By all means, follow a code of conduct and morality; seek to transcend the mean existence most of us follow. But do it with humility; don’t try to extrapolate from the bible a cosmology that conveniently comprehends everything in your complacent universe. In saying this, I’m echoing Sellick’s argument; concentrate on the riddle of your own inconsistencies, rather than wasting time trying to comprehend (in the full sense of the word) the incomprehensible. Leave it to science to figure things out in its modestly piecemeal, dialectical fashion. Science doesn’t say “THIS IS HOW IT IS”, it looks at evidence within its ken and tests hypotheses and says, “the evidence so far indicates that this is how it is”. I know that what science tells us about ourselves is generally not very flattering, no eternal life and all that, but what can one say? ... sorry about that. Science has no interest in God; it only leaves the lab to confront creationists because they retard the enlightenment process and continue to infect emerging generations with their voodoo.
Self-improvement, on the other hand, is a worthwhile occupation that should give you more than enough to be getting on with for your earthly span.

You are right under one god, us atheists _are_ wasting out time arguing on these forums. We'd be much better off lobbying politicians to end the tax exempt status of churches and the closing of schools with a religious affiliation.

"Belief does not rest on evidence; it is a different way of knowing than that of scientific knowledge."

I've read this claim from would-be theologians well over a dozen times now, and not once has anyone ever gone on to say just WHAT we are supposed to 'know' as a result of religion. As Pauline Hanson would say: 'please explain'.

So here is my challenge to you all: list just ONE generally accepted fact which religion allows us to 'know' which couldn't have been logically derived from observation, science, or common sense. One is all I need. Then I will be content that religion does have a place in the world.

Any time from now on will do...

Is God the cause of the world?

Obviously something or some type of someone was the catalyst for life, the universe and everything.

However, to claim that it was the Christian triumvirate is more than presumptuous, it is arrogant.

To expect that this 'godly' catalyst of such amazing powers requires celibate male priests, bans homosexuals, denies equality of females and commands us to worship him, her, it - is without evidence and complete nonsense.

Hey, why not take a different course on this journey discussing if God is the cause of the world?

If some are believing Bible stories of the big bang and Adam and Eve etc, why not discuss the possibility that God (and thus the world) had a Mother?
The female form gives life, so it follows that a feminine form of one sort or another was the cause of the world.

There is plenty of archeological evidence of a Mother Earth God from way before the Bible was written.

I like this story best...

http://www.shematrix.com/sacredfem.htm
"Sacred Feminine is a term we use for that mysterious source of all life, the wellspring of creation. The Big SHE. The Feminine Force that births both male and female forms... She is by nature indefinable, yet her presence has been experienced so tangibly by peoples of the Earth from the beginning of time..."

suzieonline..god gave life to the dust...but the earth mother nurtures/sustains it....men give living sperm...and woman grows it..into the living being...our mother is clearly earth,,,not mary

I..apologize to people who suffer from mental retardation.

Stezza<<<..you have still refused to present an alternative theory/..to evolution..in a previous discussion..after accusing me of discontinuing our debate on evolution>>>..let the records reveal..im the last one left in the room....at all the evolution topic's..but one

no facts were un/refuted...but..im fine....explaining..at an evolution topic...and/..in fact have...in the first one..from memory...my alternate..theory.....till we..get at the true facts..only theories prevail...much science is distorted

<<Only a hypocrite..would preach higher morals..after offending the mentally retarded>>>..lol...think on this...now your saying im talking about true retarded's...when i meant athiests..who unthinkigly diss-believe in god

<<and then ignore debate..on a topic you claim to have significant evidence to present>>>no bro i said i can refute their evidence...im still neutral on how god did it...but know..science hasnt.



bushbred<<..Thomas Aquinas>>>a great thinker...but there are so many greatthinkers


squeer<<God is also supposed to be..“incomprehensible”,>>not in the least...even a beast..in the stable knows his masters voice..gods...'voice'..is all loviong..all good...if its not goood...its not love...thus not..'of'..god/good

<<Cosmologists don’t pretend to any knowledge of what triggered the big bang..(though they do postulate)>>>..yeah the main postulation is two other..'oppisite/realms'..brushed together..[+/bang]...when i read that..i thought...yeah..heaven/hell...lol..positive/negative...light/darkness

gusi<<lobbying politicians to end the tax exempt status of churches and the closing of schools with a religious affiliation.>>good idea



"Belief does not rest on evidence; it is a different way of knowing than that of scientific knowledge."

Jon<<list just ONE generally accepted fact..which couldn't have been logically derived from observation,..science,..or common sense.>>..let there be light/...ie the big bang