God

[johnnyedge]

Why do people believe in God?, I have spoken to several deeply religious people who have all tried to put their reasons for Gods existance but as yet I can not be won over. However,I do feel that people who believe in a God have more to look forward to in death, myself I belive there is nothing after death, why should there be?. We are born to repopulate the human race, we then do the same, then we die, no different to any other animal on the planet. Why complicate things by trying to give reason to it all, perhaps thats why people need to believe in a God because we find reality a little to simplistic. As for God being the answer to all mankinds problems, how come there are so many wars over religion? Am I missing something in the grand scheme of things?

[Theland]

If religion imposes certain rules on how we should live our lives, then that can become rather inconvenient in our materialistic, success orientated world. So, yes, people do become disenchanted with religion, especially as it's not a good business proposition - there's no immediate discernible material profit in it.

[naomi24]

Theland, I don't think religious people necessarily lead their lives in a better way than non-religious people whether they're in business or not. I've known so-called religious people, in business and out of it, who have been truly hateful towards their fellow man, so how does that pan out?

[Theland]

Naomi - I do not doubt you for one moment.
I, too, have often been totally disillusioned with religious people, and their "holier than thou" attitude.
One of the worst was a local vicar no less!
I certainly do not consider myself better than my neighbour, if anything, I am considerably worse.
I subscribe to a certain code of behaviour .... and then I am immediately conscious that I fail to live up to that code.
Does that make me a hypocrite? Yes, most certainly. I try, and then fail, and try again. I even admit to sometimes giving up trying! But, I recognise that the problem is my weakness, not the code of behaviour that I would love to live up to.

[mibn2cweus]

Theland, I would not be so sure about that last sentence. A moral code that we are not able to abide by is useless if not counterproductive (guilt). When we set perfection as our standard we are doomed to failure from the start. This is not to say that we should abandon standards, only that we should set standards for which success is possible.
Do you initiate violence? If not than what is wrong with defending yourself against it.
Do you seek to engage in mutually beneficial relationships? These are the only kind of relationships which ultimately prove of value to either party.

If you can not live up to a standard that only a God could achieve, why not try accepting your real world limitations and limit yourself to being as responsible for yourself and your actions as is humanly possible?

Just some thoughts you might wish to consider. Glad that you have your information exchange system back up and running. I have missed watching you dodge pies, LOL! Have a nice day, even if it is not one of those rarely glorious ones.

[brionon]

Octavious says:-Wars are not fought �over religion'. Wars are fought over power, wealth, ambition and territory, and in more recent history: oil.

Be honest ,Do you really think that Suicide bombers blow themselves up for Wealth or Power ? No, the Only explanation is Religion. You won't like this but it's True.

[Theland]

mibn2cweus - Hi there again. I do wish I could learn to spell your nick without looking it up all of the time.
Well, I'll try to be fleet of foot and dodge the pies as usual.
But I stand by what I said.

[naomi24]

Brionon, you're right, but it's always the little man who bears the brunt - we don't see their leaders strapping bombs to themselves, do we. They're the ones who are in it for wealth and power - but it's initiated by religion nevertheless.

[mibn2cweus]

Naomi, There's the missing link! One serves the other.

[naomi24]

Aha!! Well spotted!!!

[Theland]

Regardless of who is being served by whom, we in the west need to pull our head out of the sand and begin to take the threat from islam seriously, and then stop pandering to the fifth column in our midst, and act.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Surely Jesus says you should turn the other cheek, Theland?

[mibn2cweus]

. . . and when they hath smite them both declare a crusade against terror

[Theland]

You are right Waldo. What is your advice? I'd lock them up for being so hairy for starters!
AND for having the same name - why they ALL called ABU something or other?