So, over 700 dead......

[JC Footy Genius]

I love these types of threads.

People trying to discuss the existence of god, with someone who believes in a god, is to quote General Melchett; "It would be as pointless as trying to teach a woman the value of a good, forward defensive stroke"

If you are closed minded enough to believe in a god, then no amount of discussion on an internet board is going to open their minds.

Personally I see religion as a form of mental illness, some suffering more than others, as this thread proves! It's just good old fashioned delusion.

To quote a health site, "People with delusional disorder often can continue to socialize and function normally, apart from the subject of their delusion, and generally do not behave in an obviously odd or bizarre manner. This is unlike people with other psychotic disorders, who also might have delusions as a symptom of their disorder. In some cases, however, people with delusional disorder might become so preoccupied with their delusions that their lives are disrupted."

Pretty well sums up most religious people IMO.

I agree belief in god is delusional but have a bit more sympathy with many of those who do believe as they have often been indoctrinated from an early age which is extremely difficult to overcome.

 

[glasfryn]

I love these types of threads.

People trying to discuss the existence of god, with someone who believes in a god, is to quote General Melchett; "It would be as pointless as trying to teach a woman the value of a good, forward defensive stroke"

If you are closed minded enough to believe in a god, then no amount of discussion on an internet board is going to open their minds.

Personally I see religion as a form of mental illness, some suffering more than others, as this thread proves! It's just good old fashioned delusion.

To quote a health site, "People with delusional disorder often can continue to socialize and function normally, apart from the subject of their delusion, and generally do not behave in an obviously odd or bizarre manner. This is unlike people with other psychotic disorders, who also might have delusions as a symptom of their disorder. In some cases, however, people with delusional disorder might become so preoccupied with their delusions that their lives are disrupted."

Pretty well sums up most religious people IMO.

this
me,agnostic
if there was a god we would be in the premiership

 

[symyjym]

I very much agree.

This is why I have a problem with it.

 

[rogersix]

This explanation is not good enough then...

"congealed"

acreeted (spl!) dude; otherwise yeah. btb, wot was the name of that band you posted in the barn in dungerees, my search failed

 

[Megazone]

Kayal is living proof there is a god.

 

[rogersix]

i agree with you, but there are far too many complex questions to which we'll never know the answer for people to arrogantly dismiss ANY theories of how we got here .

yeah man; quite probably no one will ever know one way or tother; what we do know is how we behave in our collective perception of reality. are you rational, logical; or a nutter?

 

[rogersix]

No that explanation is NOT good enough mate, what im trying to get across is WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE THE BIG BANG There cant have just been nothingness ,what created that tiny electron ?? What created all the billions of other universes ?? can you not understand what im trying to say ?

there can and certainly must have been nothing; as far as it is understood. larger hadron colider anyone?

 

[rogersix]

The God I describe doesn't only allow good things to happen. That's the point. He/she allows us to get on with it and, if we screw up, it's of our own making.

so the entity has zero influence; or are you and i just imagining all this?

 

[rogersix]

I think all of us can agree that any correct thinking person will outright reject the idea of "god" in any form, those that still cling to the dribble covered comfort blanket of religion simply don't have the will or the tools to further the human race. This is evidenced in the fact that science saves and improves lives by the millions and strives to further our understanding of the universe while inviting questions and investigation whereas religion continues to kill people and make people's lives an utter misery in vast swathes all the while trying to force upon people their own version of events that cannot be questioned, deviated from or rejected.

BOOM

the whys and wherefores of how have just been beasted by the here and now reality thing; have they not?

 

[Gilliver's Travels]

The God I describe doesn't only allow good things to happen. That's the point. He/she allows us to get on with it and, if we screw up, it's of our own making.

And if a tsunami sweeps away 250,000 innocent men, women, children and even newborn babies, whose making is that exactly?

Not for nothing do insurance companies term such events Acts of God. Why would a loving god do that kind of thing, David?

 

[rogersix]

Newton believed both in God and that the Bible was a revelation from God. He also believed that God was not bound by time as are humans, allowing Him to see the “end from the beginning”. Thus, to use Newton’s own words, he was convinced that “the holy Prophecies” of the Scripture are nothing else than “histories of things to come” (Yahuda MS 1.1, folio 16 recto). At the same time, biblical prophecy is written in highly symbolic language that requires skilled interpretation. Newton rose to this challenge as he attempted to discover the future of the world in the words of the prophets.

how did that go for the alchemist? genius, yes; but did he not die of mercury poisoning?

