The existence of God - Page 77

DRZ400 · 12-04-2009, 23:14

I'm not bothered by what anyone believes in. This was a debate and everyone put their side across. Nobodies going to change their mind and we all knew that.

Apart from Scientology ...... but that's another day.

Russ · 12-04-2009, 23:22

I just can't figure out what it is about my faith that makes you feel so threatened and causes you to be so aggressive towards it.

DRZ400 · 13-04-2009, 00:12

Because you conduct yourself as an Christian internet extremist, instigating argument with all and sundry who dare to disagree with you.

papa smurf · 13-04-2009, 07:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRZ400

No one can take away the fact that in general, modern Christians are some of the nicest people you can meet and are the only people willing to help someone down on their luck.

A very good friend of mine was an alcoholic when he left the Army ... He in his own words wasn't a very nice man and was stationed in Northern Ireland during the troubles. He found God and is now a devout Catholic. He goes out of his way to help ANYONE who needs help, is non judgemental and is genuinely a bloody nice chap.

We have an understanding that we just don't mention religion to each other and 8 years on we're still good friends.

This leads me on to say that the only reason this kicked off is because we're sat hundreds of miles apart, hiding behind a keyboard. I'm guilty of this, as is everyone else who's participated in this thread.

your right imo most Christians are nice people and offer Christian charity/help

and ask nothing in return, and that's the way it should be ,we should all try to help out each other[you don't need to be a Christian or follower of any other religion to be nice to your fellow man ] the reward is the smile you put on someones face .
but i have to say Christian charity/forgiveness is an alien concept to some "Christians " there definitely not all cut from the same cloth as the original.

jajise93 · 13-04-2009, 07:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

I'm not a deeply religious person, but I read a good story and wondered how others would take it. Forgive my ignorance if this is a well known story, but I'd not heard it before:

A man went to a barbershop to have his haircut and his beard trimmed.

As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.
They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they
eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:
"I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out
in the street to realize that, God doesn't exist. Tell me; if God exists,
would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children?

If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a
loving God who would allow all of these things."

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't
want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left
the shop.

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long,
stringy, dirty hair and untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The
customer turned back and entered the barbershop again and he said to the
barber:

"You know what? Barbers do not exist."

"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a
barber. And I just worked on you!"

"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did,
there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like
that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to
me."

"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist!
That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for
help.

That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

I can see the point of the man who had his beard cut, but does this story not miss the point that the barber is only a man. whereas God is seen as omnipresent / omnipotent?

Surely if there was a God, then the barber's point would hold true? why is there pain and suffering? And if God is seen as all-forgiving and loving, why is there a need for Hell? Would everyone not be accepted into God's Heaven if they are loved and forgiven by him?

That is a good point,i think its true that its all down to free will

lucy7 · 13-04-2009, 08:07

So this was the post that started it all off, so long ago I think we all had forgotten!

Russ · 13-04-2009, 08:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRZ400

Because you conduct yourself as an Christian internet extremist, instigating argument with all and sundry who dare to disagree with you.

That's just utter rubbish. We've had these discussions for long before you showed up and you're the first person to make such a silly claim. Where have I done that, can you show me any examples? Of course I know you're not going to come out with a "There are so many I can't be bothered" type of answer which you've done before.

I've got a feeling you simply have a stereotypical view of Christians and just want to change and manipulate replies so you can aim it at us.

There are athists who have been on this forum for a significantly longer time than you (but obviously you were a long-time reader before you starting posting) who have disagreed with my beliefs. I'm sure they'll be surprised at what you've just posted too.

**Hugh** · 13-04-2009, 09:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRZ400

Because you conduct yourself as an Christian internet extremist, instigating argument with all and sundry who dare to disagree with you.

Once again "facts, logic and reason" leave the building.

This is blatantly untrue, and you are a out and out liar, sir.

Russ robustly defends his views, but has never in the two and half years I have been on CF "instigated argument" on religion (btw, before you accuse me of being Russ's "chum", we disagree quite a lot on religious issues).

Raistlin · 13-04-2009, 09:29

I'm sick to death of seeing people taking potshots at each other over this.

If you can't all play nicely and debate things in an adult manner, and respecting each others' views, I'm going to start handing out general behaviour infractions.

**Hugh** · 13-04-2009, 09:44

Apologies.

**Chris** · 14-04-2009, 10:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRZ400

I speak for everyone on here ... You Russell wouldn't have said some things you said to my face, and I like wise to yours.

Everyone's hiding behind their little plastic keyboard like little anonymous internet warriors.

Anyone can be a hero from a hundred odd miles away.

Au contraire, Blackadder ...

I've had many of the same conversations I've had in religious threads on this forum down the pub, out walking with friends, in the Students' Union, in the middle of a cross country running event (if you knew me, you'd understand that me taking part in a cross country running event was far stranger than me arguing about Creation with one of the other runners, somewhere high in the Lake District fells) ...

**Maggy** · 14-04-2009, 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moldova

I am atheist so belief or faith does not come into it.

If anyone was scared off by this thread then I wonder what strength of character they have and hopefully sooner or later their true self will emerge and can then decide for themselves which way to turn and not need to read what other people think their thoughts should be.

Not scared just bored as it's the samo,samo arguments that I've seen for the last 5 or so years...

And now I have to beat myself senseless..

TheNorm · 14-04-2009, 13:57

OK, here are a couple of quick questions (on topic to boot!).

Does the fact that most shops were closed on Sunday indicate that the Christian religion is inextricably interwoven into British society? If so, does this mean that belief in the existence of God is necessary for this society to function effectively?

LondonRoad · 14-04-2009, 14:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNorm

OK, here are a couple of quick questions (on topic to boot!).

Does the fact that most shops were closed on Sunday indicate that the Christian religion is inextricably interwoven into British society? If so, does this mean that belief in the existence of God is necessary for this society to function effectively?

1. Yes
2. No

You should have had a tiebreaker question as well. There might me a lot of right answers

**Hugh** · 14-04-2009, 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNorm

OK, here are a couple of quick questions (on topic to boot!).

Does the fact that most shops were closed on Sunday indicate that the Christian religion is inextricably interwoven into British society? If so, does this mean that belief in the existence of God is necessary for this society to function effectively?

1) Yes (but was, not necessarily is)
2) No