There is an interesting programme coming on CNN next week, for
those who are interested.

http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/gods.warriors/

It runs over three nights, dealing with "God's Warriors".

Christian, Muslim and Jewish warriors are all dealt with,
so it should be interesting and address the core of the
problem.

ie. whilst we have fanatics of any faith, determined to
change the world to their little patch of belief, we have
a problem. Only a small part of any population seem to be
fanatics, but they are enough to be a major problem for
the rest of us.

Anyhow, for those interested, I thought I would mention
it, as religion is a common topic on OLO. We have our
share of various warriors too :)

Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread, even those with opposing opinions. I would especially like to thank, in order of appearance; C J Morgan – CALLIE – Ninja - People Against Live Exports & Intensive Farming – Yabby – Aime – Ginx – Celivia – Mark2685.

Issues such as these need airing, discussing and thinking about. More importantly, both sides of such dilemmas must be investigated to the fullest extent possible by individuals making public comment. If this is not done, it creates a situation where parroting someone else’s notions replaces informed opinion. Anyone with a television set and who watches the news, can vouch for the fact, that disaster follows ignorance.

By for now,

David Nicholls
President
Atheist Foundation of Australia Inc

You're most welcome David. Thank you for an interesting topic of conversation.

Thank you, David, for highlighting that with so many active Christians in our parliament, who are obsessed with focussing on our “sins”, the Australian public isn’t represented in a balanced way.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22221340-601,00.htm

As Kenny the station manager of Fraziers Radio Station said...after Frazier had come up with a huge symphonic orchestral approach to a simple 'jingle'... "wow"....

It does not cease to amaze me how much ignorance is 'out there' regarding Christians attitudes.

"They (in parliament) spend their time focusing on our SINS"... :) c'mon.. it ain't like that.

"Teaching Children one religion is 'Child abuse'"

David... even though you might not be present, something you raised needs to be answered.

1/ The central core and focus point of "Christianity" is not 'Turn or Burn'.. telling children that 'If you don't comply, God is going to send you to helllllllllllllllllll' is surely not my view of child rearing. Though,I did hear a rather passionate speaker speaking with exactly that emphasis at a large gathering one time, when referring to some corrupt practices in a Church.
2/ The central core and focus IS...."Sheep without a shepherd.. leave the 99 safe sheep, go and find the lost ones, search, look, struggle.. at all costs, find them if possible"

Yes, I absolutely believe in Hell, as much as I believe in Heaven.
Yes, (as Ginx will testify) I do spend time seeking to reach the largest number of people possible with the message of salvation in Christ.. here, Youtube, personally, other places.
The rest..and the result..I leave in the Almighty's hands. I gave up ages ago trying to carry the world on 'my' shoulders.

Christian values are about 'Proclaiming the Promise' of eternal life, and abundant life in the here and now. It is not "run from that eternal fire", no matter how real that may be.

Its the same as 'Follow the rule of law' for a happy and peaceful life in society, rather than "IF you DON'T follow the law we will lock you up in 'the hole' for a year"
"The Hole" is an ever present reality, but to make that the focus is very negative.

BOAZ_David,

There really is little point in continuing discussion with you. In this thread you have vilified Peter Singer on a falsehood and not produced a reference when asked and in the Dawkins thread you have misrepresented him by supposedly quoting RD as stating: “I hate…all religions.” The link you supplied as evidence was not a “debate” but rather a religious diatribe, so full of holes; it would not float on solid lead. There was no mention by Richard Dawkins of the words you attribute to him.

I think your trouble is that you are really convinced you are correct about a supernatural realm but find you have an inability to show others why it is all true. This then tends to have you grasping at any straw, no matter how weak, to ‘prove’ your point.

I suggest you look deeper into why you ‘believe’ in the un-evidenced concepts of souls, gods and the supernatural etc. Your acceptance that a hell exists is quite an incentive to ‘believe’. You display desperation in attempting to convince others you have a valid case. Thinking humans cannot be convinced by misrepresentation and if there was a god, I am reasonably sure it would not be impressed with your methods.

David Nicholls