calabrone

Yes, thanks. It would be much appreciated.

Thanks for a well thought out response VP. I really love the big unknown questions such as the origin of life. I think as humans we need them and they feed our inquistive nature. My feeling about the creator answer is that it is too simplistic. That doesn't mean it's wrong, it just seems to be an easy way out. We humans create things so that must be how life started.. it was created. Just as we create cars, computers and watches then god must do the same. I haven't studied the origin of life but I'm aware that the chances of the first protocell coming together by chance are astronomical. However it only had to happen once and the universe is a very big place, not to mention theories of multiverses etc. If you put me on the spot, in a corner, then I would probably have faith in science to one day unravel the answer. So, yes, there you are. You are right!

No I'm sorry you've lost me! It's not a positive choice of belief. I don't believe in a creator at this point because there's insufficient evidence. I don't know how the universe came into existence and Im not qualified to give any kind of answer to the question. The only choice I have is to not believe in a creator at this present time. Just so I understand you, and it's quite likely that I don't as you seem an intelligent kind of chap. Is all non belief a matter of faith or just the question of a creator? For example... If you believe in the Loch Ness Monster it's a matter of faith. If you don't believe in the Loch Ness it's a matter of faith.

Ok, but how is non belief in something a matter of faith? If a person asserts something that i think there's insufficient evidence for then a logical position is to not believe until new evidence comes to light. I can choose to believe in a creator if I wish and then close my ears and eyes to other arguments and have faith in my choice of belief system. I don't see how suspending judgement or saying I don't know is a matter of faith. PS happy that the great NW creator saw fit to grant you a pardon!

Really enjoyed your posts in this thread VillagePlank but is this really true? Belief in a creator is indeed a matter of faith but absence of belief? I don't believe in a creator but I would change my mind in a second if he/she/it decided to interfere in our universe again. Surely if I had faith in his/her/its non existence I would continue to hold this position regardless of available evidence. Faith, to me at least, is an unshakeable conviction that something is true regardless of proof. PS just realised that you won't be posting again on this thread! Don't blame you really...

Excellent, thanks Paul. I'll get my calculator out!

This is probably a stupid question but here goes. I'm just coming up to my first year of recording daily high and low temps. How do you work out the mean daily temperature? Maths was never my strong subject!