General Chat

Nature does not discriminate. It has no emotions or feelings. White, Black,Red,Yellow. 1 or 100. Christain,Mormon,C of E,ect,ect..... Rich or poor,Good guy..Bad guy, from an Ant to an Elephant, it does not care. This was not an act of war, and there is no one to blame. A Tsunami does not know it is about to wipe out 150 thousand people in a few minutes. If you beleive in God or whoever, there is no written script for the survival of mankind. It's all a matter of Faith, in what you as an individual beleive in. This is our planet. A gift. It is up to us to look after it in the best way we can or know. I believe in God. This is my Insurance. Tony oz.

I also agree Alice. The Bible read in conjunction with historical facts explains a lot about our ancestors as well!! Reading it alongside 'Women in Religion' and 'Sex in History' was fascinating. ps. I know a bit about the Koran as well cos my dad was a follower of Islam and taught religion in Saudi Arabia (mainly cos he was neither Sunni nor Shi'ia) maggie (still with no religion lol)

The scale of tsunami is truly devastating obliterating generations of families in an instant. Buildings can be replaced but these lives will never be replaced. It is arguably the world's truly global catastrophe, with lives shattered and families torn asunder in dozens of countries on different continents. These are some of the comments reported from various leaders - President Chirac of France "regardless of distance we form the same, single humanity'. Pope John Paul said the tragedy showed to what extent 'we are part of global community'. Tony Blair, British PM "a world catastrophe". There are other disasters worse but this one hit us all, these are some of the deadliest natural disasters in history - 1931 - Flooding China - more than three million deaths when the Yangtze River bursts its banks. 1959 - Flooding China - at least two million killed in massive flooding. 1938-1939 - Flooding China - one million killed in flooding over two years. 1201 - Earthquake, Mediterranean - one of the deadliest earthquakes in history kills about 1.1 million people. 1887 - Flood China - 830,000 people killed in the province of Shansi. 1970 - Cyclone, Bangladesh - over 300,000 killed in cyclone-induced flooding. 1976 - Earthquake, China - an earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter scale strikes Tianjin. Official death toll 255,000. 2004 - Tsunami, South Asia - an earthquake causes tsunamis that sweep across South Asia. Death toll expected to be more than 150,000. 1991 - Cyclone, Bangladesh - more that 130,000 killed in cyclone-induced flooding. 1883 - Krakatoa, South Asia - death toll calculated at 36,000. This one annihilated the volcano-island of Krakatoa. In a time of tragedy we turn to God for comfort and strength. Psalm 23 says The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Pity people don't read the Bible these days. They need not subscribe to the theology but as a historical document which has shaped our history it cannot be ignored. Sadly most people are ignorant of it. I know it can get monotonous in places but it really has played a crucial part in shaping who we are as a society

I wouldnt mind reading that but would they have a copy in English? Shaz x

Never mind Stu I have contacts, as I mentioned iranian friend has some pretty clued up uncles

Maggie you are right. They based it on a combination of us and the moon God they used to worship

Stuart Thats interesting Yet another thing for me to waste hours investigating And yeah your probably right Ta very much

Alice, I know the Koran differs a lot from the bible - Jesus is not the son of God, but a prophet, like Mohammed etc. - deemed blasphemous by Christians. But a lot of Islamic tradition comes from the Bible. All I am saying is that most religions have a basis in one ancient religion or another, and bear a certain similarity. maggie

Shaz I sometimes wonder how much he does believe. I mean a druid archbishop????? If he truely believes every word he must know he is destined for hell. I can't figure that guy out

I didnt say that I believed in the bible I am saying that the Archbishop obviously believes in it. Lets go back in time and say that the soddom and gommora thing happened.... wouldnt the newspapers have been full of reports saying that it was a catastrophy and such a waste of innocent life etc. Yet the Archbishop would say... oh God did that to clean things up... Shaz x

As far as I'm aware there is only one officially recognised version. But then I'm not muslim I can ask my friend tommrow she's escaped iranian. But hey if you know something do share. You have piqued my interest. ( You aren't talking about the whole raisins/virgins arguement are you?) Come on share this threads more interesting than most

The koran actually differs greatly from the bible it states many things about Jesus life and death that are considered blasphemy. They also say in the koran that in the end times their God will rule for seven years. In our bible it states that the ANTICHRIST will rule for seven years. If you believe the new testament as written you will know that it states that we share a God with Jews only no other religon. DISCLAIMER: I absolutely recognise the right of people to worship a different God to me. Or a "power" or whatever. I'm just clarifying that they are not reading the same holy book to us not even similar

Too true Alice. High Anglican (Cof E) study both the old and new Testament - and so do Moslems. Buddhism and Sikhism come out of Hinduism so have similar basic beliefs as well. All 'basic' religions believe suffering is part of life. Generally the more you suffer in this life - the better your life in the next world. ps I have no religion, no axe to grind, just wish people didn't have to suffer and send positive thoughts to the survivors. maggie

I sort of agree with Stu although I do believe in God and no doubt I'll be hung drawn and quatered for this next comment ... so I'll say first that I think the loss of so many has been terrible and I personally am saddened by the amount of innocent people who have lost their lives and homes and loved ones etc. But as for the Archbishop.... Well this guy probably preached at some point in his life about Soddom and Gomora (or whatever its called) and also the Flood and Noahs Ark... werent these also terrible tragedies of an earlier time that wiped out so many?? If the Archbishop has read the 'Good Book' then why has it taken him so long to question Gods existence? Shaz x

Your idea seems to fit with the Gaia theory first postulated in the 70's. The earth as one organic being.

With respect, the average Christian ( Im mean a practising bible reading and believing one Not a weddings and funerals only one)would consider that they worship the same God as Jews. We believe the messiah has come and as a result have the new testament to live by They believe that the messiah is still to come and are under the laws of the Old testament. P.S. Im not a believe what I do or your off to hell type :) honest

Daniel, It depends on your religion. In simplistic terms, the Christian God is portrayed as kind and caring, but the Jewish God is portrayed as rather unforgiving. Buddhists believe suffering is part of life, and Pagans believe in the power of nature. To put it crudely - you pays your money........ Whatever a persons religion/non religion or belief - the first and foremost thought must surely be to help the survivors maggie

The same thing was said to me when I was told that my daughter would die. I had always sort of believed in God but never prayed much or anything like that but that night I prayed.. I requested the obvious... let her live!! Then I said that if she must die I was requesting that he take her into his care! I look at the disaster and yes it is a tragedy and it has saddened me but no it hasnt made me question God. Shaz x

In a twisted and terrible way though, something good HAS come out of this terrible catastrophe. It has made the world a smaller place and it has made most of the world realise that there is but one Race on earth and that is the Human Race. I posted another thread earlier about how proud I have been of Britain in the last few days, raising an enormous sum of money to try to help people we shall never know. This is an expression of all that is most wonderful about human beings, their ability to feel compassion for others, even strangers. That can only be a "Force for Good" at work. I often doubt the existence of God and think "Where was God when this was happening?". I recently read a line in a book which said "What kind of being is this God who perpetrates or permits such random acts of malice?" I understand that this was a natural disaster, but if God is the Creator, he could have stopped it.