Who is God?

That is fine with me, Bags - I don't mind what people say about my beliefs or ideas, as long as they don't make thinly -veiled comments on my personality!

AlisonMA This is notpersonal; it is all published on this thread.

"It is noticable [sic] that some GNs do a lot of talking about how brilliant/good/clever they are but this is not something Christians tend to do."
29/08/2012 10:50:47

"I assume everyone is nice and then my illusions are shattered – again. I stand up for those I feel have been wronged and get stuff thrown at me because I did. However, I look at myself in the mirror each morning and know I have clear conscience. Been going on all my life."
29/08/2012 14:26:01

Some GNs do a lot of talking about how brilliant/good/clever they are … Blowing your own trumpet. J'accuse.

And I still think that is a cop-out, especially for a minister!

Marelli I hope you don't think I used the word "special" in any unpleasant way! I am going mainly on a particular young woman who attends my daughter's church. She is so friendly and affectionate.

I do think a Downs syndrome person may need a bit more care than others. Is that patronising? It's certainly not meant to be.

I think it is reasonable to take offence if the comment is personal. I thought this was not allowed on GN. It might also be helpful if people read the actual post, not their interpretation of it.

But Greatnan it's the adherents that are often the problem. I wonder how many 'founders' of religions such as Jesus, Mohammed, Budha, etc would agree with the way their philosophies have been interpreted or even twisted?

Would it not make things easier if we all accepted that we may well find the 'way' a thought or belief that is different from our own is expressed somewhat troubling? It's so easy to take offence where no offence is meant. Perhaps if we all bore in mind that offence is in nearly all cases (certainly on gransnet) not meant (only strong feelings, deeply held beliefs, powerful thoughts) things would chug along better.

To put it another way, shouldn't we just accept that people have a right to express views on things they feel strongly about in strong, but inoffensive language? In short, that it's OK to say this or that view is ridiculous if that's what you think. It doesn't, after all, make the view ridiculous if it isn't, so why take offence?

Quite so, Marelli.

J04's comment about my minister neighbour's cop-out reply couldn't be further form the truth. What he meant was that it was down to the individual how they perceived what may happen to us all 'afterwards', and whether or not the way they lived may just not so much make a difference to that, but may make us feel more comfortable with ourselves by doing the best we can without harming anyone on the way.
I cannot ever come to terms with the attitude that because a person has Down's Syndrome or any other disability, that that person is 'special'. They are not special. They are people who do not need to feel patronised.

Go on then, jingle, tell us which bit of expression you don't like.

It's the way it's expressed.

It need not happen, if people could accept that criticism of a religion is not criticism of its adherents.

Absolutely * Ariadne* - your post and mine crossed in hyperspace.

No problem with debate. But there's a difference between constructive and destructive.,

But isn't there a difference between lively debate and people attacking one another? Which is what always happens when religion is the topic.

No problem with the debates, Lily - I enjoy them and don't wish to interfere with anybody else's faith.

Mamie,I'm sure you're right about us never agreeing on matters of religion and politics, but if we did we wouldn't have these lively debates.

Gramps....Vamps is fine. It's just one of my peculiarities (of which I have many) to not like Vampy

jings and [sigh]

jings, and [sigh]

That's not the religions fault.

This is why I detest religions, they invariably cause argument and bitterness.

Maybe God worked through her lawyer or embassy.

Do you know, proud atheist though I am, I think I could "find god" (does it matter which one? Would Athena do, for instance?) if it meant I got let off a death sentence. I don't suppose her release had anything to do with her lawyer or her country's embassy appealing on her behalf? No, that would be a cynical thought. [sarc emoticon]

J'accuse AlisonMA!