George
Agree, human beings certainly share more in common than not and differences in spiritual beliefs should not in itself be such a divisive force (in theory). It is usually fear that works against those common shared human principles.

Watcher
Perhaps you are right that it is not the 'destruction' of religion (literally) being sought but the destruction of the strong influence of religion over policy, leaving people free to live as they choose.

I have not read the book in the OP but I will get a copy of and explore it further.

Religion like every other facet of human existence has to evolve in it's own way - it already has - and is adapting and evolving.

Perhaps the increase in atheism and secularism as well as these spiritual re-evaluations are all part of the same process of change. That is acknowledgement of human differences and a better understanding of human individuality, ethics,morality and the natural world.

Eccles64,

The Blue Cross is right - There is no straight-forward relation between those who profess to belong to an organized group that call themselves a 'religion' and those who in fact are religious.

The Blue Cross,

A Real Christian is quite hard to find.
A true Christian is someone who is willing to lay down their life on the cross, or in other words, willingly suffer anything whatsoever as required by their calling to serve God and love others. Quite rare indeed.

Short of that enormously high standard, I count as religious anyone who has the yearning towards God, who leans in that direction and is willing to make even tiny sacrifices for the love of God and others. It's the actions that show, sometimes also the tears when one falls short.

Yuyutsu

In fact, I was simply pointing out to Eccles that your insufferably smug view will beat him if he expects a serious response from you.

And I think your post shows that rather well.

What does this dirge mean,"A true Christian is someone who is willing to lay down their life on the cross, or in other words, willingly suffer anything whatsoever as required by their calling to serve God and love others. Quite rare indeed"?

So, the 9/11 bombers laid down their lives for their brand of god, and who are any of us to say they got the wrong one, so you'd regard that act of 'seeking to be close to god' to be a Christian act?

Even though they were professing to be Muslims?

Really, you may be more literate than AGIR, runner and OUG but your template is the same as theirs.

This much we do agree on though, "A Real Christian is quite hard to find", let's thank gods for small mercies.

This discussion will get nowhere. There will be no winners, Especially when outrageous requests are made:
"Prove to me that God does not exist": Posted by Philip Tang

I suggest this be read about the Burden of Proof.

http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/pecorip/scccweb/etexts/phil_of_religion_text/chapter_5_arguments_experience/burden-of-proof.htm

The Burden of Proof lies with the person claiming that "God" exists not the person claiming "God" does not exist.

Everyone knows that Unicorns, mentioned in the Bible are fictitious
Everyone knows that Santa Claus does not exist. Nobody is under any obligation to prove they do not exist.

Phillip Tand, there is no proof "god" exists. There is not even any proof Jesus existed.

"God" is used as an explanation for the ingnorant who know little and say "God Dunnit". From it's beginning the Roman Catholic Church kept its faithfull ignorant by banning the reading of any books that were against the teaching of "Holy Mother Church". Even reading the Bible was banned in case some person was intelligent enough to see how the Bible was all fables and lies.

The Holy Inquisition did it's job well and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith as it is now known was known as the Sacred Office of the Holy Inquisition: "The Holy Office". It still has the same powers except for physical torture

Eccles, I fear Yuyutsu will blow a gasket if he reads your link, and Brother Tang too.

I wondered why people thought I was daft when I said I believed in Unicorns 'because they were in the Bible'.

Amazing what can be learned, even so late in life.

Might that extend to the other thread, about exorcism, maybe?

Could it be that exorcism is fake too?

Wow! That will upset a few over there, for sure.

What next I wonder?

This 'burden of proof' bizzo is a dangerous idea Eccles.

It could bring gods tumbling down if anyone took it seriously.

AJ PHILLIPS SAYS:

I prefer Sam Harris’s suggestion, which is to simply put enough reason out there to make it too embarrassing for theists to do anything more than keep their beliefs quietly to themselves.

AAAAH 'reason' :)

The BLIND MAN healed by Jesus says:

"Whether he is a sinner I do not know, but one thing I know...once I was blind...and now I can SEE"

Sorry AJ.. your 'reason' just came down like a 'Stuka' on the rough end of some very ugly AKAK :)