General Chat

Ann, The beauty of a Scientific Theory is that it is capable of amendment if found to be incorrect. Take the Flat Earth Theory, or the Earth as Centre of the Universe for example. Trouble with Religion is it will not allow that there is ever an error even when two religions take opposing stands. In fact it was the Religiously Intolerant who executed people for believing the Earth was NOT the Centre of the Universe. I am not aware of Scientists wiping out a population because they did not agree with their theories.

well lightning strike me down, seems Jim and I agree for once :o)

Jim Now you are talking about religious fanatics. Ann

Studied Len. Am unsure as to what point you're trying to make in this occasion - can you elaborate please ?

Paul :-)

Lens post seems to have disappeared Paul. Ann Glos

Yes Ann I am. It is the Fanatics who drive religions forward at all costs. Look at the Spanish Inquisition for example. Thank God we live in a country where we are allowed to believe what we will and are NOT allowed to condemn others' beliefs. Anyone up for a Pagan Festival?

Seems he decided against posting Ann.

We agree on that Jim. And on that note I am off to bed. Probably wont sleep now, brain (what there is of it) too stimulated. Nite Ann glos

Sadly the term "religious fanatics" does inslude the word "religious", and it's no there accidentally. It is unfair to class all those with faith in the same category, and I would never wish to do so... however it is a FACT that many fanatical groups are driven by religion.

Good night Ann XX

But surely?! As far as I recall it, the amoeba was the first form of life on Earth and everything else developed from that. Evolution merely caused the amoeba to adapt in different ways to produce different animal species. Along the way, many new species must have emerged and died out because they were unsuited to their surroundings. Man and the Ape developed along side each other, what is so strange about that? And several species of man have died out - Neanderthal Man etc, because they couldnt "compete" with another type of, superior in some way, man. And, did you know, we share more chromosomes with a banana than we do with the Apes? Me, I'm a "Life came from Outer Space" believer, but I do not see that this in any way a contradiction to the Religious belief that God created Man - someone after all, had to create the first amoeba and send it here!

It was a simple one line comment, which he clearly changed his mind about and removed, therefore I'll respect his choice and not repeat it. It was non offensive though, I just wondered exactly what he meant.

CB You said "It is a symbolic way of describing something beyond human comprehension, but surely what matters is that the creative force was God - or whatever we choose to call it/him/her - and that mankind should respect the fact that there is a power far greater than that of arrogant humans who claim to know so much, but in fact know so little." What matters actually is personal choice. You choose to believe the above, I choose not to. I don't believe that there is a higher power. I also don't claim to understand everything - however, at least when confronted with something I don't understand, I don't just say "ah well, God made that, and that's all that matters" Paul :o)

nite Wendy

G'nite Bendy I'm with Marjorie on this one. Perhaps God is the Programmer who designed our basic Gene structure. It would be very interesting to look at the genes of the first lifeform here. That could have been God's input to life as we know it and we at least claim to be the only strand of his creation to comprehend the possibility that He exists. And that genetic structure ciould have been seeded onto the Earth. jim

and we all agree to disagree, and coexist peacefully. which is how it should be :o) nighty night

Good night all....and thanks for all the fish.

I know I am treading on dangerous ground here and I do not intend to insult anyone,but I am amazed that the Bible can be taken so literally. The Bible was a series of stories put together to help a nomadic people , made up of tribes ,from a pre-bronze age civilisation during their wanderings in search of a home land. It contains their myths and legends.It gives a simple and unsophisticated people a reason how their world came into being and their elders and leaders were able to answer their questions.Those who have studied theology will tell you that there is as much material which has not been included in the Bible as there is in it. Moses was a wise and astute leader.He went into the mountains to work out a set of rules by which his people could be guided during their sojourn. The Ten Commandments have as much relevance to modern society as they did in the desert in those distant times. To achieve an understanding of religious perceptions we need to read widely about as many belief systems as possible.Then we can see their similarities and understand . There are many paths to God.But fundamentalism is denying the reason and intellect which we have been given by GOD. It is this which sets us above the animals.We have evolved and are still evolving Regarding the new testament,it is again full of contradictory stories based around the life of a man.He was the son of God in the same way that we are all children of God.He lived his life preaching and teaching .He was not a Christian,he was a Jew and probably an Essene,a member of a religious sect within the jewish belief. Mary I have read your replies with interest . Thoughtful Rose

The Bible is Gods word to us...and though I do not understand it all....I know that it is true and not false Regards Hetty