 

[rogersix]

The problem is that God may exist in some form - pretending that we can know that it doesn't, doesn't make it true.

Besides, I'm not convinced that an atheist world is the kind of world we want to live in. Of course some terrible things have happened in the name of religion, but also religion has done a lot of great things - I believe that it is the human being and our politics, rather than our faith in the divine, that is responsible the historical atrocities that have occurred in the name of religion.

I believe spirituality is important, for both the individual and society as a whole. God may exist, or it may not, but it's important to remember that atheism requires as much faith as theism. As long as religion continues to modernise I think it can be a really positive thing for humanity in the future, just as it has been in the past.

wot? wot does any of that actually mean? name three positive things religion has done; as distinct from human DNA (the most sociable creature ever to have evolved) ? holy fucokta.

 

[rogersix]

yes, and it has square root of nothing to do with "God". its the Higgs boson, which if/when discovered proves the standard model of physics. its name is tabloid popularism, from an accidental use in a book decades ago.

they've done it already to 5 sigma; still doesn't prove the standard model tho' , larger LHC will help!

 

[rogersix]

"On Eid al-Adha (the 10th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah), pilgrims must strike only one of the large jamrah with seven pebbles. After the stoning is completed on the day of Eid, every pilgrim must cut or shave their hair. On each of the following two days, they must hit each of the three walls with seven pebbles, going in order from east to west. Thus at least 49 pebbles are needed for the ritual, more if some throws miss. Some pilgrims stay at Mina for an additional day, in which case they must again stone each wall seven times.

"If one is able to crush al‑nafs al‑'amāra during the stoning of Jamrat al‑ʿAqaba (the Jamrah of Aqaba), then one has taken the next step in attaining closeness to Allah, and since between the servant and Allah there is no more than the distance of one step, if one has been able to take this step and make it past one's own low desires and wishes, then that which follows is the level of closeness to Allah.

Bonkers. Absolutely bonkers.

eh? which bit?

 

[rogersix]

Through a process of exploring consciousness through meditation for around 10 years. This I believe has helped me to realise more and more about who we are and why we are here.

This happens in a step by step process. Questions like this I have explored many many times in my own mind and definitely have reconciliation. Unfortunately the explanation I would give needs the understanding from all the years meditating so it's not possible to give it without the foundations. The answers to all questions are within everybody.

I didn't come on the thread to answer questions, I've tried to do that in the past here and now realise that is pointless.

My comment was just that from my perspective Stephen Fry has ranted about a subject he doesn't understand in a very negative manner which for me is not very good. I'm all for the Richard Dawkins of society because their beliefs encourage debate and can get people to question themselves. Why comedians like him and Ricky Gervais feel the need to use their platform as celebrities to go on about things they know nothing about is beyond me.

Science is starting to catch up with consciousness. An example has been touched on in this thread. Quantum Physics now knows everyone and everything is connected while mystics for 100s of years have been saying that.

how do you know so much more about IT ;than the extremely well read SF & RG; by retreating into yourself? bizarre

 

[Megazone]

genius, yes; but did he not die of mercury poisoning?

I thought it was urinary incontinence probably due to a kidney stone?

 

[rogersix]

I don't agree ... on all points.

quality rebuttal

 

[Megazone]

how do you know so much more about IT ;than the extremely well read SF & RG; by retreating into yourself? bizarre

Have you ever meditated?

 

[rogersix]

i believe the human brain is quite capable of understanding what it isn't tbh. God, religion or any belief system is a reaction to the fear of death and hope for an afterlife and help when in desperate need. I am content to know that space and time doesn't end or begin and that absolute nothing never existed. Even in a perfect vacuum there is energy and particle matter forms and disappears in a flash. Two universes could possibly collide and the energy this produces probably causes the birth of a new universe with a big band effect.

boom!

 

[rogersix]

You might feel he's putting forward his opinion but I felt it was an attack. You say that God has no place in your life and that is fine. That can't be said of Stephen Fry.

eh?