I have a Faith and Associate myself with a religion

Like I said. What is a suitable question, as the ones I keep coming up with are retarded?

but taking Bibio's point, why then should children who have not sinned be punished for the sins of those who have?

That's not punishment and in a lot of ways Bib is wrong there (although there are aspects of punishment but it's only in our banishment from Eden and into the world of suffering not exactly what goes on here).

That's a natural consequence of allowing free will.

They aren't stupid questions if you genuinely want the answers.

[Bibio]

there is not one question anyone can ask about religion and especially the Christian one where they don't have an answer. they have had thousands of years to come up with answers for every conceivable question you could ask and that is why it makes it all sound so convincing.

man, woman, children all suffer for the disobedience of Adam. so we are all stuffed and might as well sin.

Originally Posted by Bibio

there is not one question anyone can ask about religion and especially the Christian one where they don't have an answer. they have had thousands of years to come up with answers for every conceivable question you could ask and that is why it makes it all sound so convincing.

How did Judas die.

[Bibio]

i don't know i'm not a priest go look it up on google or read the bible.

Originally Posted by Bibio

i don't know i'm not a priest go look it up on google or read the bible.

It's in the bible.

I already know that.

It's just the accounts differ between Michael and Acts.

[Bri w]

In my younger years, way back in the 60's, I was brought up a Catholic. Being from good Irish stock, albeit living in England, there was little choice in the matter. Without giving a blow by blow of the next 10 years, the end result was I hated the strict regime of Catholicism and escaped it in my late teens. And yes, the local priest was a sick evil #######. Thankfully I managed to avoid that experience, just - but that's another story probably best left unsaid.

But it was only the RC church I escaped, not my belief in a God. I accept all religions, atheists and agnostics. Do I feel that one God or religion is better than another? No. Do I feel science trumps religion? There are still enough unanswered questions out there for there to be room for both. But one day science might prove that religion is a fallacy, or maybe the final answer behind the big bang was God clapping his hands.

So just what has religion given me? A code of conduct and a morality. Is it better than that of a non-believer or a believer of another God? No not at all.

Am I sad? I'm probably more happy and content than I've ever been. Am I ignorant? No more or less than the next man or woman - although my job, house, car, bank balance suggests I'm not too stupid. Would I be safe on a jury? Well, I'm not a hang 'em high guy nor a turn the other cheek but I am very aware of society's expectations and would vote on the facts, not my beliefs - they actually wouldn't even enter into my thoughts. Oh no, I've been brain washed.

And finally, am I gullible? Only in so much as I tend to look for the best in people and not have a cynical view of their 'worth.' I've had my fingers burned because of my trusting nature but to be honest I'd rather believe in people than be a cynic.

Science vs religion is not a real debate because religion can never disprove science, science adapts to fit evidence but it remains science.

Not unless god comes down in a giant ball of fire and proves his omnipotence (in which case he'd have just invalidated both science AND all major religions).


Until that point it's best to use science as a tool for understanding as much as we can and keep religion as a personal belief that doesn't interfere with it (morality aside, but then morality is changeable)

[Bri w]

Originally Posted by Spank86

Science vs religion is not a real debate because religion can never disprove science, science adapts to fit evidence but it remains science.

Not unless god comes down in a giant ball of fire and proves his omnipotence (in which case he'd have just invalidated both science AND all major religions).


Until that point it's best to use science as a tool for understanding as much as we can and keep religion as a personal belief that doesn't interfere with it (morality aside, but then morality is changeable)

And I wonder how many times in the past a scientific fact has been disproven by the next generation of scientists. Some of today's scientific facts may well be disproven in the future.

I prefer an open mind.

[Fallout]

If God exists there is a scientific explanation for the chap! Science and God can coexist. Religion is faith in what we don't know and science is an explanation for what we do know.