Peace and Love to you all!
One can include into all educational programs such concepts as spirituality, ethics, meaning of human life, ecopsychology, psychical self-regulation, description of God from scientific standpoint; then many afflictions and problems could be avoided.
With that purpose one can use educational materials (books, films, photographs, etc) published on the following sites:
www.new-ecopsychology.org
www.philosophy-of-religion.org.ua
www.spiritual-art.info
www.swami-center.org
You may download for free spiritual video films; books; slideshows; wildlife video; voices of living nature; sphotogalleries; screensavers; music!
Spiritual Work with Children:
http://www.new-ecopsychology.org/en/books/children/swwc.htm

Surely this is spam?
And just maybe if the product you wish to sell is so good you would not need to advertise it here?

Hi Belly, I told him it was spam but that I would let it through. I thought that some of our commenters might like to talk about his approach. It would make a bit of a change from the predictable stuff that goes on pro and con christianity.

Most of our authors are trying to draw attention to their views, so I think this sort of spam is, in limited quantities, acceptable. Happy to be corrected though if that is not the case.

Dear GY,
I'm sorry, but this is below the pale! Tacky, nauseating rubbish that deserves pitiless excoriation!
Get the hence, peacetoyou!!

It is my view that religion has no place outside a home. However, scientific knowledge of God ? That does indeed change the focus. Care to provide some evidence ?

Dear peacetoyou,

Frankly, I personally feel that a close
relationship with a good librarian is
one of the most important things a parent
can establish, as your local librarian will
direct your children to books that are age
appropriate and geared to their interests.

I believe that books are still the most memorable
artifact of childhood. They're not only good for the
child, they are a family resource beyond anything
that any medium has to offer. And to me, children's
books remain what the best of them have always been,
a powerful transmitter of the culture and the values
of civilisation.

Scientific knowledge of god goes a bit like this- God is the central figure associated mainly with Christian mythology. This mythology serves the primary purpose of being a moral compass for the feeble. Effectively, a little contest to see who has the coolest imaginary friend.

Gee, the anti religion bigots have sure extradited their heads from the sand on this one. Just gotta LOVE the PC rhetoric they use.

Peacetoyou, I think the title of your topic doesn't quite nail it. Spirituality, the ecology, philosophy etc have nothing to do with "scientific" knowledge of God. There of course is no "scientific" proof, or even evidence, of God. Belief in God is just that ..... "BELIEF", and "proof" or "science" has no bearing on that belief. Why? Well if it did, there would be ZERO need for faith and belief.

I believe in God. I'm a practicing Catholic. I can't "prove" anything regarding God. Nor can anyone else currently living on this planet.

It's not about proof; it's about faith and belief. Spirituality (both God and ecology based) and philosophy have a lot to offer, but "scientific knowledge about God" is not one of them.

The far right wing Christian fundamentalists in the USA have concocted "Creation Science" as an attempt to con people. Of course Creation Science is about as "scientific" as the tooth fairy, and these frauds are rightly laughed at by those who truly understand science and also by those who truly understand what faith and belief really is.

I take it benq, that like with the gw scam you believe the science is settled on evolution. How little you know about the history of this evolving 'theory'.

Oh dear runner, still ignorant?

Why not trot out another mined quote from a paper you haven't read and understood, just to demonstrate the shallowness of fundy thinking?

To the point,

Yes, let's have scientifically literate theology.

Since evolution happened, and arguably happened entirely in the absence of input from a "god", what does this tell us about any "god" that might *actually* exist? (as opposed to the various works of speculative fiction and infantile wish-making currently enjoying popularity)

It tells us that it is (at best/most) a deity. A remote deity that is *not* taking a personal interest in anybody.

To the extent it *may* be interested, it is probably interested in who gets out of the bottle, rather than the interactions of those inside.

That is, of course, omitting the greatly more likely scenario of nonesuch whatsoever.

So, get on with scrapping "scripture" and get on with really thinking for yourself. If you can't work out how to live forever here and now, "god" won't do it for you anymore than it prevents cavities in your teeth.

Rusty

I think Runner has definitely run up a dry gully here. We know that climate change is highly unlikely to be catastrophic because of the billions of years of earth's history that we can understand via the geological record. Which is the same way that we know that God didn't create the world in 6 days.

ok GY I now think you got it right every idea has a right to be heard ,including this spam add.
Runner and the rest can you open those minds?
Why the childlike leftist tie to those who do not believe?
And why the mud on them for that matter.
You know I once hid from reality in the arms of your brand of God.
Let myself dream I did not need my hands on the wheel of life God had it under control.
Or of a Christian who gave his whole life to his God, got an equal amount to one years salary from me, because he needed it,was family and I could.
He is in church about now preaching, and thanking his God for forcing me to give.
Your God is just one, in fact including the major ones from the east and middle east surely he is not the biggest.
Is it wrong to want better?
To understand we can cast of our inventions, our crutches and become one humanity?
Then mark me down as wrong proudly so.
Some, no small number who claim God loves them are not very nice people.

