dear peter,

1) the problem with non-Copernican religious cosmology is that it, figuratively and literally, put Man at the centre of the Universe. it's long after time to accept that this just isn't true.

2) my life and my soul are perfectly fine, thank-you. if you want to indulge in your particular religious myths, i am quite happy for you to do so. but please don't begrudge me my choice to do without. it is condescending and insulting.

Obviously another dry day down at the OLO news room.

Peter, Peter, Peter, where do we start young fella?

Bushbasher is being extremely polite.

"Truth" is such a flimsy word in the hands of religious folks.

Evidence based science can never share a stage as an equal with fairy tales and 15th hand recollections of what some bloke might have said once at the back of a crowd in some now forgotten place and time.

We really need to move on.

Keep your faith if it helps you get through life but don't expect other rational souls to accept your proposal, 4th last para:

"What we need is an educational program that teaches the two realms just as literature is taught alongside natural science. But this must be done so that the historical/imaginative construct of Christian theology is given equal weigh for being “true” as it does that of natural science."

Unbelievable - no pun intended.

Bushy! Not a more true-er word has been spoken. Well done!

EVO

For the most part this is very true. People need something to believe in, something to give their life meaning due to the little else in this world that can. Something to hope for and look forward to instead of just the daily grind. It is also very true that people are losing their imagination. I am a story teller who enjoys telling fairy tales, thank you very much tebbut, but I find that I have a scarce and dwindling audience as most people would rather sit in front of a TV than listen to a story and let their mind run free.

This is a very sad state of affairs as many people find it hard to imagine that there could be anything different from the world we know, find it very hard to accept change as it may lead to a worsening of their situation never considering that things may get better. While it is true that many times things do get worse as a result of meddling most are unwilling to try new things just in case.

However, the intonation that teaching Christian creation stories as part of a balanced education system can only be regarded as dangerous. There is a very good reason why there is a clear division between church and State, religion and power are dangerous allies. Invariably when religion attains power those who are considered as undeserving by that religion become disenfranchised, a state untenable in a seemingly democratic system. Religion should be taught in the home, instilled by parents in their children rather than forced by the state.

For the most part the fall of the religion see the consequent fall of society in selfish and deplorable me-ism, however the State should remain neutral in all matters of religion. Let us not forget the devastation caused by the Inquisition among other things. Teach those thing that give peoples life meaning but not in the schools and not directed by the government of the day.

'However, the intonation that teaching Christian creation stories as part of a balanced education system can only be regarded as dangerous'

We teach the evolution myth which eases peoples consciences in killing the unborn and behaving immorally so why not teach something with a lot more evidence to back it.
At least one prominent evolutionist is honest when he says

‘Evolution is promoted by its practitioners as more than mere science. Evolution is promulgated as an ideology, a secular religion—a full-fledged alternative to Christianity, with meaning and morality. I am an ardent evolutionist and an ex-Christian, but I must admit in this one complaint. . . the literalists [i.e., creationists] are absolutely right. Evolution is a religion. This was true of evolution in the beginning, and it is true of evolution still today.
'Michael Ruse, professor of history and philosophy and author of The Darwinian Revolution (1979), Darwinism Defended (1982), and Taking Darwin Seriously (1986), acknowledges that evolution is religious:

Why not begin any conversations about Real God as Conscious Light and The Happiness of the world by referring to this reference.

1. http://www.realgod.org

Plus once again this site thoroughly deconstructs every aspect of christian-ISM, including the lies at its origins, and how ALL of its foundational stories were just rehashes of similar stories that exised throughout the pre-christian ancient world. And its claim to be a source of moral authority---its actions speak for themselves---mountains of corpses and rivers of blood.

1. http://www.jesusneverexisted.com

christian-ISM because it is just another set of man-made ideas created to serve and extend the worldly power interests of those who happened to be in power at the time. Power won and attained by slaughtering the "heretics", and those who refused to submit.