Hi WhiteMouse,

I often argue with other "Christians" about the concept of God, even with Anglican priests. I believe God only exists in a spiritual sense, and not as a physical being existing in a physical realm, The; "God the Father in Heaven", that belief and all it entails is most certainly untrue, its a concept for those who require no thinking on the subject, as it sits well with children, and those with a child like mentality when it comes to religion. It is very difficult to discuss with "believers" the concept of God and religion, they simply have a panacea for it all, they call it "faith". Faith is well and good for those who require no real thinking on the subject. To give you an analogy, you don't have to understand the complexities of the internal combustion engine to receive the benefits of the motor car God is a bit like that. All you need to know is, turn the key and the motor starts, (hopefully), and away you go. I tell my priest friend you are there for road side assistance when needed.

BTW, I also believe Saul Of Tarsus (St Paul not me), was the true founder of Christianity. Christianity like so many other sects within Judaism was heading for extinction until the great promoter St Paul came along and put it on a path of universal acceptance within the broader community. People like Christs brother James in Jerusalem, wanted Christianity kept as a reforming sect within the Jewish religion. The James sect failed, and Paul's sect took over completely.

Jesus might have been Hebrew in a sense. Some say that Jesus was adapted to Roman culture as in his depiction in imperial robes. And also George Washington was English. Asian culture has been trying to colonize European culture for thousands of years. But I consider subsidiarity superior to the rotating officials model- feel free to call this white superiority if you like- but I consider self government as superior to authoritarianism in a sense.

Asian authoritarianism in the form of Marxism seems to want to make themselves their own god, a terror worse than any "made up god".

Surely Asian's can be their better selves and come up with a better governing principle, perhaps based on familial Confucianism, which is closer to European subsidiarity.

It's interesting that the Chinese have been subverting the concept of Confucianism in the West to spread Marxism. Got to love the work of The Epoch Times and their allied entities.

Dear WhiteMouse,

«I do not believe that "god" is an entity, a being.»

Well of course: all entities and beings are limited. Would you worship a limited being?

«My uncle, an astrophysicist, an atheist, stated that he saw "god" in the beauty and perfection of a physics equation.»

Yes, you can find God in everything because there is nothing but God.

«Similarly, I believe that science, and science alone, will determine the nature of "god".»

That assumes that God has a nature.
And suppose God had a nature, then He/She/It would be limited by that nature, then "nature" would be the real god and God just another creature of nature...

Yes, science can find God, but the problem with physical science is that it looks outward.

«Unfortunately, the history of most of the major religions is drenched in blood ... particularly Christianity and Islam.»

But are the above truly religions?

They can be better described as social/national/tribal mass-movements.

«Jesus and his followers were all Jews. Many historians believe that Jesus was a rabbi. He certainly had important things to say.»

Jesus transcended Judaism, but unfortunately he had to teach difficult students who were earlier brainwashed by the Rabbis of their time and were therefore still confined to Judaic thinking, thus for them to understand he was forced to use their terminology.

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Dear Paul,

«Christianity like so many other sects within Judaism was heading for extinction until the great promoter St Paul came along and put it on a path of universal acceptance within the broader community»

Indeed, but why? what for?
Jesus was already dead at the time (or at least not there) - would you entrust your sheep to a sign saying "Don't stray - There once was a shepherd here"?

Religions have survived for centuries. The ability of
religions to hold people together is the glue and
part of the reason for their survival as well as
there are questions that science cannot answer
like the meaning of life. Which is one of the reasons
that religions will continue top survive.

In any case beliefs are subjective, but what's the point
of saving humanity and the planet from a possible
environmental disaster if we're going to keep killing
each other in the name of different prophets of the
same god?

Beliefs are a framework that shapes how we think and
act, from believing that hard work will lead to success
to following rules and the law because it's the righ thing
to do.

It's important of have something to believe in. It can be
a source of strength and courage during difficult times
and it can help us stay focused and motivated.
It can also create meaning in our lives as it provides
us with a sense of
purpose and connection to something greater than ourselves.

Very few have ever argued anyone into believing.
To a believer a god is simply there. To a non-believer
a god may be a mystery and
many other things but most of all to a non-believer a god is
simply not there. What we choose to believe is subjective.

I know that I would find life difficult without having a god
in my life.

Anyone heard of Zoroastrianism?

Nietzsche had an interest in Zoroastrianism. The first monotheistic religion.