Not very far from Australia, Indonesia is the most populous predominantly Muslim nation on Earth. Apart from Aceh [and possibly a few other small isolated regions], Indonesia does not have Sharia law and neither the elected government, not the vast majority of the Indonesian people, want it.

coach

Thank you for your response. Most interesting reading. So, does a parent's unconditional love for a child amount to the same as God's love? And if a person believes as you do, if they do not go to Church, are they less Christian?

Do you think that God would forgive you for the horrible way that you generalise about all people of Muslim faith?

Gotta go
Cheers
Kay

I don't know if we can help all these teddy infected types that abound on this forum but let's try because it is better than seeing teddy wars. There isn't a teddy (god) out there and there never was ever one of these all powerful teddies. They do not exist so what many in here have is a teddy mind virus that manifests as a serious psychotic disorder.

Just believe in an infinite universe ........ always existed and will always exist, infinite in the three spatial directions, infinite in the macro and micro. Infinite here refers to a process needing assumptions only to understand and this point explains why assumptions and not absolutes are necessary for thinking.

For example neither empty space nor solid matter can exist because they are human idealisations ..... i.e. absolutes. The reality in an infinite universe can only be the continuum between ..... never being an absolute solid nor an absolute space that we call a vacuum. If there can be no true vacuum then it is reasonable to conclude that the NON-existence of the universe is an impossibility. If the universe is infinite and has always existed then what role could there ever be for a teddy if you wanted one?

We cannot ignore the imperfections produced by INFINITY so truth is a relative process, not an end point. Hope this helps and any legal system from a teddy as proposed by people here, is a nonsense.

The principles of the ultimate life and relationships are based in equally loving ones neighbour as onself and that love is based in forgivness and reconciliation as demonstrated by God and expressed by Christ. The sacrifising of onself for the benifit of the relationship, as a mother does for her child, or a husband for his wife.

Any laws are based in minimalist positions of what is acceptable. Love is based in maximum positions of what I can possibly give to enhance relationship not considering personal costs.

Essentially the practise of following Christ is not adherence to legal codes but is based in absolutes of what one can give in response to the love of Christ. Sharia as with Mosaic laws may resemble extinct National codes but are based in what is acceptable as a minimum.

Dear Keiran

You seem just as dogmatic in your atheism as we Godbotherers are in our belief. Well, nevermind, that's the great thing about free will, we can use it as we desire.

It surprises me though that your confidence in the meaninglessness of existence is not linked to an equally strong sense of despair and hopelessness, or.. a passionate goal of unending hedonism (maybe it is ?) but I sense you either haven't come to grips with the logical ramifications of your expressed position, or, you are just hiding them from us.

The Gospel is made known to you, that Christ died for our sin, that He rose on the 3rd day, according to the scriptures, that we should turn from our unbelief and waywardness, and believe in the good news -in Christ.

Its true that this is 'folly' to some. But for we who know Him, it is salvation.

John 9
18The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents. 19"Is this your son?" they asked. "Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?"

20"We know he is our son," the parents answered, "and we know he was born blind. 21But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself."

So they asked him again.......

25He replied, "Whether he(Jesus) is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"

Keiran, this is why the Faith grew from a small band of ordinary men and women to become virtually the faith of the world. Its easy to argue with ideas, about Gods existence or not etc.. but like the Blind man- He "knew" one thing...I was blind...but now I see.

BD-The Visigoths invaded Spain setting up an aristocracy over the inhabitants.

After less than 200 years the Bishops of the Visigothic Roman-Catholic Church voted Roderigo King of Spain instead of the descendents of the previous king, Wittiza.

King Wittiza's relatives found refuge with many others fleeing Visigothic persecution in Ceauta in North Africa and Count Julian, Governer of Ceauta convinced, Musa Ibn Nusair (supplying him with ships) to invade Spain.

Roderigo was defeated in battle when two of his commanders betrayed him, taking their forces over to the other side.

Many Spanish saw the moslems as liberators as most were Arian Christians who were being persecuted for their faith-the Moslems were more tolerant than Roman Catholics.

The invaders were a combined Arab and Berber force. The Arabs, more powerful gave the Berbers marginal land along the buffer zone between them and the Visigoths in the North.

The Berbers dissatisfied soon started battles with the Arabic Governor.

The South-of-France at the time was a group of smaller kingdoms-their language and culture related to Northern Spain more than Northern France. The Moslems invaded some of these Kingdoms.

It wasn't a united Islamic force against a united Christian force. One example, there was a battle where Christian count Eudo-of-Aquitaine joined forces with the Berber Emir-Munuza against the Franks but made peace with the Franks because Al-Andulusian Moslems defeated his moslem ally.

Was the moslem invasion of 'France' by the moslems the most barbaric War? No, the most barbaric war was the Albigensian Crusade. During this the Franks slaughtered one third of the South of France, wiping out entire cities, every man, woman and child-the most ruthless, carnal and obscene massacre of christians, by christians.

The Visigoths won back their lands from the Berbers, the united Al-Andalusian Emirate broke down with civil war into smaller kingdoms weakening itself. Many Arabs returned to defend Bagdad against the invading Mongols-Bagdad fell. Slowly the Moslem enclaves in Spain fell one by one.

Fide-Mae, a gracious christian, a welcome change.

The truth is all wars were holy wars back then fought under the protection of their God