Venus » You conclude: "Thus, if there is a God, it stands to reason He would reveal Himself...and conceal Himself." No influence of God is seen in religions, scriptures and believers which in turn gave reason for the appearance of atheism. For example, one high profile atheist is known for his question: “Why do people kill in the name of God if He really exists?”
It's an outstanding question, and one you won't get an argument from me on. If God is as powerful as the scriptures proclaim, He hardly needs anyone fighting His battles for Him. The Jews have been on the bloody end of many swords because of this, as have been the early Christians, scientists, protestants, Mormons and many other religions, and yes, even the Jehovah's Witnesses. But it bothers me that the JWs are so quick to celebrate the prospects of coming destruction of others. There's a smuggish glee about it. Shortly before the Civil War ravaged this country, an old Mormon prophet told the people that wholesale destruction was going to decimate the nation: “There will also be a day when...your very hearts and your inmost souls will melt within you because of the scenes that many of you will witness.” (Remarks by President Heber C. Kimball, Delivered in the Bowery, Great Salt Lake City, Sunday Morning, August 16, 1857). Whether he had special insight or was just making a pitch, what he said did come to pass. But a person would have to be a monster to want to see someone suffer horribly or take delight in it. During that war, the people of Missouri and Ohio were horribly treated, just as the Mormons had been. After the Mormons had been routed from their homes, a divine curse was placed on the people who had driven them from their farms, homes, shops and lands. Less than twenty years later, federal troops (with the full support of President Lincoln) evacuated those same homes, drove the people out, confiscated their livestock, then burned the homes and farms down, leaving the people to fend against the bitter cold weather. It was called General Order Number 11.
In the 1840s, Joseph Smith told his (non-Mormon) attorney and friend, Alexander Doniphan, not to avail himself of the land speculation going on in that part of the country. “God’s wrath hangs over Jackson Country,” Smith said. “God’s people have been ruthlessly driven from it, and you will live to see the day when it will be visited by fire and sword. The Lord of Hosts will sweep it with the besom of destruction. The fields and farms and houses will be destroyed, and only the chimneys will be left to mark the desolation."
Decades later, many of the bloodiest battles were fought there. Doniphan, personally witnessed the fulfillment of Smith’s prophecy. One witness of the aftermath wrote: “In the spring of 1862 my regiment went south, and it was during that time that ‘Order No. 11’ was issued, but I was back there again in 1864, during the Price raid, and saw the condition of the country. The duty of executing the order was committed to Colossians W. R. Penick’s regiment, and there is no doubt but that he carried it into effect, from the howl the copperhead papers made at the time. I went down the Blue river, we found houses, barns, outbuildings, nearly all burned down, and nothing left standing but the chimneys which had, according to the fashion of the time, been built on the outside of the buildings. I remember very well that the country looked a veritable desolation.” Doniphan himself wrote that as he saw the remnants of the chimneys and homes that he couldn't help but recall Smith's prophecy. But even though many of these people richly deserved their fates, it would be heartless not to pity them.
The only time God required His people to kill was in battle and in self defense, and it was to cleanse the land God gave them. In the land of Canaan, the Israelites actually offered many of the peoples peace for safe passage. Some took advantage of it while others wouldn't bargain. It was clear from the revelations to Moses and Joshua that the Lord did not want His people interacting with heathen nations. But these people were universally not good people. They took part in satanic rites, including highly degrading sexual practices and infant sacrifice. They would beat drums to down out the cries of infants as they were burned alive. The Lord universally wanted to rid Canaan of these peoples and practices. But these are the only places where the Lord ordered His people to kill anyone. Sadly, most decisions to kill are made by man, not God.
This is entirely true of Islam to this day.
Caedes » Dark matter has been measured, indirectly through its gravitational effect on matter. Science isn't in the business of making wild suggestions based on nothing more than hearsay and speculation, that would be the job of people who believe in the supernatural. Yes, the definition of your god is probably that it is supernatural.
Science may not be in the business of making wild suggestions based on nothing more than hearsay and speculation, but it's far from unheard of! I agree that science uncovers truths man knows little of, yet it's naive to say it's not political and bull headed at times.
I would prefer the word supersensible.
