2008-07-11 - Rider Down, NW11

why can't you guys just p.m. each other as opposed to arguing and airing each of your views?

This way if anyone wants to join in and add their view they can, it make it all the more interesting.

Those who have no interest in the thread don't need to read it.

"I hate that pub, you go in and everyone is fucking drinking beer and talking loudly, the place stinks of cheap suits, I fucking hate it"

"What time ?"

"I will probably get there around 6.30"

well i'll be there at 6.45 :)

religion causes enough shite all over the world.

I have no time for the concept of a benevolent God. But Jesus wasn't a cock - I reckon you stick to his shit you'll be a better person.

Yes, I am that guy in Speaker's Corner who preaches Christian Aetheism.

ha!

I think you need to all just lose the attitude and ride :D

fuckin A

I have no time for the concept of a benevolent God. But Jesus wasn't a cock - I reckon you stick to his shit you'll be a better person.

Yes, I am that guy in Speaker's Corner who preaches Christian Aetheism.

I am rather taken with the New Age panthiestic concept of GOD where GOD is in everything and everything is in GOD and where there are many different paths to enlightenment

I am rather taken with myself and how my toilet gives me enlightenment during the night. Especially after a few beers

You asked me to respond to my original comment that Jesus's teachings were how not to be a cock in life and you're refuting my responses with stuff outside of Jesus's teachings. Jesus said, "I am the new way" "I give you a new commandment" - it was absolutley about leaving all the old shit behind and looking forward. The contextualisation of his teachings - both from a historical and theological perspective - necessitates the inclusion of the Old Testament to show just how new this was.

Clever ! :)

So Jesus is not god then ?

Religion causes enough shite all over the world.

100% in agreement.

I have no time for the concept of a benevolent God. But Jesus wasn't a cock - I reckon you stick to his shit you'll be a better person.

Yes, I am that guy in Speaker's Corner who preaches Christian Aetheism.

On a similar theme, a recent PEW survey (US) on belief turned up this:

*According to a recent Pew survey, 21 percent of atheists in the United States believe in "God or a universal spirit," and 8 percent are "absolutely certain" that such a Being exist*s.

:D

• seriously !
  

I am rather taken with the New Age panthiestic concept of GOD where GOD is in everything and everything is in GOD and where there are many different paths to enlightenment

That would be pantheism, of course I am guessing you are basing this idea (wish/belief) on simply a desire for it to be so (?) or is there something you see that leads you to think this is an reasonable model of reality ?

[EDIT: duh !!! You already labeled this as pantheism, whoops, beer]

On a similar theme, a recent PEW survey (US) on belief turned up this:

*According to a recent Pew survey, 21 percent of atheists in the United States believe in "God or a universal spirit," and 8 percent are "absolutely certain" that such a Being exist*s.

:D

• seriously !
  

ha!

ha!

The graphs are pretty cool, more fun than anything - they aren't going to tell you something you couldn't have guessed, but worth a look . . . wait one moment . .

3 people waiting ..

here you go:

Physiological differences:

http://www.samharris.org/site/full_text/survey-results-psychological-beliefs/

Religious beliefs

http://www.samharris.org/site/full_text/survey-results-religious-beliefs/

The complexly titled "Personal Data and Attitudes Towards Science, Journalism, Politics, etc."

http://www.samharris.org/site/full_text/survey-results-personal-data-and-attitudes-towards-science-journalism-polit/

There is some interesting stuff in there, this is one of my favourites.

Now that is a very interesting question. If I could prove the existance of God I would be the most famous man alive so I won't bother to try that on for size. I would have to say that from personal experience having lived part of my life with absolutely bo connection to a supranatural being and part of my life with a connection to a supranatural being; that with is better than without. Does that mean that it is not all in my head, well no it doesn't. But it is a form of consciousness that I share with billions and billions of my fellow human beings so to believe in God is a very 'human' experience. If changes me in anyway it probably makes me a little more humble, a great deal more grateful and sometimes even quite loved up. Is it mumbo jumbo? I don't really care, I was in a dark dark place I really didn't have any choice but to swallow my pride and get down on my knees and pray because when you are in a really dark place who else are you going to turn to?

the electricity booard?

You are funny but it OK because Jesus loves you.

yeah, but what has he done for me?

didn't he die for you or something. Isn't that enough man?

Clever ! :)

So Jesus is not god then ?

clever!

lovin the lower case btw - bit self-consciously unbowing... but in mentioning it I'm enjoying it.

All I'm sticking to? Jesus emerged in the political and religious scene of his time and tried to show a new way - and yes, urged others to spread the ideas. His teachings then became the basis for a religion.

I said ages ago about my rather Godless existence these days - that's a combination of spiritual laziness, disenchantment with religion and a real doubt that there is a God worth any of the many competing discourses being argued about, struggled for, lived by and killed in the name of. But I still reckon that the teachings of Jesus are intellectually and spiritually rich and useful in the quest to be a good person (simplistic as those two words are they ride). And I don't think he - as a historical figure or as a conjured-up vessel for religious and political ideas - is what could be described as a cock. So I just wanted to disagree for once. Unfortunately the religious debate begins at that point as he is inextricably linked with religion. But take his teachings in their written form - singularly - and you will struggle to find all that is wrong with religion in them. And when someone says "Jesus was a cock" they know they will get a reaction they can lock horns with someone about, so here I am still responding to the snowball that developed from it.

Even though I personally find religions have a whole lot wrong with them, and shudder at the dangerous and awful distortions they can seem to justify, there are many many people who live their lives by them who are good people because of it - people who have turned their lives around or been able to keep going because of it who otherwise wouldn't have. People who make other people's lives better through it. And Dawkins - who is a bell-end and extremely uncool in his fervour for hating on religious people just because he personally thinks they're delusional - doesn't get this. Religions work for some people. Who knows whether religion in balance is more destructive than it is beneficial though.

Murts, everyone else - I am completely with Tynan about the chipping in bit. There are political threads on here too that go way over my head (mostly because it's buried in the sands of apathy..) but I still enjoy them as it makes the forum more intelligent and interesting and you get to know someone better. It's up to you to go WTF or post. But to defend my position a bit I did say I didn't want the long conversation about it these things take, and from there it's kicked back and forth a bit and I feel I've respected Tynan's input here by replying rather than just fuckin it.

I'm just shootin the breeze.....kickin a few ideas around... I'm a bit parched of conversation and beers at the moment...

the electricity booard?

oh Murts...! :D

On a similar theme, a recent PEW survey (US) on belief turned up this:

*According to a recent Pew survey, 21 percent of atheists in the United States believe in "God or a universal spirit," and 8 percent are "absolutely certain" that such a Being exist*s.

:D

• seriously !
  
  
  

that survey was great. Very interesting, wonder what the comparison would be with UK people... (I'm british so easy to say - yeah but Americans...)

lovin the one "people say I am wise"........