May May,

You wrote "....spoken by Jesus himself in the New Testament....".

The words that you used indicate something quite different to what is attributed to Jesus in the Apocalypse.

'Spoken by' is entirely different to 'attributed to' and I think that we are all well aware that the Bible was written by men, that's why the New Testament has attributions to the various authors within its own text.

Still, full marks to you for realizing that it was written by men; or did someone tell you?

Josephus, who on this forum do you identify as "Islamic Supporters" and where, exactly, has anyone said this apart from the occasional Muslim who identifies themselves as Muslim?

Just because I don't believe ALL Muslims are potential terrorists, or that those Muslims who do kill in the name of their God are no worse or better than any other murderers in our society, does not make me an Islamic Supporter.

I don't need to read the Koran or understand anything about Islam, to know that murder and terrorism is wrong and should be punished, no matter who does it.

Dear A.J. Philips,

Sorry, but how can I possibly describe something you have no experience of?

<<What is this “common experience”>>

Unity with God.

<<and how have you eliminated the possibility of it having a rational, natural explanation?>>

Why, there is a rational explanation, for those who care to listen, but a dry intellectual/rational idea doesn't solve ontological anxiety, whereas the direct-experience, aimed by religion, does.

<<Also, what is it about this common experience that demonstrates your assertion that it is representative of true religion?>>

It's the experience itself which relieves all anxiety, pain and death. Had the direct-experience of God been absent, there would be no need to ever mention "religion" as a separate category.

<<Religions are a part of the culture>>

This is where we disagree: religion is universal, but is adjusted to cultural conditions, climate, genetics, etc.

<<Is there a typo there?>>

Say there's a blue beach-ball. A colour-blind person, if told that ball is blue, could think: "Oh, that refers to its roundness" or "Oh, that's because it's light-weight", or "Oh, that's due to its warmth". Religiousness is a real property of groups and activities, but if you can't recognise it, you might mistakenly consider other attributes of the group as its "religiousness".

Here's a story from: http://oaks.nvg.org/sa5ra17.html#einstein-anecdotes

EINSTEIN was asked by his hostess at a social gathering to explain his theory of relativity. Said the great mathematician,

"Madam, I was once walking in the country on a hot day with a blind friend, and said that I would like a drink of milk."

"Milk?" said my friend, "Drink I know; but what is milk?"

"A white liquid," I replied.

"Liquid I know; but what is white?"

"The colour of a swan's feathers."

"Feathers I know; what is a swan?"

"A bird with a crooked neck."

"Neck I know; but what is this crooked?"

"Thereupon I lost patience. I seized his arm and straightened it. "That's straight," I said; and then I bent it at the elbow. "That's crooked."

"Ah!" said the blind man, "Now I know what you mean by milk!"

Suse,

"Is Mise "Why would the Protestants in the IRA want to kill Protestants?"
Is Mise, the IRA predominantly consisted of Catholics, so what is your silly point about?

[My point is that the IRA didn't kill anyone because they were Protestants, except on ONE notable occasion]

"Shouldn't you read up on Irish history before embarrassing yourself?"

[I assure you that I shall never embarrass myself with any lack of knowledge of Irish history]

"My point was that one does not have to be a radical Muslim to be very violent."
[ a valid point]

"The Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland have been bombing each other for years until very recently."

Irish Nationalists have been fighting the invaders of their country since my un-revered ancestor, known in Irish history as "The First Traitor", Diarmait Mac Murchada ,(26 June 1110 – 1 May 1171), invited my (somewhat more revered other ancestor) Henry II of England to come to his aid in Ireland. Henry sent over Richard de Clare, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke (nicknamed "Strongbow") who married Dermot's daughter, Aoife.
(there's another couple of interesting ancestors).

Suse, do read Irish history it's very enlightening and entertaining especially if one can trace one's line back into pre-history, supposition though some of it must be.

Yuyutsu,

I kindly suggest that you look up the effects of colour blindness!!

'The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, and Qur'an, are all based on ancient superstition.'

May May,

yep May May and your so called ' superstitution makes your wisdom look vey silly.