hard time taking this as a serious topic, but at least you posted it here in the lounge instead of in the science forum! But you're right about that. I guess if you guys want to actually try to prove the earth is flat and such things as that, well have fun with that. I do worry, though, about the impression that leaves on people who visit this site wondering what kind of thoughts Christians have about things...

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Yeah, I admit I do have a hard time taking this as a serious topic, but at least you posted it here in the lounge instead of in the science forum! But you're right about that. I guess if you guys want to actually try to prove the earth is flat and such things as that, well have fun with that. I do worry, though, about the impression that leaves on people who visit this site wondering what kind of thoughts Christians have about things...

Actually, this is how philosophy forums work, so why not theology forums?
I'm not trying to prove that the world is flat, but rather the difference in worldly beliefs and spiritual beliefs.
No one has touched on that yet.

 

[Gary]

The people thus far responding to this thread seem to be taking it as a joke.
Let's just say it is not a joke.
Let's say it is a group of theological doctorate students grappling with these questions.

What did you expect?

What does God's word say about these things?
Certainly, God must have something to say about it, don't you think?

2 Timothy 2
23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

What did you expect?




2 Timothy 2
23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.

I always expect more from you.

 

[Gary]

I always expect more from you.

I gave you honesty. I have no more than that.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

I gave you honesty. I have no more than that.

I still expect more from you.

 

[Obadiah]

Actually, this is how philosophy forums work, so why not theology forums?
I'm not trying to prove that the world is flat, but rather the difference in worldly beliefs and spiritual beliefs.
No one has touched on that yet.

That's why philosophy is called philosophy and theology is called theology. They aren't the same thing.
Besides, I find the idea of comparing belief in a living God to a belief that the earth is flat to be really troublesome. Especially since the fact that the Earth is NOT flat has been proven beyond any reasonable doubt.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Actually, this is how philosophy forums work, so why not theology forums?
I'm not trying to prove that the world is flat, but rather the difference in worldly beliefs and spiritual beliefs.
No one has touched on that yet.

I know what you're driving at. It's a legit topic for discussion.

But it'll have to wait. I'm wrapping up my work outside.

 

[TOG]

Actually, this is how philosophy forums work, so why not theology forums?
I'm not trying to prove that the world is flat, but rather the difference in worldly beliefs and spiritual beliefs.
No one has touched on that yet.

Every theory must be judged based on it's own criteria. The theory that the earth is flat claims to be scientific, and so must be judged based on scientific evidence. As I mentioned above, there are many scientifically verifiable facts that show that the earth is not flat.

The theory that Jesus is alive after having died and risen from the dead is not a scientific theory, nor does it claim to be, but is rather a religious theory, and must therefore be judged on a religious basis. In the case of Christianity, that religious basis by which we judge all religious theories, is the Bible. The Bible does support the theory that Jesus is alive and will continue to live forever.

Does that explain the difference?

The TOG​

 

[Gary]

I still expect more from you.

 

[Free]

Actually, this is how philosophy forums work, so why not theology forums?
I'm not trying to prove that the world is flat, but rather the difference in worldly beliefs and spiritual beliefs.
No one has touched on that yet.

The problem here is that you are presuming that the question of Jesus being alive is some sort of religious or spiritual question. It is a historic question, which is a sort of scientific one.