I like to believe in the basic good in people..I kinda have too really, either that or I build a shack in the bush.

Yes, no doubt a few of them will become the future of the problem but I believe that just as many will come out the other side seeing the ignorant rhetoric for what it is and positively affect the future of just as many youths.

StG on the surface your comment is quite sound. Most people's lives are at least subconciously based on the assumption of human goodness.

If one lost faith in that, well... for sure its the shack.

My hope is based on something different though. I actually believe man is fundamentally sinful. Have you ever had to 'tell' a child to be naughty ? :) What are 'laws' ? Are they not the amplification of the 10 Commandments (with the exception of the first few relating directly to God) which are all in the form of DONT..... such and such.

All law is intended to restrain activity which would be harmful.
I'm not aware of any laws which say we must be 'good' or that we should mow an old ladies lawn... nope..they are all in the 'cannot' form.

But this doesn't mean we have no hope. I regret that we cannot sit down and go through the Gospel together, because that is where the answer to the human predicament is. I regret that so many people have been exposed to an abundance of myths about the Bible and the Church, and have not taken the trouble to look more closely, seeing as such myths coincide with existing prejudices.

Once we strip these away, we are left with Christ, who died for our sins and rose for our justification.. in whom we can find life abundant and free.
http://truetruth.wikispaces.com/The+Truth+about+Christianity.

Cheers mate.

I recognise the opposite to Boaz. I see that people are born with dispositions and a good person remains good no matter what and a bad person remains bad no matter what. I believe bad people need to believe in moral codes such as religion to make them behave. I believe this is the nreaon why the large majority of religious people are bad people it is becauswe superstitious cults such as Islam and Christianity attracts bad people who need to straighten out for their own survival. As every sect of every religion has proved every day of that religions existence religion , the belief in god never makes a bad person good.Although religion continues to destroy many good people.
The ten commandments have been used to justify imense evil throughout history and to this very day and as they are dictorial in nature represent bad values and immorality.The ten commandments do nothing for the good person and egg on the bad to commit crimes (punish others) in the name a deity for this reason there is no difference between God and Hitler.
Now where is the difference between Nazis and God beliving terrorists?

I read this the other day,
http://www.nazisociopaths.org/modules/article/

enjoy:-)

West, a friend of mine has a simple take on what you're saying......

"Where's there's God, there's war!"

Religion wrapped up nicely in a nutshell I'd say!

Response to BOAZ_David:

Why are you refloating the Ham Sandwich myth? You know I contacted Hume Council and it was a myth. You know it never happened. And despite all my efforts to find out the truth, you posted it again!

I think that shows no respect for honesty.

As far as I am concerned, anything you now post is suspect.