The Faith & Religion mega Thread

I don't think it has to do with level of education. No it's something else, but I wouldn't want to start a flame war, so I'll just keep quiet.

Originally Posted by bashyow i know you said your not religious Brain, but do you feel spiritual in anyway?

In what ways, for example?
I like the way you've misspelled my name - very appropriate.

I don't think it has to do with level of education. No it's something else, but I wouldn't want to start a flame war, so I'll just keep quiet.

I'd agree on it. It's a much more complex issue. Apart from education, it also involves your upbringing and the place you were born. In most of European countries you actually have a choice to leave religion (even if you were brought up by religious parents). In some other places leaving your parents' religion would amount to committing a crime and would result in serious consequences for you so whether you like it or not you are doomed to be religious.

It would be wrong to say that a great majority of educated people are atheists. However, I believe it's fair to say that a great majority of atheists are well educated people.

Anyway, as someone has already pointed it out, such threads are usually fruitless as after 33 pages of this thread it's very unlikely that anyone has changed their stance on this issue.

I like Marcus Brigstock's view on religion
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UY-ZrwFwLQg

Originally Posted by brianL In what ways, for example? I like the way you've misspelled my name - very appropriate.

lol

whenever i see the name brian i always read it as 'brain' first, then 'brian' after.

anyway Brian , i meant do you feel there is a 'higher power', a 'god' of some sort? or nothing at all?

No, I don't believe in the existence of any god. If someone gets comfort in times of distress from believing in those things - god, an afterlife, etc - then that's OK by me, as long as they don't try to force their beliefs on anybody else. I look on religions and mythologies as interesting creations of the human imagination.

Originally Posted by brianL I look on religions and mythologies as interesting creations of the human imagination.

Einstein said it best, childish silly superstitions that people aren't willing to let go of.

Here, I'll tell you what 99.9 % of people on this planet lack: The ability to think clearly and logically, which is the only thing that can lead to understanding. Some think they understand and tell it to everyone else, and everyone is fooled (the most common). Some understand, but tell everyone else lies to fool them (the most dangerous kind of people and the most powerful, unfortunately). Some understand, and often try to throw out bread crumbs to the starving minds of the masses, so they don't die. Some understand and are completely detached from the rest, often because they see no hope for the masses and no benefit in helping them is such a way for either party.

I read a few pages of this thread, but I'm still confused as to what a "Firm Believer" is. Is this subscribing to a particular religion, or just a believer in any religion?

IMHO, this world would be much better off if we could all grow-up and lose the religion. The history books often refer to the "Dark Ages" as a time period we grew out of. I don't think we did, we're still living in them.

BTW-anybody know where I can get a copy of the "Book of Origin"? I heard they're being distributed in our neck of the galaxy by Prior's. I thought perhaps I could check out their "Path to Enlightenment"!

Atheist. Religion is the root of all evil.

Kind of amusing this thread keeps springing back to life. If that isn't evidence of the supernatural, what is?

Originally Posted by bashyow lol whenever i see the name brian i always read it as 'brain' first, then 'brian' after. anyway Brian , i meant do you feel there is a 'higher power', a 'god' of some sort? or nothing at all?

I think of "Life of Brian" being forbidden to show in Norway.
That is not evidence of the supernatural though. It is evidence
of what religion is for. Politicial dominance.

Like how Mircrosoft dominance and Catholicism dominate
and Linux are like Pentecostals and Words of faith pop
up with different distros all of the globe.

OSx? are like ... BSD are like ... I don't know. just kidding.

Originally Posted by j.todd Atheist. Religion is the root of all evil.

I agree somewhat, but it's more than that I think. If all religion were to disappear overnight, people would simply invent it again.

Instead of targeting religion as something to get rid of (which will neither help, and is also impossible), you must target people. Somehow show them how to think logically and rationally ... probably just as impossible.

That's why I'm quite tolerant, and you can believe whatever you want.

Originally Posted by yonnieboy I read a few pages of this thread, but I'm still confused as to what a "Firm Believer" is. Is this subscribing to a particular religion, or just a believer in any religion?

Any religion.
I thought we covered that on the first or second page.

I don't think religion is the root of all evil. It's just the symptom. The disease is gullibility and fear and elitism and superstition.

Yay! The non-believers are still winning.

Originally Posted by nooby I think of "Life of Brian" being forbidden to show in Norway.

That surprised me. I always thought all Scandinavian countries were tolerant and free of censorship.

"I am not the Messiah. I'm just a very naughty boy!!"