GrahamY
“We know that climate change is highly unlikely to be catastrophic”

Yes – BUT, anything catastrophic that happens is likely to be labelled “the result of climate change”.
As it suits the political agenda of the true believers.

>>> We know that climate change is highly unlikely to be catastrophic because of the billions of years of earth's history that we can understand via the geological record. <<<

OMG!

Could someone please tell NASA or BOM or the world's climatologists, because they must've forgotten to factor this in with their estimations, research, studies of ice-cores, climate modelling and so on.

Thanks Graham, the world of science owes you for pointing out this anomaly; what scientists are too stupid to have considered, the many changes of climate throughout the history of planet earth. I hope you immediately contact the IPCC.

However, we have nothing to worry about because god will save us from our folly.

Fantastic topic BTW.

Foxy,
As a vector for the transmission of "culture and the values of civilisation" to children, would you promote books
such as "Daddy's Roommate", "Heather has Two Mommies", "And Tango Makes Three", etc, to children?
If so, what age would you consider appropriate for said introduction?
Please don't tell me I'm off-topic.
This is no more off-topic than global warming or evolution.

Speaking of which, I'm not sure that runner, in this instance, was declaring that God created heaven and earth in six days, merely his point of view that the science of evolution is not settled.

interesting..i am willing to debate evolution..as many would know/

but will simply quote from the latest read/
Thirty Years Among the Dead
begotten/the same way..as they did in the ol days

<<God did not write the Bible;the book is man-made.

Could one credit God with having written/certain things in the Bible, many of which are unfit to be read in..respectable society?>>>of course not

Sp./Who wrote the book?
Dr./It was compiled from many sources,..during different periods, mainly for the purpose...of keeping people/in subjection..through fear/of an imaginary devil and hell.

The Bible is a collection of poetry,local/history,allegories and philosophy,..of contradictions and truths.

But humanity/believes that every word of the Bible is inspired,and insists upon...interpreting it/literally,..instead of accepting what is reasonable.>>ie of god...good/love/grace/mercy etc

<<The Bible states/that:..“The letter killeth,>>IE WORDS

<<but the spirit giveth life,”/and..“Spiritual things/are spiritually discerned.”>>cannot be comp-rehended by those of the fleshy obsessions

<<Hence,any/religion..MUST be..a process of mental discernment.

<<The/teachings of Christ..contain wonderful truths,..but the allegories..have been taught as..historical facts/by the church,..and dogma,doctrine and creed..have obscured their/underlying spiritual significance.

<<Sp...Don't you believe/that God made the earth..in six days and rested on the seventh?
Dr./No;..that is only an allegorical statement...The seven days are symbolical of the/seven principles in Nature...“God is at once the Creator..and the Creation”;...if God should/rest,..all would be at an end.

<<We should understand life as it is,/not merely believe what/is..told us.>>

another good read is the course in miracles
from jesus own lips

http://stobblehouse.com/text/ACIM.pdf
read the introduction

also worth reading is
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=10496&page=0
last post page 84

where we rebut evolution/as well as simple belief/faith
its the same grand scam...!

those claiming to know
decieving the innocent..away from gods pure love

away from the realisation they are spirits/
having an embodied experience

anyhow lets see/if we get a reply
that should speak volumes

im with graham...y..?..
because he/pays the bills
thus makes the rules..this olo...is his realm

PTY,
"One can include into all educational programs such concepts as spirituality, ethics, meaning of human life, ecopsychology, psychical self-regulation, description of God from scientific standpoint; then many afflictions and problems could be avoided."

What kind of afflictions and problems could be avoided by including these concepts into 'all' educational programs?

And what do you mean with "description of God from scientific standpoint"?
How could science describe something that is not even observable, like anything else supernatural?

Dear Graham Young,
I too have to baulk at your sanguine view of (A)gw. It's interesting that you appear now to accept GW? though presumably not AGW? The latest APCC report seems to indicate anything but a back-down on the part of the science, what? What will the conspiracy lobby come up with next then, I wonder?
The fact that year by year and decade by decade, we are experiencing hottest temps on record is what is really scary. In the usual course of events, that is in geological time frames, you'd be right, but the fact that we can measure dramatic warming in such fragments of time, and peg it to greenhouse gas emissions, suggests we can be anything but complacent that "climate change is highly unlikely to be catastrophic because of the billions of years of earth's history that we can understand via the geological record". AGW is of course not cyclic or geological.
Ah, but there's always God and eternal life to fall back on, hooray hooray!
This is precisely the thread to deny AGW, it goes beautifully with the other unspeakable tosh on offer!

Squeers, of course I accept that man's emissions of CO2 have a warming effect on the planet. I've written about that many times. But we're not experiencing unprecedented warming, and history shows that the earth prospers when it is warmer than it is now. We're still in an ice age, and there is no magic about the CO2 content of the atmosphere in the recent past. But an argument on global warming on this thread is off-topic, so I don't intend to pursue it.

