Christians on arbtalk?

[sussexlad]

Ha ha, ace vids Tim.

 

I don't think anyone should try and impress their Christian beliefs, or none-beliefs, on others.

 

People raving on about God /no God are as bad as each other.

 

Noone forced me to be a Christian, and I am probably a pretty poor one in some devout Christians eyes, but it doesn't bother me that much.

 

I go to Church a few times a year, my favourite hymn is 'Jerusalem', and most of my beliefs seem Christian. 'Thou shalt not steal' being fairly high up there.

 

I love some of the Old Testament stories I learnt at school, but accept the fact that a few things in there may be suspect. If God created everything in six days he almost certainly flouted EU law on weekly maximum hours, for instance.

 

On the back of my vehicle you will not find a fish.

 

It says 'Tipper'.

 

hit the nail on the head for me, talking a lot of sense there. why always try to prove the other party wrong? we should try to accept that different people have different beliefs.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

the bible may have shaped society for a long time but thats changing rapidly.

[Pete Mctree]

I wish there was no religion in the world as it would be a better place for all - even the insecure who think they need it

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I wish there was no religion in the world as it would be a better place for all - even the insecure who think they need it

 

 

if not for religion we woildnt have anyone to blame for our self imposed misery!

[treemeup]

over 45,000,000 deaths from aids in africa, one more every 13 sec. over 64,000,000 hiv positive. most from southern africa (predominantly christian) so chances are they're with god now...

 

strictly agnostic

[WorcsWuss]

One thing which crops up again and again from believers is their conclusion that those who do not believe lack a central pillar around which we can build our lives, something which keeps us grounded, gets us up every morning, urges us to be good people and put others first, to keep us strong in challenging times.

That seems quite a misguided view to me, as a father.

I'm sorry but no made up deity or even some dude claiming to be his son would ever have any chance of coming close to my children in performing that role. It actually quite offends me that anyone would suggest to me that my kids can't fulfill that role as well as something which, to me, genuinely is a work of pure fiction.

 

And the thing which baffles me the most is that there are people of any faith who feel that the only good which can be done is in a god's name. Why can't people just do these things for the sake of human kindness. Why do they need some sort of carrot and stick...?

I can safely say that I wouldn't be a better person if I followed a religion or had a faith.

Which means, because I don't believe any of it, that I have the utmost respect for anyone of any creed. I cannot get my head round the fact that anyone who believes in god can be doing anything but disputing anyone else's belief system.

 

To not believe means one treats all religions the same, as nothing more dangerous that a quaint personal choice.

But a believer must surely treat their own religion as the only truth and everything else as fabrication or abomination. Just seems utterly bizarre, I cannot see how any religion can preach tolerance when defining themselves by their beliefs is at odds with treating everyone as equals....

 

Which takes me to the conclusion that ORIGINALLY, religion was not about a genuine god but instead about taking sides.... I'd be interested to know at which point the charade became accepted fact..?

[VEG]

Quite simple to me

 

There are those that need to believe (whatever god) and those that dont need to believe.

I am in no need to believe and am very happy with my life as it is.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

One thing which crops up again and again from believers is their conclusion that those who do not believe lack a central pillar around which we can build our lives, something which keeps us grounded, gets us up every morning, urges us to be good people and put others first, to keep us strong in challenging times.

That seems quite a misguided view to me, as a father.

I'm sorry but no made up deity or even some dude claiming to be his son would ever have any chance of coming close to my children in performing that role. It actually quite offends me that anyone would suggest to me that my kids can't fulfill that role as well as something which, to me, genuinely is a work of pure fiction.

 

And the thing which baffles me the most is that there are people of any faith who feel that the only good which can be done is in a god's name. Why can't people just do these things for the sake of human kindness. Why do they need some sort of carrot and stick...?

I can safely say that I wouldn't be a better person if I followed a religion or had a faith.

Which means, because I don't believe any of it, that I have the utmost respect for anyone of any creed. I cannot get my head round the fact that anyone who believes in god can be doing anything but disputing anyone else's belief system.

 

To not believe means one treats all religions the same, as nothing more dangerous that a quaint personal choice.

But a believer must surely treat their own religion as the only truth and everything else as fabrication or abomination. Just seems utterly bizarre, I cannot see how any religion can preach tolerance when defining themselves by their beliefs is at odds with treating everyone as equals....

 

Which takes me to the conclusion that ORIGINALLY, religion was not about a genuine god but instead about taking sides.... I'd be interested to know at which point the charade became accepted fact..?

 

that is a very fair statement.

 

Love thy nieghbour?

[WorcsWuss]

that is a very fair statement.

 

Love thy nieghbour?

 

Quite... so long as he believes what you do....

[butler]

One thing which crops up again and again from believers is their conclusion that those who do not believe lack a central pillar around which we can build our lives, something which keeps us grounded, gets us up every morning, urges us to be good people and put others first, to keep us strong in challenging times.

That seems quite a misguided view to me, as a father.

I'm sorry but no made up deity or even some dude claiming to be his son would ever have any chance of coming close to my children in performing that role. It actually quite offends me that anyone would suggest to me that my kids can't fulfill that role as well as something which, to me, genuinely is a work of pure fiction.

 

And the thing which baffles me the most is that there are people of any faith who feel that the only good which can be done is in a god's name. Why can't people just do these things for the sake of human kindness. Why do they need some sort of carrot and stick...?

I can safely say that I wouldn't be a better person if I followed a religion or had a faith.

Which means, because I don't believe any of it, that I have the utmost respect for anyone of any creed. I cannot get my head round the fact that anyone who believes in god can be doing anything but disputing anyone else's belief system.

 

To not believe means one treats all religions the same, as nothing more dangerous that a quaint personal choice.

But a believer must surely treat their own religion as the only truth and everything else as fabrication or abomination. Just seems utterly bizarre, I cannot see how any religion can preach tolerance when defining themselves by their beliefs is at odds with treating everyone as equals....

 

Which takes me to the conclusion that ORIGINALLY, religion was not about a genuine god but instead about taking sides.... I'd be interested to know at which point the charade became accepted fact..?

That's not true