I disagree With a few of the things you say Libertarian. I am not religious - more agnostic I think, however you say the BBC have "Songs of Praise" and no music from an atheist point of view - I personally listen to music that moves me emotionally on some level. I don't care whose perspective it's from. I can't listen to most radio stations simply because I don't want to be spoon fed the usual crap and want to discover it for myself - usually online. You mention there's never an Atheist point of view presented on any tv shows - just this morning I was watching "The Big Question" on the BBC and along with Muslim, Jewish, Christian there also was an atheist guy giving his point of view. So I haven't had to look to hard to find it have I ? I don't know whether or not there is a god, but I do know that when I lost my son 1 week before he was due to be born last year - I actually found myself talking to god? and saying that this is proof to me that there is no god - whilst still talking to him ? A huge contradiction I know but I guess that's something I can't quite figure out. I hope there is a god - something more than when we die there's nothing else, but I see no proof of this. I know what is good and bad in life - I don't need any book to give me guidelines. What does frighten me is anyone who can let their life be ruled by something written in a book - irrelevant of what book it is.
Agreed 100%. My opinion is that there could be SOMETHING out there. Whatever it is, if it exists, is far beyond the understanding of mankind and a far more complex explanation than what is given in certain books.
I've always found it fascinating that grown up and seemingly rational people feel the need to have an imaginary friend.
Religion on a personal level can be a powerful thing bringing peace, love and harmony to life. Likewise, not believing in a God Atheist, or not believing in religion, Agnostic and I cast myself in this enlightened few, can also lead to peace, love and harmony. My view every religion is flawed at its very core. All religion preach peace, love and goodwill to all but no faction has ever had the guts to act on their conviction or beliefs. Each God, Allah, Jehovah, Yahweh, whatever, says, tells, commands, demands the same thing of us, to LOVE one an other. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”....John 13:34-35 “Holiness is Loving One Another” ….... The Torah “.....out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask; and for the freeing of captives; to be steadfast in prayers, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which you made; and to be firm and patient in pain (or suffering) and adversity and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-conscious ” …..(2:177) Qur'an “The gaping wound in all religion is the weakness of mankind”...Me The scar is easy to see. Its the self gratifying interpretation of the words of our Gods by bigotted, small minded religouse leaders. The above quotes refer to ALL men regardless, all people regardless, but they are interpreted to refer to a 'chosen few', those who belong to religion X and they disqualifies all others. Many say, "My God speaks to me", BOLLOCKS, God, if he/she/it exists, by nature and definition speaks to everyone. That's why I cant, don't, wont believe in any religion. Religion is a man made corporate constuct, design and used by politicians to zombyfie a population into carrying out the will of alpha nations. The Crusades sanctioned murder, pillage and rape against Jews and Muslims carried out by believers in the word of God. The Reformation sanctioned murder, pillage and rape of Catholics and French carried out by believers in the word of God Bosnian Serbs sanctioned murder, pillage and rape of Muslims carried out by believers in the word of God Through out history religion has been used to galvanism a population with a single thought, to do the will of their leaders, not God. To achieve their leaders goals they are filled with lies like our quest is a righteous one or God, the all powerful and forgiving being, is on our side. Religion simply anesthetizes the mob allowing them to commit sub-human atrocity 'in the name of their King/Queen/President/Prime Minister/Religious Leader'. We're all in it together whether Christian, Muslim, Jew. You will NOT get any answers from religion, just a spurious guide created by men on how to act accordingly, how to live your life, how to die bravely and, the important one, how and who to hate. I know God is on my side, a man once told me. “Is there a God”?, that's the question, not which religion has the bigger dick.
