facthunter

Good summary Don. I hope I'm not bitter but I wouldn't want anyone to go through the religious persecution I did for being non-Catholic. I had hoped knowledge would have liberated us from that, but there is always another god based evil out there to plague us, it seems. Nev

There is a distinctly ANTI SCIENCE attitude being pedalled, By the new group in power. It illustrates why it is not a good idea to have science free education so easily available. If you are going to have brain surgery, build a large bridge or skyscraper or a race car worked on, do you get the opinion of non expert and non science people and apply it there?. Surely to have the best knowledge available and appropriately applied to any task is the best process?

Threads have a life of their own. Once it starts all participants have some ownership of it. I thank some of the serious contributors to this subject as they have put a lot into it and shown many aspects of their personal feelings and values. It isn't a subject for forums like this, and I don't think it should be . I haven't responded previously, but I thought I would be a bit gutless if I just let a few carry one side of the argument for me. We should feel free to express ourselves with out being accused of being some inferior group with an ulterior motive. It's a serious subject and to have it in Aviation Laughter is wrong. It started out on the wrong foot clearly, asserting atheist knowledge is a joke.. Somewhat offensive to some. I have never consciously set out to ridicule anyone, I hope. Thanks to the ones who communicated their personal experiences honestly. I always appreciate it. Nev

What if the previous tenant doesn't leave? Nev

They have black and red to start with. I like the red. Nev

Ranka, They might have fought over the colour of their hair. The oirish seem to love a fight. Nev

And that transformed the distribution of electricity. Nev

Whether you dream has nothing to do with believing in god or not. Some who believe attach a lot of importance to the content of dreams. It appears with research to be almost universal. The significance would be arguable to relate to any real situation . It could reflect your anxieties .Nev

I would think it natural if someone wants to kill you, that you might see that as needing a response. When all these attention seeking ratbag kids threaten and kill what do they expect ? Perhaps the brain is a bit inactive.Nev

Ghost story teller . Maybe you could do that for a living. We don't know a lot of things. How would we? But we know a LOT more than we did and there is a lot more coming. Those who built the astronomical and radio telescopes etc did well. This is the human condition at it's best. To explore seems to be inate in us. Could be dangerous in the primitive jungle. Nev

Bex My brother can translate hieroglyphs and all those early writings. The word virgin and young girl are identical in one of the early languages of the period. Having to be a virgin shows the church has a lot of difficulty with human sexuality and they show it in much of their behaviour and attitudes even today.. If we are made by god the dirty bits must be OK. surely. Nev

The bible is a scary book. The God portrayed must be a very disturbed being if what you read about him is true. It seems every bad trait of the human condition has been inflicted upon him. Original sin Jealous God to be worshipped with all your might. Sets up someone to kill his child as a sacrifice then when it is about to happen says "I was just testing you" God's chosen people slaughtering all the others and taking it all. Pretty crook if you aren't the chosen ones and stiff bikkies for the others This is pretty disturbing stuff. A little kid is born with a better sense of right and wrong and justice than some of this. Nev

Mike,...When, and who created HIM (god).? How old is your universe (roughly) Plenty KNOW it is 6,300 years OTA. Nev

Cyclists BAD .... CAR Drivers don't chuck stuff out?. Drive up the STURT Highway, and look along the edges of the road. If the plastic is the modern stuff it won't last long in the sun. I don't condone anyone chucking their rubbish and expecting someone else to clean up after them Cigarette buts are one of the worst things in drainage systems, rivers and lakes. Nev

GG you have NO idea what I think, but I'm not trying to convince myself of anything. If you are happy with your god, that's fine but you HAVE made some crazy statements really insulting to them who don't share your view of things.. You are not atheist so how would you have any idea how it feels to be one? I know I'm not going to heaven, but that is something I will have to cop. If a lot of the bigoted people that profess religion (Not ALL of them. I have some very pleasant god fearing friends) but many are people I would not like to spend time with here or in heaven. Trying to save your own miserable soul might not be the best motivation alone, and the promise of eternal life is pretty attractive if it can be delivered. Of course there is eternal damnation too so it is a carrot and a BIG stick as well. Very persuasive but not being clear to think on all things is too high a price to pay for me. I can probably quote the bible better than you too but I am not interested in the contest. I mention it because you may not know that I have been there.. Nev

Could have easily been a bit mentally disturbed. A physical contest between a car and a pushbike is a fool idea, for the pushbike. Nev

Pure rubbish GG. Logical? Not even slightly. The total absence of something is not another version of that something. Totalitarian???? Any thing but. The absolute antithesis of it. The ultimate freedom. You can even think freely. The monkey on your back is gone. Atheists don't band together and communicate their GODS word (gospel). There's nothing to say. If some want to debate it as Dawkins does He becomes an ADVOCATE for that position . Not everyone wishes to be so public but debate is not feared by those who are not insecure. It's a healthy thing for the mind. Thinking is good for you. Nev

I am informed ( I was going to write believe), that at some border check point years ago a westerner was asked his religion and replied "atheist" and the check point person persisted, till he said "Church of England atheist" and that was OK. A muslim atheist has a bigger problem as you are not permitted to renounce Allah. Nev

An Atheist is a person with no "invisible" means of support. Nev

Between a rock and a hard place? Nev

I had a horse jump from a bank on the left side of the road over the car and take the drivers door handle off.. 1938 Chev. Glad it wasn't a tourer. Nev

I hope you don't think that is a serious contribution? Nev.. Nice dog though.

You are certainly getting into atheists GG. I haven't met the kind you speak of. You are all entitled to your own god. When you force it on others and their kids I am not with you, and certainly don't believe exclusion should happen if you don't believe in one. Usually YOUR one. Regarding the number of atheists or agnostics out there. You would be surprised if you did a proper poll, just how many there are. I feel threatened not at all by that because THEY won't be going around saying you aren't the right type of atheist, and in some cases wanting to kill you for that, like many so called believers. OF course Catholics can be excluded from the church. (excommunicated) by a human being. It's all a bit silly really. Nev

A general and fair coverage of religion(S) might have some validity as a general knowledge of religion(s) might be an asset in some circumstances. I don't like the idea of forcing someone to believe something as it is clearly not possible to change ones belief by force let alone justify it morally. You might pretend to believe something so your head stays on, but what does that achieve?. A conversion on the Road to Damascus? Bit close to home eh!. Nev

Surely you are not comparing learning reading and writing and numeracy which are SKILLs with doctrinaire beliefs. If we are going to teach beliefs which ones do we teach, and which ones do we not want to teach? Also why should I contribute to the cost ? Divisiveness is conflict potential. I want no part of it, thank you.Nev