2.

My own view (simplistic to some but reasonable to others) is that any being powerful enough to form the universe out of nothing (or, as Francis Schaeffer says, nothing-nothing - because he first had to make the nothing to put the something in) is certainly capable of leaving a record of what he (in the traditional, inclusive sense of "he") has done so that we, who have some capacity to appreciate what he has done, might come to know something of who he is, why he has done this and what, if anything, he requires of us, his creatures. So off you go. Go look for it. Those who really want to find it will find it. He will make sure you do.

Neohuman,
Your question was not specific so I will answer it in general terms. You ask if I believe in a pluralistic society. You might note my previous constant defence of democracy, rather than the enforcement of a totalitarian world view upon society. I believe in following one's personal conscience (convictions), the right to free thought and expressions, the right to practise ones personal religion provided it does not violate anothers personal choice or remove the right of freedom from another. That does not mean I cannot interact with other world views to learn or influence the basis of their personal ideas. That is the essential part of human communication.

The basis of a religion is ones attitudes, beliefs and values that form actions and reactions to the world and especially how I relate to other people. It is our personal philosophy or world view. In Christianity these are based in the nature of God. Christian faith is not believing in a past record of history, it is believing in the interpretation of history that opens ones future to greater experiences. History is His story, the revelation of the moral character of God in man.

In living as a Christian it means personal reconciliation of conscience a belief in the forgivness of our personal violations against the holy character of our Creator God, the knowledge of His presence in our lives, and that we believe there is a better future.

Sorry, I could not post to your question earlier because of forum rules. Your previous post coincided with mine, so I was not ignoring you as some have suggested

Trinity,
Your post is rather curious, since you do not wish to "I do not seek to impose my POV on anyone. What is your point in posting on this forum. Untill you stop posting and relax with a cup ot tea and let this debate pass by you are not seeking to impose your POV on others. Don't pretend you do not wish to influence or impose your views on others.

Your emotive defence in the following article indicates your insincerity.

"I would love to wrap a protective coat of religion around me, rather than face the fact that I alone am responsible for my actions. That would be an easy way out. Instead, I stand on my own two feet responsible for my actions, my mistakes, my life. I do not seek to impose my POV on anyone.

Your claims that critics of Christianity get it wrong reeks of grandstanding on your part. Then to state that without intensive study in theology none have the knowledge to disagree with you is highly offensive and insulting to many people's intelligence."

jrm
I think the whole nexus between science and religion is confused as I pointed out in my article:

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=439

The scandal that I was pointing too is that Christianity points to a God revealed in the history of a grotty little nation in the middle east and in the life and death of a travelling teacher. This cannot be equated with any universal idea of God who created the universe. Our problem is that as soon as we have creation in or mind we automatically think of cosmology. Paul, for example, when he talks of God creating somehing out of nothing refers to the resurrection of Christ. The Christian doctrine of creation is not about how the world came to be. It does not share the field with modern cosmology. Rather, creation is linked with salvation, how we become truly human.

Sells,

Many thanks for responsing to the barrage of posts on this thread - and I have a lot of respect for your clear view on Christianity.

Just one quick question relating to your last post. If Christianity is not not 'about how the world came to be', then does this mean the Old Testament is irrelevant? How does this tie up with the events at the end of the new testament, where God's plan for the end of the world is described? Surely the God depicted within revelationis the sort of all-powerfull god we have been discussing?

Could you elaborate a little more on your final statement 'creation is linked with salvation, how we become truly human'? It went over my head slightly :).

cheers,

gw

Gee Philo shame you're so easily confused - see I made a hyperlink about christians getting political and how this is imposing their will on others. Following your logic (that posting an opinion is imposing a POV on others) that means everyone here is imposing their will on others - are you really that absurd or were you just being nasty?

Why are christians so arrogant - I thought jesus was all about being meek and mild and generally being nice to one another. But then I didn't graduate from sunday school, maybe to be a christian is to be elitist and arrogant.