No, no, Josephus. Not "define", but "entitle"...

<<Since Stephen Hawkins can define his TV presentation as "THE GRAND DESIGN"...>>

I think David said all that needs to be said here.

<<A grand design indicates a designer at work in the physical.>>

Ah, the watchmaker fallacy.

If everything is design, then what could you possibly be comparing it to, to recognise it as such? One of the methods we use to spot design is by comparing it to that which is naturally occurring. But you're saying that everything natural is design too!

<<If you had read my previous post you would recognise God is revealed in the spiritual.>>

Yes, and did you see my response regarding claims of transcendence? Same goes for the spiritual. 

But okay then, explain how exactly God is revealed in the spiritual and how we verify that what we have found is in fact God and not just the product of an overly creative and emotional disposition.

<<God is Spirit, that is why we are to exhalt in worship pure motives, holy character, grand design, great deeds, and sacrificial acts.>>

Well I've never suggested God was physical, but if these are the things in which God is revealed, then you would need to demonstrate the they are not possible without God for there to be anything reliable about the evidence and revelation. Unless God is just making himself an unnecessary second layer to all these things. In which case, it wouldn't say much for a god who apparently has an important message for us all if he's just dicking around and hiding in emotive stuff. 

<<You yourself are expressing a low view of wonderment that is beyond the physical.>>

No, I'm just not willing to make stuff up to express it. 

<<To you everything is only physical sciences that can be defined by man.>>

Yes, but I remain open to the possibility of something else if the evidence ever suggests.

Unlike theists, atheists have the luxury of being able to change their minds, without the fear of retribution or losing a comfort blanket, if they are shown to be wrong. 

AFA,
In your own words. "In Australia, Christianity is responsible for undemocratic follies which I won't enunciate as they are in many posts. Therefore, the AFA concentrates on Christianity. Is there a word or idea in those couple of sentences you are having trouble understanding?

The main religions have negative impact on the planet but (again) we are talking about Australia and it is the Atheist Foundation of Australia. Again, is there some word in there that's a problem?

As a point of interest, where do you propose that the AFA should carry out its mandate?"

My Local Church and I support the building of primary and High Schools in Kenya as one project among many to overcome pagan superstition, ignorance and tribal fighting and bring children into first World Education and employment standards. What is AFA doing in Kenya? Teaching atheism as the answer??

AJ Philips,
I do not accept everything religious people believe, as my writings as an independent thinker will show, nor everything I hear from pulpits. I fear no retribution or rejection as you would like to believe.

However I do support intelligent understanding of spirituality and the revelation of the character of God in our world. The revelation through persons who are made in God's image and have his heart. Persons who show selfess care for others, who have the capacity to hold no ill toward an enemy, and do genune deeds of kindness for them.

Josephus,

Still picking and choosing in what to comment on, so I see. I guess you are used to that, after all that is what religions do with the content of their holy books. Ah, well, let’s move on.

“My Local Church and I support the building of primary and High Schools in Kenya as one project among many to overcome pagan superstition, ignorance and tribal fighting and bring children into first World Education and employment standards. What is AFA doing in Kenya? Teaching atheism as the answer??”

The AFA is a philosophical/education organisation. It is not a philanthropic one, nor is it a religion. It would be like asking a philosophy club or a chess club what they are doing for world poverty. Individual atheists support all kinds of organisations designed to help the underprivileged. Atheists do not do this for a supernatural or temporal reward but because it is the right thing to do.

I'm not decrying donations your church makes to Uganda but really, replacing superstition with another superstition has shown not to be very helpful in Africa. How much of the money donated goes on the indoctrination of the young?

You seem not to be reading the words of others. One cannot teach atheism. One arrives at the atheistic stance individually when evidence supporting the wild claims of religion is not forthcoming. This coupled with acknowledging there are many religions, immense suffering on the planet and the antiquated ideas in most religions is the reason religion is being dropped in Australia in droves. People become atheists because maintaining a state of cognitive dissonance becomes too much to accommodate or they were never indoctrinated in the first place.

And of course, the negative results of religion on society are very hard to miss for those who have removed their reality hindering faith-oriented blinkers.

David

I was wrong. What about, you may ask? I said to OzSpen: “Notice, I was speaking of Australia. It is purported that Christianity (And other religions) are growing in backward nations. That is not a recommendation; it is sad fact if true.”

I did say religion was “purported” to be growing in other nations. Actually, it is not.

http://redcresearch.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/RED-C-press-release-Religion-and-Atheism-25-7-12.pdf

And politicians, read this as it has a commentary about American politics that Australian politicians had better wake up to as the non-religious quotient in Australia is far higher.

From here.
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/08/10/survey-says-atheism-is-on-the-rise-worldwide-and-in-america/

“What does all this mean? For America, where only 60% of the population calls themselves “religious,” and an additional 30% calls themselves “non-religious,” politicians are making a big mistake by ignoring us during election seasons. As philanthropist Todd Stiefel pointed out in an email, “they go after Jews (1%), African Americans (12.6%) and Hispanics (16.3%) like crazy, but [the] non-religious+atheist crowd (35%) is larger than those three groups combined (29.9%).”

Parliamentarians, we are non-religious, we are an appreciable (growing) number and we vote.

If you continue to take note of the unrepresented of Christianity, Australian Christian Lobby, you do so at the cost of your individual and party demise.

Tell Tony and Julia about it. That would be a wise move.

David

Atheist Foundation of Australia Inc,
What social and physical benifits has atheism brought to Australia and the USA, other than a negative belief system? "This life is all there is so grab all you can to enjoy." A rather selfish indulgent life in Western society, "Look after #1"