does religion really represent god?

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Originally Posted by Proper Bo

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Originally Posted by callum

What man would be able to resist slagging of another team? even one that wouldn't pose a threat to women and children.

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One who doesn't have to derive self-esteem from mocking others, cockface:snooty:

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I just like doing it, geordie.:P

Callum, were you a programmer or something of that sort?

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Originally Posted by Snee

Callum, were you a programmer or something of that sort?

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No, why do you ask? :ermm:

Just trying to figure out who the fuck was who of the people I remember from the dawn of time on the bored, like :idunno:

Might be barbie I'm thinking of, though. I always mixed you two up.

Sorry about that, like.


Been wondering for ages, like.

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Originally Posted by Snee

Might be barbie I'm thinking of, though. I always mixed you two up.

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h4r5h :glagpinch:

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Originally Posted by Snee

Just trying to figure out who the fuck was who of the people I remember from the dawn of time on the bored, like :idunno:

Might be barbie I'm thinking of, though. I always mixed you two up.

Sorry about that, like.


Been wondering for ages, like.

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Might be balamm you're thinking of. It took babrbie a name change and several years, before anyone noticed his posts like.

callum and colin aren't that far from each other, like. Especially when you've nevar met anyone named either :unsure:

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Originally Posted by Proper Bo

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Originally Posted by Snee

Might be barbie I'm thinking of, though. I always mixed you two up.

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h4r5h :glagpinch:

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I always got you mixed up with azzz.

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Originally Posted by callum

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Originally Posted by Proper Bo

h4r5h :glagpinch:

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I always got you mixed up with azzz.

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that's just too far:no:

i'm going to nevada now:emo:
/hounded off the board

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Originally Posted by callum

It took babrbie a name change and several years, before anyone noticed his posts like.

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Good point, I was like "what? Who's this then?" when he started running cheese's interwebs forum.

Nevada must be massively happening wot with all the people going there lately :dabs:

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Originally Posted by Proper Bo

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Originally Posted by callum

I always got you mixed up with azzz.

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that's just too far:no:

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I know, it was just too easy to pick him.

Religion has killed millions, if not billions of people, and it has no positive purpose that can't be accomplished within the realm of reality.

As for Tony Blair, he's using religion as a way to relate to the people, thus making him more popular, which is exactly what he wants if he's trying to get into such a position.

Or perhaps he's just a simple minded person that happens to belong to a rich family, thus is allowed to attend an expensive school.

Does a degree really make you a smarter person, or is it superficial?

Religion = Control. Governments like control.

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Originally Posted by callum

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Originally Posted by Proper Bo

that's just too far:no:

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I know, it was just too easy to pick him.

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Here you could have done a joke about mackems. It could have worked.

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Originally Posted by Snee

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Originally Posted by callum

I know, it was just too easy to pick him.

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Here you could have done a joke about mackems. It could have worked.

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I would have if i thought geordies were any better :shifty:

:lol:

I'd better go before bo finishes his break :ghey:

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Originally Posted by callum

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Originally Posted by Proper Bo

that's a thumb down for you, sir:snooty:

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I really think you should pick a second team to support, one in Scotland maybe. Rangers would be your best bet, they are top of the league, still in 4 competitions and JP wouldn't like it.

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They're not still in 4 competitions, they've already won the CIS Cup. So up yours, hunboy.

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Originally Posted by nioin3k

Or perhaps he's just a simple minded person that happens to belong to a rich family, thus is allowed to attend an expensive school.

Does a degree really make you a smarter person, or is it superficial?

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If you don't already know the answers to these questions you have already proven yourself not worthy of discussing anything with. This isn't America like, simple minded people do not attend said "school" and go on to become Barristers simply by belonging to a rich family. They attend a polytechnic and go on to become an Accountant.

Perhaps you are just ignorant and uneducated. Have you considered formal religion as a lifestyle choice. All of the best people are doing it.

Like I said, believe in God or not. Support religion or not. That's a matter for everyone. However your suggestion that only the ignorant and uneducated are religious is frankly mentalist.

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Originally Posted by Mr JP Fugley

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Originally Posted by stitched

i was just wondering y do people associate god with a particular religion?,if there exist god....
most of the times its just luck...there is not much difference between good luck and god ...bad luck and the devil....and still most the well learned people still practice religion and teach their kids about religion..
is it allrite to associate god with religion??if u do have a kid do u want to bring him up with all these religion in his head...one thing history has tot us is all the inhumane crimes commited in the name of religion that represent god in that particular individuals mind....is that what you want to teach AN young un-adultrated mind??....religion is an assumed story CREATED by a very imaginative person ....we already know religion is a big superstition...and most of the times "RELIGION IS MORE POWERFULL THEN GOD?!!!,IF GOD EXISTS"...i am not an atheist...i belive in god,but not in religion world could be a better place that way

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Yes

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..Perhaps ..but then one must consider the following; many people who might have an argument with you, will not kill you for it, as otherwise they believe that they might not go to heaven, but to hell. So in many ways religion has a social function. On the other hand there are some, that if you even dare to draw their Prophet on paper; they will deem that dis-respectful and possibly attempt to make a quick end on your life.

