The existence of God

[mischievious]

Originally Posted by Gary L

Well if he don't let me in, I can always quote the Bible and the bit about forgiving and forgetting to him

LOL but I think you also missed the bit about the wrath of god

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by mischievious

LOL but I think you also missed the bit about the wrath of god

Is that when we see some action from him? I'm all for that one

[mischievious]

Originally Posted by Russ B

That's all very well in theory but in practise it's a little different. Many atheists feel totally justified in telling the world that there's no God (it's their view, they're entitled to it) but if someone with faith proclaims their belief in God then suddenly they're "ramming it down people's throats" etc.

Not that there's supposed to be a competition but atheists get away with far more than people of faith when it comes to professing their beliefs.

I see your point, I have not any experience as I am not religeous per se nor witness of this, must've been on other threads before this one.

If however as has been mentioned atheists have a harder time because of the lack of any belief system except lack of belief then you could possibly find comform in a moral high ground?

If not then why not simply trade it all for a knowing smile, a wink, benelovence, faith, belief etc. for they are in your eyes wrong, you have god, you will in the end return to god. You have nothing to fear.... What does an atheist have? You'll have eternal glory, what is that compare to 70 or so years of life in this mortal coil?

Surely that is worth more than anything anyone can throw at you?

[Russ]

After 7 years it gets tough....

Actually very quickly it became tough, hearing the same worn-out arguments from the same people over and over again. Sadly these threads always end up the same way. If I was a regular forum member then I probably wouldn't care. But they are a nightmare to admin.

[mischievious]

Originally Posted by Gary L

Is that when we see some action from him? I'm all for that one

I think you need to wait till the end for the creature with the red hot poker!!

Seriously! It isn't a red hot poker it is "eternal damnation" no parole, no good behaviour etc. In many modern interpretations which the modern Christian faiths seems to sign up to, rather than the older "your soul will burn forever" kind of way. There is a softer message though potentially harsher reality, Hell is being removed from the word of God, I have read a bit but may be wrong here?. This of course is if this is all true but only people of faith believe it is so.

However I have noticed that though Christians will agree to disagree on what they call "small issues" on the big ones like Jesus dying to redeem mankind this they are all solid on. Hell seesm to come under the small issues categories so it is more fluid in what it is.

Theology and Philosophy fabulous!

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by mischievious

I think you need to wait till the end for the creature with the red hot poker!!

We got more chance of Aliens with ray guns and fairies at the bottom of our gardens I think.

[mischievious]

Originally Posted by Russ B

After 7 years it gets tough....

Actually very quickly it became tough, hearing the same worn-out arguments from the same people over and over again. Sadly these threads always end up the same way. If I was a regular forum member then I probably wouldn't care. But they are a nightmare to admin.

Surely they can only end in such a way if you and other like yourself give way to the forces of logic and reason?

I myself love a logical debate and it has a place. Faith also has a place. They are both incompatible concepts and cannot cancel out the other. For many logic is thet way forward simply because it is provable.

For myself, though I do not have a religion as other might, I do believe that life is splendorous and warrants more questions. The questions should not cease, the ridicule of other opinions should.

It seems that the battle always boils over to the point where both sides conclude that the other should simply "shut the f*** up!!!!!!!!" but the reality usually is that both are being equally ridiculous.

For me at least that is the greatest advantage of sitting on the fence, I can see both sides and see accept and understand to a point both sides. I am the least emotional, most rational and most logical creature in this "thing".

What if this is what was really intended? What if God (if there is one) really intended for us to move forward and use the tools "they" provided us with as a means to move in another direction. What if the Bible was a tool and has served it purpose? Maybe it was never meant to be clung to like a life raft... The nearest person is 2000 or so years old, the world is moving on. Maybe the fence sitter isn't really a fence sitter after all, maybe that is our purpose???? I could write much more but I think that is enough for today, my head is buzzing with ideas

---------- Post added at 00:44 ---------- Previous post was at 00:35 ----------

Originally Posted by Gary L

We got more chance of Aliens with ray guns and fairies at the bottom of our gardens I think.

Since neither can be proven "just yet", your stance is just as tenous as god.

Whilst I hold the belief that it is unlikely that we are alone in the universe, it does not cancel out any belief of a God...... Unless your definition of the word God in much tighter than I ever thought possible.

I also stuggle with the idea that if powers beyond our comprehension are at play why it should be a single entity???? Since we cannot prove 1 entity.

Besides, why should or even would God be alone? I didn't say lonely... simply a-lone as in "a" "lone" entity

[lucy7]

The term "ramming", when used about people sharing their beliefs about God, is a very wrong one to use.
It is also a word that has just been picked up by the masses and now is used when anyone speaks about God, but in most cases, so not true!

Most folk who do the work of speaking about God to others are respectful, and would be listeners of the other peoples opinions /view points if a discussion about God was entered into.

[TheNorm]

Originally Posted by TheDon

...To cast something aside because it's not logical is short sighted.....

To accept something that cannot be tested by logic is foolish - or do you expect everyone to believe there are fairies at the bottom of my garden?

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Originally Posted by TheNorm

To accept something that cannot be tested by logic is foolish - or do you expect everyone to believe there are fairies at the bottom of my garden?

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

I love my family, even when they upset me and cause me pain - where's the logic in that.

Emotion is not logical, but it exists.

[LondonRoad]

Originally Posted by TheNorm

To accept something that cannot be tested by logic is foolish - or do you expect everyone to believe there are fairies at the bottom of my garden?

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

To dismiss everything because of the limitations of our logical minds is foolish.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by harmitage

To dismiss everything because of the limitations of our logical minds is foolish.

is that just another way of saying there is no evidence of a GOD ?

[LondonRoad]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

is that just another way of saying there is no evidence of a GOD ?

I know there's a god. There is no evidence to the contrary.

[mischievious]

Originally Posted by TheNorm

To accept something that cannot be tested by logic is foolish - or do you expect everyone to believe there are fairies at the bottom of my garden?

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

If you are to weild the sword of logic as the sword of truth, you should at least make a "logical statement". God and Fairies are not logically the same under any rules of logic.

[papa smurf]

we seem to arrived at the