Peter,
The only difference as I see it between us and the rest of nature is that as humans we can Articulate and punt on what and where our molecules might be in the Future, or have done in the past .

Eventually, we will find out that all our Forms, our minds' Thoughts and Actions [good and bad ] are simply Automatically Generated responses to ours and the World's Past events.

No real "Evil" no real "Good",just stuff going on.

John Koski,
How nice to have an intelligent comment from someone who does not hide behind a screen name! Of course you are correct. This article was written rather hastily and I did not pick up on my use of the word "modern." The argument about how much of the modern is underwritten by Christianity goes on. I think we have not yet reached that dark time when it is completely extinguished. We still, for example, understand each individual as being inalienable even though the language of human rights has replaced that of being made in the image of God. It does now seem that all the discussion about postmodernity was premature, we are still largely in the time that had its beginning in the seventeenth century. The theological problem with modernity is yet to be completely articulated, but one thing is for sure, we will not make progress in evangelism until it is and we are freed from its misconceptions.

Peter Sellick

Grim,
Faith actually enables one to escape a deeply rooted paradigm.

Pericles,
“The argument that imagination, and emotions, and feelings, and dreams, are all the sole prerogative of Christians does not hold water, I'm afraid.” It is certainly not my argument (perhaps tell me where I may have said or inferred it in a previous post), and if anyone on this forum is to argue it, I’d agree, it doesn’t hold water.

True, “the manner in which religion is practiced strongly suggests that it is the precise opposite of "imagination".” Read my reply to Jon J, i.e. “Those who adhere religiously to the oppressive symbolic way of thinking (e.g. religious fundamentalists)…”. This is the way religion, unfortunately, is often practiced - with words and the symbolic given only literal value, these symbols become dull and lifeless.

My statement, “Unless we are about to enter a brave new world with an ‘imagination deficit syndrome’ (my phrase), the concept of God is more than likely to remain” merely suggests that we might imagine God, whether he ‘exists’ or not. As per usual, you add a rather dogmatic but incorrect inference, i.e. your, “No imagination. No God.”

What lies at the centre of Christianity is certainly “non-linear”, despite its presentation by some as linear. Perhaps the label, “Christianity” gets in the way for you because of its mal-presentation.

If you were to carefully read my posts you’d certainly understand that I don’t subscribe to a “God of the Gaps” where he retreats to the merely ‘unexplainable’.

A fully balanced view will take on board the experiences, disciplines and knowledge of many others. As can you see, my sources are many, but my views are obviously my own – to which you may or may not disagree. You take offence far too easily.

George,
I enjoyed your chemical reaction analogy. A lot of fizz and bubble occurs here with no real change in the basic molecular structure.

What's it mean to be human.

A Simian with an opposable thumb. Nothing more nothing less. All else is conjecture.

Grim wrote: "A koori family just said bluntly that Christianity was a bunch of hypocritical crap."

Dear Grim,

Your remark was most interesting. I belong to Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) and have met many Aborigines. I have asked them about their feeling toward a religion that was pressed upon them. Everyone I have asked about it assured me that although it was pressed upon them they are all devout believers now.

I recently read a book called "The Elephant in the Room". It is about the culture of denial that exists to some degree in all societies. These are the open secrets that everybody knows but nobody admits. I started the string about the very poor in Australia as I think there is a culture of denial concerning that. Those who brought in cases of people living well even though their liabilities are greater than their assets are part of that culture. People who live well are not part of the culture of poverty regardless of what their financial worth is.

Can the remark you cited be like that of the little boy who noticed that the emperor was naked?

Davidf. Everyone I have asked about it assured me that although it was pressed upon them they are all devout believers now.

Yes of course. All primitive native peoples throught the world have bee brainwashed to some form of religion. Once they were happy, healthy peoples until the missionaries stepped in. Now they have; no land, poor health, poor hygine, wear whitemans torn dirty clothes, drink alcohol to excess, sniff petrol, bash wives & rape children & on & on. None of which happened before the whiteman turned up with his Christian GOD. What a great con job that was. Well for the whitie anyway.