Hi WhiteMouse,

Apparently there are portraits of a black Jesus:

http://etsy.com/au/listing/1657521267/black-jesus-carrying-cross-prints-brown?

Hi NathanJ

"Losing sight of religious freedoms and the rise of aggressive secularism will only push society further down a pathway we will regret in my view, with religious freedoms being something we must defend for the benefit of all."

I think that's bs no offense.
I think religion creates more problems than it solves.
The only reason you think a rise of aggressive secularism is a danger to society is because your incapable of accepting that real values and principles can exist independent of religion.

I have family who are devout Christians
On the outside it looks fine, pull back the covers and what you find is that they are the most horrible, ignorant, arrogant, conceited sub-human people you could ever meet.

You know as I think about it...

I don't remember one person on this forum except Foxy,
Who claimed to be in any way Christian, stand up for what Jesus actually taught.

In the face of willfully killing thousands upon thousands of women and kids,
Christians stayed silent, deer in headlights, just like I said over a year ago
(Waaahh! We're all caught on a technicality here, we can't criticise Israel, what do we do? waaahhh!)

- Weak as piss -

YOU'RE ALL AS FAKE AS MCDONALDS CHEESE.

Hi AC,

I remember when I first got married and for a while
we lived with my husband's parents. They were very
conservative in their viewpoints. That was fine.
I respected their views. However it did get a bit
tiresome with their constant preaching and stressing
that they went to church every single Sunday while at
home they consistently criticised their friends and
neighbours - regarding themselves as superior folk.

I put their attitudes not so much on religion, as
their own failings. I tried not to judge and put our
differences down to an age gap.

However one day I remember when my mother-in-law again
stressed that she went to church every Sunday I made the
mistake of muttering - "Perhaps you need to?"
She overheard me, and didn't speak to me for a while.

We finally made up - and I learned that with some people
it's best
not to argue, especially with older people
who are set in their ways. Best to keep quiet and respectful.

Dear Critic,

«real values and principles can exist independent of religion.»

Those adopting real values and principles are typically religious, even while they do not officially belong to any church or a similar organisation.

«I have family who are devout Christians
On the outside it looks fine, pull back the covers and what you find is that they are the most horrible, ignorant, arrogant, conceited sub-human people you could ever meet.»

If what you describe is correct, then these family members of yours do not seem to be religious - only Christian.

«In the face of willfully killing thousands upon thousands of women and kids,
Christians stayed silent, deer in headlights, just like I said over a year ago
(Waaahh! We're all caught on a technicality here, we can't criticise Israel, what do we do? waaahhh!)»

Assuming the above is correct, criticise those responsible - not innocent Israelis.

Hi AC,

Religions have their faults of course. But they also
do a lot of good. So many charitable organisations
exist because of religion. And so many good people as
well.

I'm not out to convert anybody as I've said many times.
But as I've also said - I'd find it difficult not to have
God in my life.

I'm probably not a good Christian. I don't go to church
every Sunday. Yet I do pray. Prayer takes me to a
different realm. All I find I can do is follow my
conscience. And I try to keep my behaviour on track.

Thank you for your kind words. I don't have all the answers.
I think each of us does what is right for us