Beliefs of Forum Members...

[Skyhook]

It can be very frustrating when putting forward a logical argument, to have it basically sidestepped while your opponent just repeats their opinion.

Interviewers get frustrated when politicians dodge the question and repeat the party line, no reason why Dawkins shouldn't get frustrate in the same situation.

On reflection, part of the problem may that the christian viewpoint is so often put by American fundamentalist evangelists and their disciples (eg the alpha course).

I do recall seeing a South bank special in which the existence of God was discussed by Philip Pullman (atheist) and Melvyn Bragg (RC)- now there was a debate as it should be done.

 

[VEG]

religion is the cause of many arguments wars and so on. I find it best left alone. I have no problem with anyone who wants/needs to believe as long as they dont try to make others believe their way is the only way, this is how lots of wars start. You only have to read some of the comments in this thread to see how the arguments can start.

 

[victor meldrew]

all religion is a crock a sh1t, i think the harry potter story is more believable than the story of that magical man in the sky

What a clever bit of well thought out rhetoric !
Congratulations , I wish I had your incisive mind !
VM

 

[Storm™]

Well I can safely say that Self Assessment Tax return online forms are for the most part - a crock of Sh1t. I would leave feedback if I had understood half of it. Boxes left blank all over the bloomin place which implies that the two hour question shesh at the beginning of it was utterly pointless. It looks like a filing cabinet imploded and then exploded with the force of a dying sun here. AND its still not finished. It went from hours of 1% complete to 43% complete. I did wonder why I was paying an accountant to do the dirty work. Now I am think maybe the convo we had last was a mistake.....

Acc - well its got to be done soon, I need this, I need that, I need this, I need that...
Me - Yeah well if the business is not making money how can I pay you, Choco Buttons?
Acc - well its going to get sticky unless you do it soon and you'll get fined and fined!
Me - You no look so good. All purple and stuff and you no hear so good. Basically I paid you £600 and I ended up owing tax when I made a loss... wtf
Acc - on the plus side you'll get a rebate next time Hahahahahahaha
Me - So I pay you what £600 to add things up for me. I can do that....
Acc - oooooooo hand wringing, whine, winge "fines fines fines".....
Me - ill do it myself cheers bud cause I cant afford you.
Acc - fines death mayhem fines smallpox and eventual DEATH.
Me - WOT EVA

And now I feel so smug - NOT. FFS I feel like today has been a total waste of time.

 

[Vergilius]

What a clever bit of well thought out rhetoric !
Congratulations , I wish I had your incisive mind !
VM

What an articulate and considerate person he is... Very informative.

 

[Storm™]

What an articulate and considerate person he is... Very informative.

Slappy wristies for you pair - Thou Shalt Not Judge - lest you in turn be judged.

Now go and say 7 hail Mary's and 4 Our Fathers!

 

[victor meldrew]

Slappy wristies for you pair - Thou Shalt Not Judge - lest you in turn be judged.

Now go and say 7 hail Mary's and 4 Our Fathers!

VM

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

all religion is a crock a sh1t, i think the harry potter story is more believable than the story of that magical man in the sky

You see, this is what I meant when I said there's too much noise and not enough of listening. Such a rant, which totally ignores the many good people, good principles and profound reflection on the world, is trite and infantile.

And I don't ignore (or justify) the evil done in the name of religion.

But to dismiss some of the most profound thinking, the deepest aspirations and the sheer human goodness of millions of believers, in various faiths, throughout the millennia and across the works, is myopic, ignorant and doesn't reflect well on whoever spouts such garbage.

(Just a pity there are believers with such closed minds and paranoid schizoid thinking.)

In my humble opinion.

 

[Storm™]

You see, this is what I meant when I said there's too much noise and not enough of listening. Such a rant, which totally ignores the many good people, good principles and profound reflection on the world, is trite and infantile.

And I don't ignore (or justify) the evil done in the name of religion.

But to dismiss some of the most profound thinking, the deepest aspirations and the sheer human goodness of millions of believers, in various faiths, throughout the millennia and across the works, is myopic, ignorant and doesn't reflect well on whoever spouts such garbage.

(Just a pity there are believers with such closed minds and paranoid schizoid thinking.)

In my humble opinion.

A very Christian Attitude L M A O! Shocking.

And dare I say it LOL - "Kick the post not the poster your holyness" lol

 

[Norton]

Well don't answer then!

AS I said - none of your business............

 

[tonybloke]

this best describes my thoughts
http://youtu.be/r6w2M50_Xdk

 

[Skyhook]

You see, this is what I meant when I said there's too much noise and not enough of listening. Such a rant, which totally ignores the many good people, good principles and profound reflection on the world, is trite and infantile.

