The Queen and The Pope

Thanks and I am sure you both are totally correct , just saying on the face of it seemed bizarre .
I am allowed, laugh !
I am just a simple woman me !!

I wonder who gets the venison – or the whisky.

I have to say I have ^ never^ seen a hamper of food given before .
Probably have led a sheltered life.
The gift given to Baby George, was apparently priceless.
Whats "appening ?
Sure beats me !!

I cannot see that these comments are ridiculing religion by itself, it seems to me far more a comment about their apparent power and prestige and unnecessary ceremony.

I think the ceremonial giving of gifts is totally crazy in these circumstances.

I can understand treating foreign heads of state with due courtesy but that is how you should deal with anyone, even a foreign head of state you might dislike deserves to be dealt with good manners.

I thought Phoenix's point was that underneath all the titles and social statue they are just human beings like us. They are mortals not Gods. The pope was voted into his job and the Queen by an accident of birth, largely her uncle Edward's abdication.

nelliem, I agree about phoenix's point. Just a feet well planted in reality comment and nothing more. Lest we forget.

I see no confrontation in this thread. Some are seeking information, others are giving it. It is well known that some of us are non-religious, others have a faith. I haven't seen any evidence of anyone on the thread trying to convert anyone else to their point of view.

Giving information on the lines of 'all religions are made up' doesn't really enhance our quality of life, does it? There are people who are only satisfied by bursting others balloons. 'Do unto others?' I think that means avoiding saying or doing things you know will cause them pain, unless it is required by some quite pressing need.

For goodness' sake, lily, it is only speaking truth as I know it, just as you and everyone else can if they so choose. It is not an attack on anyone. Truth, does enhance my quality of life. If you wish to believe something else, go ahead, but please stop playing the "I'm hurt by that remark so you can't say it" card.

I didn't say I was hurt bags. I said it didn't add anything to our quality of life.

I'm glad you were not hurt. Things others say often don't add to my quality of life either. So what?

Am I only allowed to say what will add quality to other people's lives? How would one tell before one said something?

What a silly idea. Goodnight.

Surely we can only learn by questioning. If anyone is threatened by being questioned about their beliefs they are maybe not too sure of them and have just accepted what they have been bought up to believe. Fine if that's what you want to do but it doesn't seem fair to expect others to do the same.

Questioning, challenging, excellent! Negative statements, not helpful! What's intellectually rigorous or challenging about 'All religion is made up'? In the context of a free face-to-face discussion, it could be an invitation to a lively discussion. In this context, it simply invites a contradiction. Not challenging, boring.

It wasn't meant to be challenging. It's just what I believe to be true since there is no evidence – not what I call evidence – that religions are not man-made. If you found it boring, why not ignore it?

It wasn't meant to be helpful either. It's just a statement of what I believe. So I was doing exactly the same thing as others on this thread. You have no just cause for complaint about my comments in particular.

Boring!

[biscuit]

Don't worry, it's a boring biscuit so you'll be quite safe and you can stay cross.

Well, would you Adam and Eve it?