Council prayers to continue (From Daily Echo)

• "

  clausentum wrote:
  

  Georgem wrote:
  

  clausentum wrote:
  

  Condor Man wrote:
  

  freefinker wrote:
  

  Condor Man wrote:
  Freefinker, I think you're being rather disingenuous to a lot of rational thinking people who happen to share different views to you. Perhaps you too are an eminent professor? Many people find faith later in life, not having been indoctrinated or having this inflicted on them. They don't have this baggage to face up to.
  
  I think you need to read all the facts before you start denouncing things you clearly no nothing about.

  ‘facts’ you say. Well let’s have some.
  
  Unless you are one of those crazy ‘bible literalists’ (and not even the pope is anymore) here are some facts: -
  1) The universe (or at least the only one we have evidence for) is about 13 billion years old.
  2) The earth and solar system are about 4.5 billion years old.
  3) Life on earth is about 3.8 billion years old.
  4) Complex multi-celled life is under 1 billion years old.
  5) The origins of primates are about 58 million years ago.
  6) The genus Homo evolved about 2.3 million years ago.
  7) Our own species, Homo sapiens, goes back a little over 100,000 years.
  
  Now CM, please, please tell me: -
  1) Do all the animals that have ever lived also have an afterlife in heaven or hell?
  2) Assuming that’s a ‘no’, then, what’s so special about our species (evolved as we have, like ALL others, by Darwinian natural selection) that after billions of years your god decides s/he is going to ‘create’ heaven and hell, but give it to just this one very recently evolved species?
  3) And, why did s/he take 100,000 years of our species existence to let us about this?
  
  Perhaps you can now reveal some ‘facts’ to answer these questions?

  I'm going to take you questions and ask around at the church (Highfield Church out of interest) to see what people think. There are a few uni professors there that could answer your questions, sadly I'm an arts graduate so won't do the responses the justice they deserve. Actually, Highfield Church run seminars during the year which discuss the questions you've raised. If you like I could send you some details?

  So.
  
  You have no answers to offer the other poster.
  
  So.
  
  You are totally bereft of a single response to any question they posed you.
  
  Instead, you opt for a cop-out by wanting to scurry off to your local church and ask for answers from church brethren with enhanced educational qualifications to your own or super superior brains such as university professors who also happen to be religious nuts.
  
  Where or where is your belief in yourself?
  
  Why stop at canvassing a bunch of locals?
  
  Why not kneel down and with your direct line of communication to your Almighty, pray to your God to provide answers

  Well, in all fairness, I don't see why people should be obliged to justify their faith to others. As an atheist myself, I find it quite embarrassing when others put so much effort into ridiculing religion, and trying so hard to point out the logical flaws in it. Not to mention, of course, the extreme pointlessness of trying to use reason in a discussion with someone who you already know doesn't really buy into the whole "reason" thing in the first place. The evidence is well-known, if it's mere existence isn't enough to change some people's minds, I doubt having it presented to them in an argument is going to do any better!

  Valid observation ;-)
  
  This particular religious nut is a shallow, one-dimensional representaion of religious nuts in general. He has nothing to offer apart from a dog-eared script given him by someone-else and appears incapable of original thought or grown-up thinking at all.
  
  He invited comment and derision by his outrageous statment that atheists are bigots whilst expressed that view with bigotry!
  
  You offer a timely reminder that to get carried away in debating such a fool is a pointless activity and really just a form of self-indulgence. Thanks.

  .. agreed.
  But a somewhat pleasurable self-indulgence all the same."
• * Your name This field is mandatory
• * Your email This field is mandatory
• Reason

  Please note we will not accept reports with HTML tags or URLs in them.

• 
  Enter the above word in the box below
  
  

Please be fair, courteous and respectful to the views of others so we can build a vibrant community in a safe online environment. You are personal liable for your comments and action will be taken against anyone who offends, ridicules or posts malicious and damaging views. If you wish to complain, please contact us.