It’s only religions who now take out the bits they don’t want to follow and bits that don’t suit them and then scoff at the people who do try and follow the more difficult laws. Is it because these are stronger people and the ones who follow the more difficult laws are weaker?
Surely its the other way round, it’s easier to do as you please than to do something that goes against the grain isn’t it?

Another point i wanted to make was something I found interesting, this not believing in God is not a new thing- in Psalm 10:4 it says The wicked one according to his superciliousness makes no search; All his ideas are: “There is no God so it was happening back then about 3000 years ago, there was peopl that would go round trying to convince there was no God and say we are intellectual we know how we got here, the earth is flat, it’s sat on elephants.

These were the Men others would look to the so called intellectuals. Isaiah 40:22 talks of the circle of the earth and Job 26:7 as the earth hanging upon nothing these things could only be fully proved in the last centuary when astronauts and satellites went out and could send pictures back. Isaiah and Job were written over 2500 years ago. Where did this advanced Knowledge come from?

People keep looking for evidence for the missing link, trying to make a big bang and other theories look logical where really it is illogical to think that all of this came about by chance with out a designer, no scientific test can prove so. Thanks for reading hope this gives a different point of view.
Dave

And atheism is a position of faith as much as faith is - seeing as it is also impossible to prove conclusively that God does not exist.
That’s a very interesting point, as al those you make are, but my only problem is that you are suggesting that somebody should prove a negatiove which of course cannot be done. In order to convince somebody that something is true then the balance of proof falls on demonstarting the positive.
I could claim to have seen a minature pink and green elephant the size of a mouse and of course nobody in the world could prove I hadn’t - the onus is on me to prove I did - you cannot prove a negative.

I personally remain open to anything myself although I find it difficult to accept something and embrace it totally without some evidence of truth.
I certainly believe that Jesus, a Mortal Prophet, existed but a greater divine spirit such as a god . . .

Thanks again for adding so well to the debate Christine
All the best
Rod

Religious people are not the only people open to the possibility of bioged views - there are several on this site. For a start, I find it interesting that the line is trotted out all the time that people of faith are stupid. Professors of Theology at the UK’s top universities are not exactly unthinking people. And there are many people of faith prominent in the field of scientific learning who do not find faith and science at odds with each other….though too often only polarised positions seem to get represented in the media. It is not very common knowledge, for example, that Darwin supported a Christian missionary society financially until his death.

Atheists often want to vent their anger ar religion using glib statements that are as groundless as the beliefs they claim to be against. What starts wars and bigotry is not necessarily religion, but the lack of ability to accept that other people have different opinions, and respect concerning the right of all people to live by their conscience, to practise freedom of religion or none, and freedom of speech within the rule of law.

All the people of faith I know are very open to debate, respectful friendship, the chance to share their story of why they have come to the conclusion of belief, unfortunately, however, in the media and in blogs/forums etc argument and debate is also often so unintelligent about faith - just the same old stereotypes.

I know some people have had bad experiences of “religion”… but religion (rules and regulations, power & control) is not necessarily the same as faith bourne out from the heart, with life experience and thoughtful questioning behind it. Jesus was pretty scathing with religious leaders too whose real motivation was self-interest.

Good wishes to all!