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Originally Posted by thewizeard

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Originally Posted by Mr JP Fugley

Yes

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..Perhaps ..but then one must consider the following; many people who might have an argument with you, will not kill you for it, as otherwise they believe that they might not go to heaven, but to hell. So in many ways religion has a social function. On the other hand there are some, that if you even dare to draw their Prophet on paper; they will deem that dis-respectful and possibly attempt to make a quick end on your life.

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Exactly, that's why sweeping generalisations don't work. A lot of people's social conscience is based on their religious teachings.

How much of the good in the world today is done in the name of religion. How many people are alive today because some uneducated ignorant Christian dug a well and thee was clean water available where there never was before. Or taught in a school (even though they themselves were uneducated and ignorant)and helped educate people. Who then went on to educate others.

Religion was once necessary as a form of governance. It made a good substitute for a constitution and the regulation of public life, back when life was so shitty that being thrown in prison for transgressions or being ostracised was no deterrant to aberrant behaviour. When life is that shitty the only thing you can control people with is the fear of the flames of hell licking your ringpiece for all eternity. Now we have political structure, and religion is relegated to primarily forming a social identity.

When someone screams and shouts in the street, burning effigies and threatening people with violent fatwas because they drew a picture the protestors don't like, I don't for a minute believe it's got a thing to do with standing up for God. It's simply a protest at people not showing the deference you believe your social club deserves.

Some stuff written in religious scripture is good.

If you like, you can read it. There might be occasions where you'll think; 'That's a good thing'. The people who wrote it were, by and large, clever chaps who thought a lot about values and how people should live their lives. In fact, most of them dedicated their entire lives to theorising about just that and then writing it down.

Of course, there's some absolute pish too and some is irrelevant in contemporary society - but if you can read it with an open mind and take the bits that suggest how to improve the way you treat other people and the way in which you think about yourself, then it might just work for you and improve your life somewhat. It will, at the very least, make you more informed about what millions of other people hold dear to them.

You don't have to believe in a superior being, a creator - I certainly don't - but that's not to say that religion is useless. Don't just say religion is bad without reading about what it tries to teach 'cos, as I said, some, no, most of it is good stuff.

half of the bible isn't true..

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Originally Posted by manker

Some stuff written in religious scripture is good.

If you like, you can read it. There might be occasions where you'll think; 'That's a good thing'. The people who wrote it were, by and large, clever chaps who thought a lot about values and how people should live their lives. In fact, most of them dedicated their entire lives to theorising about just that and then writing it down.

Of course, there's some absolute pish too and some is irrelevant in contemporary society - but if you can read it with an open mind and take the bits that suggest how to improve the way you treat other people and the way in which you think about yourself, then it might just work for you and improve your life somewhat. It will, at the very least, make you more informed about what millions of other people hold dear to them.

You don't have to believe in a superior being, a creator - I certainly don't - but that's not to say that religion is useless. Don't just say religion is bad without reading about what it tries to teach 'cos, as I said, some, no, most of it is good stuff.

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This is what I was saying about the use of religion as a civilising influence on a barbaric era in civilisation. Most of the tenets of all faiths have already been enshrined in democratic law in a secular way in Britain......all the important ones anyway. Religion is a relic...like the appendix, a vestigial remnant of man's evolution.

Like you I already accept a lot of the moral codes of religion into my life. My dad always said that you don't need to go to church. You just have to follow what Jesus teaches and you'll be ok. He believed as I do that Jesus was a revolutionary, not the son of God. You don't need to have religion to have morality and ethics.....and I would say that if it takes the fear of a wrathful creator to adopt them then that makes you a pretty abysmal human being. There are times when it really amuses me that people I've met who call themselves Christians seem to have fewer moral standards than I do, and think that as long as they accept that they are weak and throw themselves upon God for understanding and forgiveness it's ok. It's a lot tougher to look yourself in the mirror as your own moral guardian and make excuses to yourself. There can be no harder judge of you than you.

The only things religion can possibly offer now in the modern era are a) a way to reinforce group bonding...to set yourself apart from groups of other people b) If you have a shitty life to give you hope and a belief that you've suffering for a reason c) to give you comfort when you're lonely or frightened. And really, for the last two society/humanity should be ashamed that people have been forced into that.

