Reading the posts of this discussion is interesting.
It shows that the importance (or not) of religion is
a personal matter and there's no right or wrong answer.

Many find religion a source of comfort and meaning.
Others don't. Religion can provide a sense of
belonging and support, it can shape communities,
and even influence legal systems.

Religion and related social and cultural structures have
played an important part in human history. As mental structures
religions have influenced the world around us and the values
we accept or reject. And as social structures religions
provide supporting networks and a sense of belonging.

I was taught that God is the creator of the universe.
A supreme being - greater than ourselves - infinite (unlimited
in nature) - and diverse within himself (Father, son, and
holy spirit). I also believed he was personal - that I could
talk to him and get to know him. That when I prayed - he would
hear me.

You can call all of that simplistic. However, it has brought
me a great deal of comfort over the years aand I dare say
will continue to do so.

But, as I said earlier and many times on this forum. This is
personal. I'm not out to convert anyone. And what each of us
believes is up to us.

Israel firster MP Julian Leeser has no respect for democracy.
http://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/liberal-mp-julian-leeser-demands-richard-marles-mark-dreyfus-resign-after-labors-un-vote-for-palestinian-statehood/news-story/bf051d946f6d4ece844e482ee4c0523d

"Mr Leeser doubled down on his point before claiming Labor's foreign policy was driven by securing votes in Australia."
- How dumb could you be to say that?

Israel firsters think that by putting Israel first, they are also putting Australia first, but it's not true.

We need to oust all these traitors, and get back to doing what's in Australia's best interests, not the interests of a genocidal apartheid state run by psychopathic religious fanatics, hell-bent on ethnic cleansing for land theft.
These people do not even have dual-loyalties, their loyalty resides with Israel against the rest of the countries best interests.

Man cannot serve two masters.
Either put Australia first, or you are a traitor and a foreign agent.
MP Julian Leeser should himself resign.

Religious freedom and 'anti-semitism' are a recipe to subvert nations for Jewish interests.

Julian Leeser: "We cannot have our foreign policy being dictated to by base political interests and one political party deciding they will sell out our values in order to appeal to green voters in the city and Islamists in other parts of the country."

'values'?

Judeo-Christian values?
- Same tired old violin BS.

Does anyone here want to argue that genocide and land theft and the killing of innocent women and kids is a Christian value?
Jews hate Christians, blame them for things that happened 2000 years ago and the destruction of the second temple.
Christians are routinely spat on in Israel.

What values exactly?
Does anyone wish to tell me just exactly where Judeo and Christian values align?

People that actually hold real Christian values and what Jesus taught, do not support any of what we see going on in Israel.

Enough is enough, I'm sick of all this.

Hi Foxy,

"I (Foxy) was taught that God is the creator of the universe. A supreme being"

You were taught by people who I believe didn't have a clue themselves. The religious mask their ignorance of true reality with the word "FAITH" which covers just about everything you want to believe. In my mind God exists, and doesn't exist, that would seem a contradiction. There is no God the being, the almighty one, the creator of heaven and earth. That simply tries to explain God in human terms which is easy to understand but wrong. God, for want of a better word, exists in each one of us in an abstract spiritual sense. The first person to get God right in my opinion was Siddhartha Gautama, better known as The Buddha, he explained God as spiritual enlightenment which is far more complex to understand than some heavenly being floating around the cosmos.

Hi Paul,

As far as I know - no one has argued anyone into believing.

What we choose to believe is entirely subjective.

To a believer a God is simply there. To a non-believer
a God may be many other things. But most of
all to a non-believer a God is simply not there.

I'm still a work in progress. But it's difficult to turn
one's back on the way one was raised. And the values and
beliefs one was taught.

cont'd ...

Hi Paul,

Our beliefs - what we choose to believe - shapes how we
think and act. It is important to have something to
believe in because as I learned recently, it can be a
source of strength and courage during difficult times
and it can help to stay focused and motivated.

It can also add meaning to our lives. It provides a
sense of purpose and a connection to something greater
than ourselves.