And I don't ignore (or justify) the evil done in the name of religion.

But to dismiss some of the most profound thinking, the deepest aspirations and the sheer human goodness of millions of believers, in various faiths, throughout the millennia and across the works, is myopic, ignorant and doesn't reflect well on whoever spouts such garbage.

(Just a pity there are believers with such closed minds and paranoid schizoid thinking.)

In my humble opinion.

Unfortunately you will always get some of that on either side of the argument.

 

[Storm™]

When people used to come and speak to me and say "I think I am Pagan and can you show me or tell me how to be Pagan?" I would always say well.......

I used to say that its not my right to tell you if you are or not. And If I inspire you or lead you on a path than I take responsibility for all that comes after. I have not got the right to do that. Because the path into the craft comes from within. Each path is different for all. And by accepting your request I place myself above you as teacher or guide. And I would elevate myself above you and taint all that you already know or may learn, with my opinions. And that would go against the nature of growth and learning.

I do not know a religion other than paganism which incorporates this. That said Wicca (omg) is in effect Christianity in all but name in its regulation, restriction of growth (in that it relies on those who are above you in rank to deem you fit to progress) and its egotistical effect. When you ask someone for guidance and help they may give it in total care and love, but they may also forget that they have allowed themselves to be in a position of control. And when you no longer need or want that control or you simply wish to grow, they may try harder to make you listen. The best way of making you listen is to say you have done something wrong, failed or sinned (different religions same effects) - ego the downfall of all faiths or even hobby's *cough*...

And with regard to Christianity in all its cloaks I find it amazing that you have total faith in just one book, when for example in beekeeping I would bet a pound to a pinch of poo you read as many as you could get your hands on. Not trusting one author's lessons or findings, you wish to ensure your total knowledge base. Yet with your soul, faith and your very spiritual core, the good book in its self is enough. Conflicted and contradictory in its lessons, transcribed beyond all recognition from the original and interpreted daily to suit readers needs away from the literal text. Odd.

 

[victor meldrew]

Where does the Druid (teacher) fit into this Pagan ideology ?
VM

 

[Storm™]

Where does the Druid (teacher) fit into this Pagan ideology ?
VM

Hmmmmm Druidism lol. Well that's an unfortunate story. There are literally libraries full of Druidic teachings. But and here is the kicker most of it was verbal. They wrote nothing down. What there is written is or rather was written by the Romans who captured Druids, interrogated them for their secrets and wrote down what was said. Trouble with that is that the Romans hated them as feared them as a force of opposing authority and what they wrote down was biased inaccurate and mostly propaganda.

Here we are in neopagan Britain and the only texts are the original roman texts rehashed reinterpreted and diluted to the point of pointlessness. Although OBOD claim to hold secrets if they do they don't pass them on through the tree of initiates. So IMHO well intended but really as bad as Wicca as a religion.

 

[For want of a better word]

Hmmmmm Druidism lol. Well that's an unfortunate story. There are literally libraries full of Druidic teachings. But and here is the kicker most of it was verbal. They wrote nothing down. What there is written is or rather was written by the Romans who captured Druids, interrogated them for their secrets and wrote down what was said. Trouble with that is that the Romans hated them as feared them as a force of opposing authority and what they wrote down was biased inaccurate and mostly propaganda.

Here we are in neopagan Britain and the only texts are the original roman texts rehashed reinterpreted and diluted to the point of pointlessness. Although OBOD claim to hold secrets if they do they don't pass them on through the tree of initiates. So IMHO well intended but really as bad as Wicca as a religion.

Seems to me that a lot of them there them holy books is a bit of the same ilk!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I think a lot of atheists feel under attack. I/we thought that after Darwin, religion would just gently peter out, with Jehovah going the same way as Jupiter, Zeus, Odin et al. Now, thanks largely to american evangalists, religion is making a comeback.

.

But I don't think Darwin ever said there was no god

 

[mexbigshow]

you can have a dig at me all you want but i simply don't believe in a god if there were a god they wouldn't have said the massacre of the crusades was in their name neither would they say the massacre of the english pagans was in their name and the many other atrocities carried out by the christians and i'm pretty sure if we had to live by the bible takin a sh1t would probably be a sin

 

[BKF Admin]

Is it true that christianity is the only religion in the world were you are born a sinner ?

Then have to spend your whole life repenting to get through the gates...

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Is it true that christianity is the only religion in the world were you are born a sinner ?

Then have to spend your whole life repenting to get through the gates...

predestination - a hot topic from the reformation onwards - not all branches of Christianity believe this I know mine doesn't.