I have no problem whatsoever with anyone who doesn't believe in God. Or for those who do believe in Her not wishing to be part of a particular religion. To each their own, it's beliefs we're talking about here. Even the Pope has said that we (Catholics) do not have a monopoly on truth.

What I do object to is people saying that those who believe in God or who follow the teachings of a particular religion must be ignorant and uneducated. I know plenty of people who believe in God who are neither of these things. I know of plenty who are exceptionally well educated and intelligent. I also know plenty of atheists who aren't going to cut themselves thinking.

To each their own and a bit of respect for other people's beliefs, that's the ticket.

What about people who say grownups shouldn't have imaginary friends.
Are they being judgmental. :unsure:

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Originally Posted by benchez

What about people who say grownups shouldn't have imaginary friends.
Are they being judgmental. :unsure:

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You still think Allen5 is real don't you.

:earl: :lol:

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Originally Posted by Mr JP Fugley

I have no problem whatsoever with anyone who doesn't believe in God. Or for those who do believe in Her not wishing to be part of a particular religion. To each their own, it's beliefs we're talking about here. Even the Pope has said that we (Catholics) do not have a monopoly on truth.

What I do object to is people saying that those who believe in God or who follow the teachings of a particular religion must be ignorant and uneducated. I know plenty of people who believe in God who are neither of these things. I know of plenty who are exceptionally well educated and intelligent. I also know plenty of atheists who aren't going to cut themselves thinking.

To each their own and a bit of respect for other people's beliefs, that's the ticket.

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First of all I would like to hear an intelligent person explain to me what their understanding of the concept of 'religion' is, because when I've had discussions with intelligent people who say they follow a faith in the past it's become apparent that they don't actually have the correct understanding of it.

For instance, Wiki says this is the definition of religion:

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A religion is a set of beliefs and practices often organized around supernatural and moral claims, and often codified as prayer, ritual, and religious law. Religion also encompasses ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and mystic experience. The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction.

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If I ask them however if for instance they believe that when they take the sacrament that the wine and wafer turn into the body and blood of Christ in their mouths, they umm and aah. Or if I ask them if they believe the Earth is only thousands of years old, they'll say 'well not exactly'.

To my mind the whole point of religion is that you follow a doctrine. Each religion has its own doctrine. You either follow that and call yourself a member of that faith or you don't and you don't. There can be no grey areas, or you're creating a new religion for yourself.

If someone did profess to be intelligent and claim that the Earth was thousands of years old I would argue that.

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Originally Posted by Squeamous

There can be no grey areas, or you're creating a new religion for yourself.

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Surely that's not right...life is all grey areas isn't it ? Isn't this merely about interpretation and/or perception ? Like so many things ?

That depends. Would you say the colour of the sky is blue, or is it just a matter of perception?

I'd say that depends on whether it's day or night, and what the weather conditions are ;)

Would you say that all Christians should go around smiting unbelievers ?

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Originally Posted by manicgeek

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Originally Posted by Squeamous

There can be no grey areas, or you're creating a new religion for yourself.

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Surely that's not right...life is all grey areas isn't it ? Isn't this merely about interpretation and/or perception ? Like so many things ?

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Obviously life is full of grey areas if one is looking at things objectively. However, if one becomes say a Baptist the other members might look askance if you say "obviously I don't believe in a literal God" That point is non-negotiable as far as they are concerned. In some churches Noah's Ark, talking snakes and fruit that confers knowledge of good and evil are also non-negotiable. However there is always the CofE bless :)

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Originally Posted by Biggles

Obviously life is full of grey areas if one is looking at things objectively. However, if one becomes say a Baptist the other members might look askance if you say "obviously I don't believe in a literal God" That point is non-negotiable as far as they are concerned. In some churches Noah's Ark, talking snakes and fruit that confers knowledge of good and evil are also non-negotiable. However there is always the CofE bless :)

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Well it did Mother Teresa no harm ;)

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Originally Posted by manicgeek

I'd say that depends on whether it's day or night, and what the weather conditions are ;)

Would you say that all Christians should go around smiting unbelievers ?

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I would say that if a doctrine says you should do something you should either do it and assign yourself that religion or not do it and not.

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Originally Posted by Squeamous

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Originally Posted by manicgeek

I'd say that depends on whether it's day or night, and what the weather conditions are ;)

Would you say that all Christians should go around smiting unbelievers ?

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Believe in a god or do something else.

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fixed.

Ah! So you think all Muslims should set about trying to kill you then ?

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Originally Posted by manicgeek

Ah! So you think all Muslims should set about trying to kill you then ?

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Yeah, that's exactly what I think.

And you think that Christians should control the Holy land ?