Proof of God?

Or...just playing "deveil's" advocate here. The "God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh" myth has its roots in the natural seven day cycle. Another variation of the "which came first" paradox.

God can not be proven of disproven. To do so would completely negate the concept.

What's a deveil? (Just kidding -- I know it's a typo.)

Anyway, it seems the seven-day week was unique to the Hebrews. If it "[had] its roots in the natural seven day cycle," wouldn't other cultures have done the same?

The Hebrews were never known for their science, you they figured out this seven-day cycle, which we are just now discovering? They figured out complex anti-biotic salves that no other tribe did? They knew, through their advanced astrophysical knowledge, that light really did precede the Sun, as it says in Genesis, and which our science has only recently concluded?

Amazing people, those Hebrews.

I heard the same sermon, and I too found it to be interesting. Efforts to support religion with science and vice versa are dicey at best in my humble opinion, but I will admit that the facts she provided were interesting.

Historic or Contemporary service?

Historic

Same here. We were the (large) family all the way forward in the left balcony. (I had four of my kids and two of jacob's. Two others were in the nursery!)

"God can not be proven of disproven. To do so would completely negate the concept."

That makes no sense to me, Troll. Please explain.

"The Hebrews were never known for their science, you they figured out this seven-day cycle, which we are just now discovering?"

No, Jack, if (and I was not privy to the sermon you guys were so I am baseless in my speculation here) the idea is that the myth has its base in the natural 7 day cycle, the Hebrews would already be on the 6 days on one day off cycle and would naturally fold that into their religious creation story. Who is to say where the six day creation story really has its roots? Even in the Hebrew religion its early days were verbal so who knows where it REALLY started. Its kind of like the line from "Inherit the Wind" - in the beginning God created a human and Man, being the gentleman, returned the favor. Or something close to that.

nice one, Anselm.

I read something similar (which I can't find now) about a study that showed that eating dairy with meat somehow reduced your body's ability to absorb protein from the meat. I guess God was right about the Kosher thing, too. Go figure.

I don't mind sleeping in on Sundays, but I'm keeping my cheeseburgers!

Troll -- why was no other culture on that six-on-one-off cycle?

Amen on the cheeseburgers, puffy!

'Course you know the one about the rabbi and the priest....? "Sure beats ham, doesn't it?"

Jack,

If God's existence could be PROVEN - without a doubt. IT would negate the concept of "free will". Of course if God could be disproven without a doubt, it would negate the concept of God - I suppose that COULD conceptually happen.

"Troll -- why was no other culture on that six-on-one-off cycle?"

That question can be turned back to you, Jack. If the 7 day cycle is based in our biology (even in the plant and animals of the earth) why did no other culture independently develop that calendar? Only the Hebrews developed this calendar.

It IS an intriguing concept, though, I'll grant you.

"If God's existence could be PROVEN - without a doubt. IT would negate the concept of 'free will'."

Why? God gave us free will. How could his existance negate it?

Troll,
Interesting point regarding free will.

Could you then explain why the Israelites in the desert who were lead by a pillar of smoke by day and fire by night, were still rebellious doubters?

I do not think knowledge that God exists will stop free will. It is always our choice to love or hate God.

I've told my Sunday School classes for years that the Holy Bible is God's Owner's Manual for Humans.

The first 11 chapters and Job are timeless. The rest of the Bible from Abraham (2000BC) forward is history - and instructions for how to live from the designer, manufacturer, and supervisor of all humankind.

It is not an IF. There is a seven-day biological cycle in may creatures -- both plant and animal.

The reason the Hebrews have a seven-day week is because God told them to have one, for their own benefit.

Sorry, Jack. The seven-day week was used by Hindus, Babylonians, Egytians and Persians, who all developed the seven-day week independently of the Hebrews. Romans got it from the Egyptians before the advent of Christianity and then Christians and Muslims spread it around the world to places that were not using it. So your sermon doesn't really prove anything.

The Hindus got it from the Babylonians: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_calendar

The Babylonians did divide the lunar cycle into seven-day quarters, but the omission of the days around the new moon breaks the cycle: http://www.polysyllabic.com/?q=calhistory/earlier/babylonian

The ancient egyptians did nt have weeks and the Assyrians had a five-day week: http://webexhibits.org/calendars/calendar-ancient.html

The Romans used an 8-day "nundian cycle": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_calendar#Nundinal_cycle

To me the irony is that after church every Sunday it seems like everyone heads straight to a restaurant where they expect people to be serving food and working for them on the Sabbath.
I guess our service employees need to worship and rest on a different day so as to satisfy your appetites of biblical proportions.

Virginia used to have the "blue laws" on the books when I was a kid. I don't know if they still exist and are just being ignored or whether they were repealed. I do believe that the sabbath is for man as it says. If we haven't got our provisions during the other 6 days of the week then too bad. It would be nice to have that break from a hectic week were you could visit friends, enjoy the family, recreate as you might want (fishing, hiking, biking, etc.). You don't need establishments being open to do these kind of things. Although there are those professions that have a need to be in business (medical, fire and police) on the sabbath, those people are helping their fellow man as directed. One day a week for calm, peace and quiet is essential for our well being. That is why the directive was put in place. Would you agree?

The Blue Laws were repealed in VA. They still have them in Nova Scotia.

The Blue Laws were repealed in VA. They still have them in Nova Scotia.

Thanks, Jack. Thanks, Jack. Are stealing zimzo's meds?

No, I was having computer problems -- it was not responding, so I hit the Post button again.

Yes, I totally agree a day of peace is essential for our well-being. I think we would benefit more by having 3 a week. there is very little-beyond as you point out the fire, and emergency services-that we couldn't do without for a few days every week. I'm all for the four day 10 hour work week.

God (if that’s what you want to call him/her) of some form exists – however, Jesus was NO son of god, never was never will be. The bible was written by man, not God.

If He was "NO son of God," how did He raise the dead? How did He Himself rise from the dead? If He did not do these things, why were His followers willing to suffer imprisonment, torture, and death for what they KNEW to be a lie?

"God....of some form exists".

Looks like the only reason you capitalized "God" was because it was the beginning of your sentence. What "form" does He exist for you? For me it is Father, Son (yes, that's right- Christ Jesus) and Holy Spirit.

As far as the Bible being written by man, that is correct. God, as all other Holy people of the time, used scribes. The Bible was dictated by God. He did write one thing though-and it is on stone tablets with the Ten Commandments.

Did you not know that thousands of years ago the Bible said the Earth was a "sphere suspended in nothingness"? Columbus wouldn't have had to worry about falling off the edge of the Earth if the Christian's had let him read the Bible now would he? The Bible says "do not follow the traditions of men", "call no man Father(as a spiritual title)", and "there is only one intercessor between God and man(Jesus)"