Article seems to assume author's own certainty regarding an afterlife. If you don't want to accept the Christian perspective try reading books like "Life after Life" and "The search for Bridie Murphy". Ultimately we all have faith in something regarding the afterlife. The author's is faith in nothing but there are more options.

Irrational circular logic? Subjective? Arrogant? Ignorant? You bet. Reminds me of these "lawyer" jokes:

Q: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a
pulse?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for blood pressure?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for breathing?
A: No.
Q: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
A: No.
Q: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
A: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
Q: But could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
A: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law somewhere.

Brett wrote: "Perhaps if religion had just been confined...we might not live in a world where religious zealots routinely kill other people, or call for the imposition of their moral code on others."

The evidence is religion does more good than you suggest; I suggest only a bias to the truth prevents such an observation. Likewise you imply no moral code should be inflicted on others - dare one then say; atheism leads to anarchy or do you have the irrational view that moral code is ok as long as you agree with it?

Brett: "Believe in whatever helps you get through the day but spare us the sermons - and the violence."

You talk of violence - and your view on abortion? Violence to the defenceless& innocent is ok? Sometimes? Never? Please explain your moral(sic) code...or is it you just want to be left to do as you want whilst feigning moral maturity? [Rather looks like your own brand of "pomposity and self-righteousness"?]

You're confused re bona-fide religions& those not built on love, but I draw readers to Brett's gem:

"He remains sceptical of anyone who would ask him to not be sceptical."

'Encapsulates much of your problem?? Next:

" ...and try to leave a better world behind when you go."

Why Brett?

see next post for continuation ...

continued from Chris Saidou's above ...


I believe in God because I've experienced Him. I haven't been 'certified' but rather live a successful& blessed life sofar. I was originally sceptical but use day to day levels of proof, reasoning, observations and emotions for my certainty. You may wish not to believe me [or billions of others] who've concrete experiences with God, but only a wilfully ignorant fool would dismiss the testimony because it isn't convenient for their own "belief bandwagon".

God bless ... sincerely but don't expect it Him to do all the work.

Chris

Rhian,

Jesus Himself spoke often of judgement, eternal life and hell (literal). One would have twist Scriptures nearly as much as the earth worshipers to deny these plain facts.

Hello again, one last pot shot before the weekend.

Thank you Liz T for the thoughtful walk through the world of bertrand russell.

I had a look at some of his "Why I am not a Christian .." speech from 1927 and part of his point about the Argument from Design reminded me of a (hopefully) funny story I heard about scientific forecasts of the end of the world.

A scientist announces to a conference crowd that because the sun is slowly dying it is due to go supernova in about 5 Billion years and take the solar system with it.

A gasp comes from the crowd. "Surely you can't be serious!" shouts a man in the audience.

To which the scientist replies "Oh yes, perfectly serious, all our calculations point to the end of the world in 5 Billion years."

"Oh, 5 Billion" says the man, "I thought you said 5 Million."

Enjoy your weekend even if you have to spend some of it on your knees in a pew. Remember, in 5 Billion years we won't have to worry about anything anymore.

;))

Thanks Bitey. "Why I am not a Christian" is worth reading and should be read by some of the people inhabiting this site as a matter of urgency. It contains compelling arguments for free-thinking from one of the people who invented modern logic. Well worth opening one's mind to the ideas it contains.