A subject close to my heart for sure. NJ seems to have his knickers in a twist over this, and the 'big hitters' comment which tickles me pink. Sorry NJ Each to their own but there is this crazy idea that religions shouldn't be challenged or ridiculed. That's nonsense. Remember you're only a Christian because you were brought up here. If you'd been born in India you'd probably be Hindu; Thailand, Buddhist. I accept that if you get comfort from what I believe is a fairytale then knock yourself out. It works for you. But just THINK for a minute about the beginnings of the universe and how life evolved here. Scientists are closer than ever to discovering the ultimate truth and then religion will be finished - until it changes its position as it always does to accommodate the new theory (as it did with evolution which it ridiculed initially until the evidence became overwhelming). See Laurence Krauss's 'Something From Nothing' theory on YouTube on this. Then look at how religion has at every step tried to discredit and halt the progress of science - from the dreadful persecution of Galileo by the Church to the current right wing Christian Evangelists in the U.S who try to stop the excellent work being done in stem cell research. There is a theory that religion does more harm than good. The now sadly departed and brilliant Christopher Hitchens believed this, as does Stephen Fry, who worked for years in Uganda preaching the benefits of condom use only for it to be swept away in a flash by the last Pope who issued an edict saying condoms were evil. As a result AIDS is on the increase there again. By and large though Christians tend to be a harmless bunch whereas the Islamification of Europe is a real concern where political correctness is costing us our culture. I leave you with this story: When the Moors first conquered Spain they built their first mosque in Cordoba as a mark of conquest. The recently built $100M mosque built at Ground Zero in NYC (an obscenity if ever there was) is called - you've guessed it - the Cordoba Mosque. So imo religion can be a benefit to many even though you don't need it to be a good person. But it's side effects are very very dangerous indeed when used aggressively by those who perceive themselves as the righteous. If you like this sort of thing read the fantastic Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion) or have a look at him in action on YouTube where he regularly dismantles religion. And he's very good at it.
Stand in the street and shout "Peace is in the heart of God, The Lord Almighty will forgive yours sins upon your death and grant you entry to heaven above. Stay away from the fire of hell where the sinners and evil despair, join the church and see the light to freely pass judgement!" Nothing happens. Stand in the street and shout "Mathematically speaking we are being visited by beings from another world, by using their machines that do not age and can withstand the extra-solar radiation their probes have detected us and are signalling their masters telling them yet another planet with life exists beyond the hundreds they have already studied remotely from their own homeworld." Arrested, analysed, Cefn Coed, drugged against will. Stand in the street and shout "There is likely no God because no proof has ever been found, medical equipment shows remembering interactions with God occur in the creative hemisphere of the human brain while remembering interactions with people occurs in the memory cortex suggesting God is human invention. Religion is thus a psychological disorder as described by medical classification!" Arrested, court, ASBO, jail on repeat. F U C K religion!!
Good thread. A real area of personal interest. I'm not religious. It has never occurred to me to be; it would perhaps be beneficial but then it would be a wilfully false benefit. It seems much more likely to me that man made god than vice-versa. And at that, which god? However I respect those with a true (and practiced upon) belief. For me, the problem is non-secularism in politics and education. Faith does not belong at school or on the benches of Parliament. It is private - for the church or home of the individual, whatever their religion is. Further, there should be no religious code held as higher than national law. That cannot be held in a functioning modern state. EDIT: What I can't abide are those who don't or won't think about what they believe, and why - those who cannot see past the boundaries created by culture, society, their upbringing etc.
Some good points of view here. Did you know that some Texas schools are now refusing to teach evolution and are actively running classes on Creationism? Yes, folks, that's telling kids the Earth is less than 6,000 years old. Great Vid: Read the lyrics at the bottom: [video=youtube;hk41Gbjljfo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk41Gbjljfo[/video]
May I say I am glad the thread has taken it upon itself to qusetion all religion...not just 1 particular religion. Therefore it becomes a reasonable debate. As someone with faith, I find it bizzare that people feel religion should not be challenged or questioned. It is a prerequisite in my eyes and heart. It is by doing just that, you truly establish your self and true faith. Enjoy the thread
Good post, as someone who experienced conflict in the name of religion and you who I assume still live in a divided community which is based on religious beliefs ,you have a pragmatic view on life as you feel it should be lived .I would imagine it must be difficult to not to "choose' sides in the province or hopefully my conceptions are totally off the mark
Yes they some real issues in the States on evolution, they just love Darwin over there lol http://www.gallup.com/poll/114544/darwin-birthday-believe-evolution.aspx
Six 'evidences' that the world is less than 6,000 years old http://www.answersingenesis.org/get-answers/features/young-earth-evidence/
So they say the earth is 6,000 years old and then post this as evidence 'Yet the RATE scientists discovered significant detectable levels of radiocarbon in these diamonds, dating them at around 55,000 years—a far cry from the evolutionary billions!'
Thank you for creating a sticky for this thread,Valley. Not because it's my thread,but because it will,and I see evidence already,be a worthwhile one. Hopefully,everyone will feel free to post here regardless of their beliefs, and not feel intimidated even if theirs is a lonely voice. Peace to all my fellow posters,on this,and any other thread.
Yet another sticky. That's more than any other board in the Prem and when I log in its actually quite depressing to have to look half way down the screen to find the first thread. One on religion too, seriously? I thought this was a football forum, well this isn't for me, no disrespect meant but a sticky on religion is taking the pi.ss and I am going to leave you all to it
