Who is God?

lilyand what is his carriage called?

I believe man constructed god/s to explain the inexplicable & to create power bases. I do not believe in god/s.

I believe that as a member of the human race I should do nothing that harms other humans and should help /protect others in need. I also believe I have a responsibility to minimise harm to the natural resources of the world for future humans to enjoy.

I have lived & continue to live, my life within a loving family community and a community of good friends who are like minded. I am very fortunate.

The bickering on this thread is indicative of individuals' personal insecurities and shows how 'belief' can create tension, division and ultimately war.

Jeni according to Wikipedia, the source and fount of all knowledge, it's Krishna who rides the juggernaut

*Nanaej

Nanaej second attempt! Some people might call it robust debate ( when we stick to the subject and don't get personal).

Nanaej " individuals' personal insecurities"

Codswallop.

Not yours JO4 your posts do not suggest someone who is insecure! just mischievious and enjoying the fun

I have noticed though that there are 'tensions' and what I would call sniping by some GNs, on different threads, but between the same posters suggesting a more personal element. I have not felt I have been involved ..just an observation on others' style of posting I suppose!

In my experience some people can become over sensitive when they do not feel very confident. I was using my off forum experience and applying it to what I have observed here.

Fun?

I agree with John Lennon.
'All you need is Love'.
I cannot help wondering if the sniping and bickering might be less, if people posted under their real names.

Oh, there's always an element of fun Anagram, even on the religion threads, where most of it is meant quite seriously.

I certainly don't mean when people get hurt though.

" if people posted under their real names"

That might be alright for Greatnan living safely tucked away somewhere in the French mountains. But I've got neighbours!

and some ofus have been as foolish as Harry and put pictues on the site too

I wouldn't put naked photos on any site now - 30 years ago perhaps. I used to think I would be happy to use my real name, until a few months ago.

Quite, jingl - in reply to your post about people getting hurt.

Well, I have now read through this whole thread, and I can only say that this is what discussion about religion always provokes - dissension and dispute in what is usually a fairly coherent and sensible community of intelligent, sensible and compassionate human beings. If any supernatural being is guiding this, it is a mischievous and manipulative one. If not, then we are demeaning ourselves and our personal codes.

You've read it all Ariadne?! Even the long bits?!

Respect!

Much as I hate religion, I don't think it can be blamed for the trouble on this thread - it was going well until 10.50.47!

If there is a god, he hates me! I have just lost my signal through a torrential rainstorm, just as I was enjoying 'Have I got old news for you'.

Nanaej I agree with you completely.

Greatnan Better beware - if the invisible sky friend is reading this thread, she'll send a bolt of lightening to zap your hard drive. Now that really would be hell. Oh dear, she might zap mine too. I wonder if having an Apple Mac will save me?? Perhaps not, bearing in mind the bad press against apple in the bible.
Better go before I get into trouble.....

Ariadne,
This "debate" has brought to light the fact that basicly whether folks have a faith or not, we all seem to endorse "doing unto others as you would be done by"!

That we try to respect a persons right to have a different point of view ,even though we strongly disagree with it!

People become very involved in this type of debate, because they often find that it means re-examining their own thoughts - not always easy. As I said at the beginning, "keep an open mind"!.

I thank you all for your interest and contributions to this very contraversial subject, and hope that it has not caused any bitterness between the companions on here!

I'd like to tell a story concerning the pains we endure in our lifetime.

A piece of metal is heated and beaten, turning it into a sword. The sword is heated in the furnace until white hot, then plunged into oil. The craftsman knows by the colours showing on the hot metal, when the process is complete, it is left to cool, before the final work on it becoming a strong weapon!

This is similar to our lives. We become stronger by facing and conquering, or coming to terms with, our adversities. Not easy by any means, but we should try.

I went through a bad depression in my youth, so much so, that I went onto the roof of where I worked, approached the edge and contemplated jumping off.
This is the "corny" bit - I heard a voice in my head saying "Get back you stupid bugger. you have a life to live"
OK, so it was my common sense comig to the rescue, but it is still very real to me!
Later I wrote a verse, very simple,but true for me.
"The best thing to do when you're feeling blue,
Is to help others, that will help you"!
I was about 18 or 19 at the time. (That was a long time ago now!!)

I refer you to Alison's post at 10.50.47

'I know that some of you will find negative comments about these examples and I have only put them here to show that Christians suffer just as much as anyone else. Perhaps it is because they suffer in silence tha some don't realise it. Also they often help people out but tend not to go round saying how good they are. It is noticable that some GNs do a lot of talking about how brilliant/good/clever they are but this is not something that Christans tend to do'

I took great exception to this implication that atheist members boast about ourselves. A simple retraction from Alison would have saved all the subsequent 'debate'. It had nothing to do with religion.

I really can't keep quiet any longer!! Why is AlisonMA being subjected to such treatment when she only made a general comment that was immediately picked up as a personal remark. There ARE members of GN who have remarked more than once on how good they have been to their families, not that that is to be scorned of course, but I am sure that there are other members who have been equally generous with time/money who choose not to broadcast it. Give the woman a break of goodness' sake!!

Nor can I keep quiet any longer nannym, well said. I left this thread in disgust yesterday. I cannot believe this is being carried over to another day. I welcome and endorse Ariadne's last post. I suggest that certain GNs read it again carefully.

Well said Nannym.