General synod.....

[R1Geezer]

On news 24 this morning I'm sure I heard that the synod is the only place other than parliament where laws are made, this horrified me slightly before I though, well there must be limits or we'd all be going to church on Sundays by law. So exactly what laws can they enact?

[Sqad]

Zeuhl....LOL....so it is a matter of "what goes round, comes round?"

[Kromovaracun]

Skeg

I reccomend you watch these two videos. They're slightly atheist-biased, I'll grant, but they're fun to watch and the arguments in them are pretty hard to argue against.


http://www.youtube.co...l7PvE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.co...KEi1M&feature=related

[Innovation]

Zeuhl, what about all the crying statues, then? What does it take to convince people?

[Sqad]

Innovation....what crying statues?

Are you really saying that solid, stone or marble statues ..."cry?"

[Sqad]

Innovation.....what really would convince me is to see a stone statue, burst into a smile instead of crying which is fairly easy to explain in scientific terms.

[Innovation]

Yes, Sqad. Tears from their eyes and blood from their hands.

Those miracles have been witnessed by many people.

[Zeuhl]

<<What does it take to convince people? >>

Not much it seems.

Spread a rumour that moisture is seen anywhere near a religious idol and without any examination for leaks in the roof, high levels of humidity, sudden changes in temperature or downright fraud by people ready to fleece the gullible pilgrims - you have a miracle.

To the best of my knowledge none of these 'crying statues' has ever stood up to forensic examination.

And, here's the thing, if there was a god, why do you imagine they would stoop and bother with such a ridiculous fairground stunt?

For a supreme being what would be the purpose?

The very triviality and lack of imagination suggests it could only be man made.
.

[Zeuhl]

<<Tears from their eyes and blood from their hands.

Those miracles have been witnessed by many people. >>

Name one that can be verified. Just one
.

[Innovation]

The very nature of God means he can't make a full blown appearance. That's why he gives us these signs to let us know he's there.

[steg]

Kromovaracun you are correct they were fun to watch, but they are only hard to argue against because they are so biased and just because some one says debunked doesn't mean that is correct

[Zeuhl]

<<The very nature of God means he can't make a full blown appearance.>>

that's very convenient. self serving even - why can't he make a full blown appearance?

is it because he only exists in yopur imagination?

<<That's why he gives us these signs to let us know he's there. >>

But if he's there - he's there - why would he bother with silly stunts? what would be the purpose? Your imagined god seems to be rather silly if not very stupid.

And you haven't addressed the issue that there is no evidence that any of this has ever really happened.
.

[Innovation]

Because God is supernatural, it's difficult for him to appear. The signs of his presence are everywhere, but you refuse to acknowledge them.

I can't argue with you any longer, as I've got choir practise tonight. I for one, will be singing his praises.

[naomi24]

Ha ha! Well, that told you Zeuhl! :o)

[Kromovaracun]

"Kromovaracun you are correct they were fun to watch, but they are only hard to argue against because they are so biased and just because some one says debunked doesn't mean that is correct "

Of course not. The reasons he has for saying that they are debunked, however, are pretty solid. Watch the second one, too, for the free will argument which personally really swayed me.

[Kromovaracun]

"Because God is supernatural, it's difficult for him to appear. The signs of his presence are everywhere, but you refuse to acknowledge them"

But didn't God create the universe? Isn't 'nature' God's creation? Why would he create a natural order which he couldn't easily interact with?

[Zeuhl]

<<Because God is supernatural, it's difficult for him to appear.>>

same with ghosts - it's a nuisance isn't it?

<<The signs of his presence are everywhere, but you refuse to acknowledge them>>

translation: you see things and imagine things others don't. That's ok Lots of people suffer delusions but be careful

At choir practice tonight whenever the words God, Lord or Jesus appear, replace them with Elvis

It will be fun and you might get locked up!
.

[R1Geezer]

check out the only fools and horses episode "The miracle of peckham"!

[steg]

Krom' but god doesn't have to be all good like it says,...... as i have said, maybe life is not the point, maybe death is the point

[Zeuhl]

Assuming there is a point

other than enjoying the ride

Billions and billions of sperm don't fertilize anything
Millions of eggs don't fertilize
Millions of fertilized eggs don't establish in the womb properly
Millions of embryos abort

The few of us who make it through to life are a very small and privileged minority
.

[NOX]

Hang on innovation you're talking about God here, 'it's difficult for him to appear'!?!?! WHY??? Isn't he supposed to be some omnipotent being, and he can't even appear on his own creation to his own follwers- come on pull the other one it's got bells on it.