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Study Finds Universe Is 100 Million Years Older Than Previously Thought
skade88 writes "Reuters is reporting that scientists now say the universe is 100 million years older than previously thought after they took a closer look at leftover radiation from the Big Bang. This puts the age of the Universe at 13.8 billion years. The new findings are the direct results from analyzing data provided by the European Space Agency's Planck spacecraft. The spacecraft is providing the most detailed look to date at the remnant microwave radiation that permeates the universe. 'It's as if we've gone from a standard television to a high-definition television. New and important details have become crystal clear,' Paul Hertz, NASA's director of astrophysics, told reporters on a conference call."
if the source material is clear on a topic (the age of the universe, its not clear, but things like how to cure leprosy, or whether or not taking virgin rape-slaves is correct, it happens to be quite clear) then its not a straw man. just because a book which says you should kill birds and sprinkle their blood to cure bacterial infections (well it doesnt mention bacteria, but you get the point). then its not a straw man. what it is, is arguing that there is a sophisticated way to interpret that as something that it doesnt say, doesnt imply, never would have been on the minds of the author and being told you are incorrect by inserting modern science into the leprosy question when you say it doesnt literally mean the things that it literally says. we all get to believe what we want, but when a book says (literally) A, you cant argue that it now means B, when the authors had no such information to use. (and the captcha was 'ironies")
Yes you are correct that scholars believe most of the new testament was written 45-90 AD, and that is part of the point that I think you missed. Writing first person accounts about events and people that occurred prior to your birth is generally not considered to be highly accurate unless you have a blind faith that God was guiding their hands. Which leads to the next question, was God guiding the hands of all those who've altered or written the bible since then? You can't call it the true word of god if it's been altered since it was written.
Personally, I consider the bible to be a fictionalized version of history of the time. Most religions or believes have something similar. I don't have reason to doubt that a man named Jesus was a notable figure in history. I just don't believe he was the son of god anymore than Indian or Chinese folklore ascribes supernatural powers to some of its ancient leaders.
Christianity is the youngest religion on the block and certainly not the largest. What makes their version of the unexplainable the correct one?
the clearest fact is that the person who said "the bible is a bunch of bullshit, its [sic] just a fact." clearly has not read the bible.. theres tons of useful stuff in there.
just one example of the insight offered in the bible which has nothing to do with faith can be seen in the book of Deuteronomy.
Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself. As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement. deut23:12-13 (niv)
Now, this might seem silly/simple/obvious at first.. but if you look at the problems that still exist today, it is anything but a bunch of bullshit.
Over 90 per cent of deaths from diarrhoeal diseases due to unsafe water and sanitation in the developing world occur in children below 5 years old.
About 4,500 children die each day from unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation facilities. Countless others suffer from poor health, diminished productivity and missed opportunities for education.
http://www.unicef.org/wash/index_31600.html
Diarrhea, mainly caused by poor sanitary conditions, claims the lives of 1.8 million people annually, 1.6 million of them children under five years old, he said, citing World Bank figures.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2007/10/04/2003381667
So here we have nearly 2 million people dying a year due to no toilets and sanitation facilities... they openly defecate without burying it.. the flies carry waste around..
One of the best ways to stop the flies from landing on the human waste and contaminating everything? ..burying it.
If people were able to follow this simple bible scripture, one that has nothing to do with God, or Jesus.. we may be able to save hundreds of thousands of lives.
Helping hundreds of thousands of children avoid a horrible death by following a simple scripture, a bunch of bullshit? really?