[Psst... Squeers, I knew exactly how selective I was being in my quoted extract and from your writings I know you don't confuse 'mysticism' and 'religion' as applied to atheism. But I'm conscious that 'some of my best friends' are quietly Christian and not responsible for the ills of the world. Don't spoil it… I'm trying to get myself put on a list.]

Goodness me! What a battle is going on in this Blog! I can't even work out what is the point of these arguments!

At the end of the day, all people are entitled to their views and 'faiths' - either religious or anti-religious. I am an atheist, but have no desire to 'convert' anyone else to atheism. If religion gives some people the strength to better handle their own problems, why would I want to deprive them of this (maybe misguided) comfort? It is all a matter of faith, really. I can't prove there is no god, any more than a religious person can prove there is a god!

The real problem is the use of any form of religion or faith in the formulation of government policies or laws. There should always be a complete separation between the State and the Church. Unfortunately, there is still a very pervasive influence of Christianity upon our laws and policies. This includes the saying of prayers in Parliament.

I very strongly object to the view perpetuated by Christians that all decency and goodness comes from Christian teachings, or worse still, the word of 'God'. This implies that atheists are vile, cruel, dishonest people lacking in compassion. These views fly in the face of a history of violent genocide, oppression and terrorism carried out by all religions (except maybe the Buddhists) over our recorded history.

I can only hope that any atheist organisation would be concentrating on these sorts of issues rather than fighting with each other and splitting hairs!

Appreciate the thought, Poirot.

>>Crushing blow, Pericles. However, I trust you'll hold up<<

I think I may just about struggle on without the approval of Mr Nicholls.

It is still a concern that a movement that purports to represent the concerns of atheists, turns out to be nothing but an excuse for a glee-fest. If it showed half as much enthusiasm for taking active and positive steps towards ending the discrimination in favour of religious bodies, as it does in promoting itself as providing "powerfully exquisite joy" to its followers, it might have some value. As it stands, Mr Nicholls' claim that they "are actually achieving something worthwhile" rings decidedly hollow.

Since I am now invisible to Mr Nicholls, I doubt there will be reason to discuss the issues any further. I will treasure this little throwaway line of his, though.

>>And I don’t mind if Pericles ‘questions and criticises’ the AFA<<

Frankly, though, I shouldn't have to do this. Mr Nicholls should share the heavy lifting on this task, surely.

in the middle of the topic are some replies re god..[theos]
god is the totality of everything that is..

think of god like the worldwideweb
each of us individually...computers..but in total the all
[the good fruit..of all the E is

[E=energy finite energy,..that continues infinitly..E being]..
changing form/state..but E none the less..

energy cant be created nor destroyed
be it photon..or electron..god is energy made into form

its easier to see in the next life
where e is made into form simply via logus..and by will [alone].all-one..

im stil waiting for a full transcript
i saw much of it on abc 24/big ideas etc
but need to have their official words..to refute the lies

[i dont got vidio upload..on dodo 25$ a year plan]
but would love to read your official texts

you are anti religion..[not anti theos]
refuting religion dont refute collective good..[god]
as much alpha as negative alpha...as much theos as atheost

what does gad..[gak]..gag mean
i missed the joke..[yet aint it all just grand

much like a drug induced high...
where you see all the answers
as adoration of a fixation..
which..numbs the mind

love sic*..

WmTrevor,

"...But I'm conscious that 'some of my best friends' are quietly Christian and are not responsible for the ills of the world..."

Precisely!

David,

It's a curious thing about man that he is overly susceptible to suggestion and hysteria when herded together under a collective ideological umbrella. It's possibly the greatest flaw in our species and exposes a predisposition toward collective insanity.

You write:

""It's unnervingly disquieting that many disregard evidence that the process of religious inculcation in itself can produce random mild and maniacal adherents..."

Inculcation of any kind can produce the same results.

When you write of "elation" and "euphoria" and "powerful exquisite joy", you'll forgive us if we deduce that you are employing exactly those techniques which you condemn.

(I presume I'm on the list so I'm not expecting a reply)

Talk about being invisible! Grim is the only blogger to even acknowledge my existence!

I can only assume the rest of you bloggers are young, probably at uni and possessed of that incredible self-absorption so typical of the young. You aren't really interested in atheism - only in one-upping each other. Oh well - I was probably like that once!

I now see this is a private little Blog - newcomers not really welcome.

I wish you all a wonderful, nit-picky sort of day!