talkmagic.co.uk

Farlsborough wrote:First point: we flawed the earth ourselves.

Really? The Bible says that God believes that 'sons should not be punished for the sins of their fathers'. If Adam and Eve is what you are reffering to, God could not punish us for their sins.

If you don't believe in God, you can't blame him for anything.

I don't blame God for anything. That is the point. I don't believe the world we live in is goverened by a Christian God. I hate to contrive a world where the Christian God rules. The world we see around us is clearly not the one that is ruled by the God of Christianity. (Attack me as you will.)

When a Christian looks around they see a world that fits with their image of God. When a Muslim looks around they see a world that fits their image of God. When a Hindu looks around they see a world they see a world that fits their image of God.
Somebody has to be wrong.
It would be very arrogant of us to believe that we have it right by default. You have to think for a minute, that just because we were brought up in a Christian society does not necessarily mean that the Christian God is the right one. Especially seeing as the image of God we have does not fit in the world we see around us.
We are constantly contriving to fit this world around the image we have of 'God'.
Christians have anthropomorphisised God. They appear to have turned the 'force' that may have started it all into a 'human-like' creation. He has human like qualities, conversing with man and experiencing emotions like love, hate and jealousy which an omnipotent God would not have.

If I was to summarise my beliefs it would be that maybe there was a creator, but it certainly would not be the Christian God.

Mark Smith wrote: When a Christian looks around they see a world that fits with their image of God. When a Muslim looks around they see a world that fits their image of God. When a Hindu looks around they see a world they see a world that fits their image of God.
Somebody has to be wrong.

That is because it's all the same God. A basic investigation into theology reveals that although one may refer to him as God, Allah, Jehova, Yaweh, etc.. it's all the same God.

Based on world population alone (which is misleading because of the sheer number of people in China and India) 33% of the world is Christian, 21% is Muslim, and 1% is Jewish. http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_A ... l#MainList

That's 55% of the people on planet earth believing in the same God. Keeping in mind that apparently 16% is non-religious and 14% is Hindu - and a large % of Hindus also believe in one God (among other things). So without counting the non-religious group, over 65% of people who believe in A god actually believe in the SAME god. That's a lot of people - and the law of large numbers says that there must be some truth in there!

The following is what I believe:
I believe that if God exists then if we truly search for him (or her - language is a bit limited here) we will find him - whatever than means.
I also believe that true belief is something arrived at - something we discover for ourselves, not just something we 'proclaim' or are taught.
I believe that life is a journey, and that different people are at different places in that journey, therefore for me to try and 'convert' someone else to where I am is not such a good idea.
The best I can do is try and learn from others and be true to the way I see the world, God and other humans (but at the same time having the humilty to realise that I still have a long way to go, and the way I see things is just the way I see things).

azraelws6 wrote: That's a lot of people - and the law of large numbers says that there must be some truth in there!

This is a fair enough argument - there must be something if it still has such a large following. Although, only a few hundred years ago everyone believed the earth was flat and was the centre of the solar system - doesn't make it true.

Here's some possibly interesting facts for you...

"Originally Easter was called Pascha after the Hebrew word for Passover, a Jewish festival that happens at this time of year. It was replaced by Easter, a word which is believed to have evolved from Eostre, the name of the Anglo-Saxon goddess of fertility and springtime. The date of Easter is determined, like its pagan festival equivalent, by the lunar calendar. "

and...

"The Greeks and Egyptians ate small cakes or buns in honour of the respective goddesses that they worshipped. Buns marked with a cross were eaten by the Saxons to honour their goddess Eostre - it is thought the bun represented the moon and the cross the moon's quarters. To Christians, the cross symbolises the crucifixion. "

then onto...

"Throughout history, eggs have been associated with Easter celebrations. In ancient times, the egg was a symbol of fertility and new beginnings. Christians adopted this to represent their Saviour's resurrection.

The tradition of colouring eggs in bright colours - representing the sunlight of spring - goes back to the Middle Ages and is still an important custom for many Christians. In Germany it's traditional to paint eggs green and eat them on Maundy Thursday while in Greek and Slavic cultures eggs are dyed red as a symbol of the blood of Christ. "

pagan/christian/jewish all intertwined...

azraelws6 wrote: That's a lot of people - and the law of large numbers says that there must be some truth in there!

Meep! that's a logical fallacy called argumentum ad populum.

Mark Smith wrote:

azraelws6 wrote: That's a lot of people - and the law of large numbers says that there must be some truth in there!

This is a fair enough argument - there must be something if it still has such a large following. Although, only a few hundred years ago everyone believed the earth was flat and was the centre of the solar system - doesn't make it true.

Popular belief can be wrong in any day and age

People believing that in the past people thought that the world is flat is in itself an argumentum ad populum. The odd hut dweller maybe, but Columbus and most others knew full well that it was rounded.

Astronomists have known for hundreds if not thousands of years that the earth is not the centre of the solar system, although many uneducated did think this I believe.

Oh, and on father Christmas, does anyone else find it spooky that santa only has to have 1 letter moved to make him an anagram of satan?
Maybe coca cola aren't the only reason he's all in red!

..actually, red, black and white are some of the strongest colours that you can put together....coca cola, tabloids, swastika...is there a link? i dunno...

the majority of traffic signs...allsorts (not including liquorice)...

it has been kinda changed over the years to a blue/orange/yellow...a happier softer cheerier colour-scheme...apparently...(orangina/pepsi is kinda similar too)...

Tomo wrote:

azraelws6 wrote: That's a lot of people - and the law of large numbers says that there must be some truth in there!

Meep! that's a logical fallacy called argumentum ad populum.

True enough (and also true enough regarding that a few hundred years ago people believed the Earth was flat).

I just want to point out that I'm not saying that because 65% of believers believe in the same God there must be a God...... I'm saying that if you believe there IS a God that 65% or more (depending on the Hindus) of people actually believe in the same God - therefore if there IS a God - it must be THAT God.

"therefore if there IS a God - it must be THAT God."

why? im sure 65% of anyone can all be wrong surely?

the majority can be just as wrong as the minority...

pretty much everyone thought the earth was flat at some point...all wrong...

alot of people thought Westlife were great, but they were wrong...

abraxus wrote:alot of people thought Westlife were great, but they were wrong...

Nah. They were definitely the spawn of Santa.

Hello everywhere

This is God here and I've been watching this for quite a bit now....well actually because I know everything I actually knew this was going to happen from the creation of the universe although that does give away the whole notion of free will.
Anyway I digress.

I just popped in just to say that you are all wrong and you've all missed the point completely.

Be nice and a be a good person. Whether you believe in me or not is by the by. The content of your character or "soul" will be judged on your actions towards your fellow man rather than who or what you pray to.

Anyway I must be off as I have a universe to run and my fish finger sandwich is going cold.

If you see Buddah tell him Terry was looking for him

Why would God need to register, I wonder...