It was only on topic because it had a bearing on Runner's comment which seemed to lean on science on one side and throw it away on the other.

Dear Proxy,

There is a boat load of children's books that
are often categorized as "problem books."
In these books, magic is out, reality is in,
and the result is - terribly depressing episodes
that somehow pass for children's literature.
In many cases the stories are not expansive odes
to the human condition but puny tales about
social conditions or family life. The "facts"
of life instead of the truth about life.
Issues like divorce, death, homosexuality, abortion,
racism, and disabilities become the main characters of
the books. And for the child who has no other recourse,
they do provide a flash of comfort. Mostly however,
they are experiments by writers who feel compelled to
play the role of social worker.

Great literature is not didactic, though it almost always
instructs. Literature that strains to instruct almost
always fails. This is not to damn all books that are
written in the realistic mode. A vast number of realistic
books are written without a social agenda or the need to
be explicit or titillating, and they are marvellous,
humourous, powerful, disturbing, illuminating,
everything one might want in a good read!

It does make sense to be aware of what your children are
reading, and to make sure that the best books, including
classics old and new, are available to them.

It is for that reason that as I stated earlier I personally
feel that a close relationship with a good librarian is
one of the most important things a parent can establish,
as your local librarian will direct your children to books
that are age appropriate and geared to their interests.

So if you have concerns regarding your children's reading,
I suggest that you visit your local library and speak
to any youth services librarian who will be
delighted to help you.

I hope this helps you.

My Peacetoyou,
What a lot of skeptics you have sent into a feeding frenzy with just a hint of the precious blood of Jesus. The truth would obviously cause all to have a full blown seizure.

Squeers

>>> This is precisely the thread to deny AGW, it goes beautifully with the other unspeakable tosh on offer! <<<

To merge with the very noisy tosh being offered by religious leader George (don't vote for the Greens) Pell.

We need a lot more science and a lost less with the superstition.

Or maybe I didn't wake in the 21st century this morning, and it is still 325 AD.

peacetoyou/quote..<<Peace and Love to you all!>>and mercy and grace be upon us all

<<One/..can include..into all educational-programs>>
yes one can/but should...one..what of freewill/god grants to us all

does not revelations/say..:..22;10..seal not the prophecy/of this book..for the time..is at hand

22/11..he that is injust...let him be unjust/still...and he that is filthy/let him be filthy/stil...and him that is rightious/let him be rightious/still..and him that is holy...LET him be holy/still

it is only/with these/freewill's...intact...that 22;12..can be filled

why?..because they affirm we have a choice..some chose that good/of love/mercy..grace/..others not..but in time all repent..their vile..and serve the good..cause its better

not all will grasp..the importance of such concepts/as spirituality, ethics,..meaning of human life,..eco-psychology,>>...

that last one/makes me balk..eco-phychology..sounds like that global warming/trash-talk..[dont you recall/the ozone...hole...

that hole is still there...co2 is a mere fraction/of the danger of ozone,OR METHANE..which IF IT..has caused any../warming..cant be cured by guilt..or more tax..or more industry..to build the alternatives

we put the globe..in possable danger..VIA industrialisation
any cure...MUST EXCLUDE MORE INDUSTRY/polutions..!

are you teaching..indoctrination?
LET KIDS BE KIDS

<<psychical self-regulation,>>..is this about inducing guilt/upon the future taxpayer's?

<<description/of God..from scientific standpoint;>>>god is the natural/nurture..that underpins ALL LIFE...sustains all living

[recall emanu-EL/god..within..[all of]..us
if your only going to decieve/further
or create guilt amoung the innocents...then its propaganda

<<then many afflictions>>>science has decieved many..[its species that evolve..WITHIN theur genus...but NEVER has science recoded..NOR DONE..any change of genus..!

but so/too has RELIGION decieved many/god aint no judge...!
there is no end-time..day of judgment..
we ALL are born again/,..dead aint dead

AND christ didnt die for ous to sin...till we repent the vile ways of the flesh...burn rev..22...upon your heart/gods thone..till we seek to do better..we simply dont know how to do better

seek/find

and THE CREATION OF EXTRA/MORE..problems could be avoided.
simply by understanding/loving neighbour/living a good egsample

BE KNOWN by our works

giving back to god..

the service/he gives...to all..for free
to even..the most vile/living[least]..equal..as to/the good/great

Foxy,
I recently re-watched the complete "Yes, Minister" and "Yes, Prime Minister" series with my family (not in the one sitting).
We had some good laughs.
Unlike some other decades-old humour, it is truly timeless.
You'd make a good politician Foxy.
Not that I'd vote for you.

Dear Proxy,

I can see that
You're taking your comedians seriously and
your politicians as a joke.

I don't blame you.