Religion & Spirituality - 6 July 2006

With a rational worldview you have to follow the evidence wherever it leads, and it has led us to all kinds of fascinating and exciting discoveries about the Big Bang, the origin of stars and planets, the evolution of living organisms and so on. It seems such a shame to me that people are content with religious explanations when reality is so much more interesting. 'God Did It' is an intellectual dead-end - Not an answer to any of our questions about the universe, but a way of avoiding the question.

So, is there any way to inspire religious folks to seek the truth about the universe and not be content with the banal mythology which has been foisted on them as if it were something deep and meaningful? How can we educate and excite people about science instead?

2006-07-06 23:59:20 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous

you turned on them straight away if you bothered to look them up what i put down is there so mutch for a tolerant church you even turn on you on your selves

2006-07-06 23:59:07 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous

Opinions do not lead people to Christ. Truth does.

2006-07-06 23:56:53 · 19 answers · asked by dawn m 3

How did god come into existance and what was there before. If god can create things, then how was god created ?

2006-07-06 23:55:16 · 9 answers · asked by anthonycwallace 1

A lot of people use the word when describing what one needs in order to make contact whith God or to believe in God etc etc. I would use the words 'mental' and 'problem' instead.

2006-07-06 23:53:43 · 14 answers · asked by Say no to religion! 1

'We made a covenant of old with the Children of Israel (Surah 5:70); We brought the Children of Israel across the [Red] sea, and Pharaoh with his hosts pursued them...and we verily did allot unto the Children of Israel a fixed abode (10:91, 94); we favored them above all peoples (45:16); [Pharaoh] wished to scare them from the land, but we drowned him and those with him [in the Red Sea] all together. And we said unto the Children of Israel... dwell in the land [and] hereafter we shall bring you... out of various nations' (17:103-104); we delivered the Children of Israel... from Pharaoh... We chose them, purposely, above all creatures (44:30-32); Remember Allah's favor to you... He... gave you what he gave no other of his creatures. O my people, go into the Holy Land which Allah hath ordained for you (95:20-21); etc.

So WHY, in spite of these clear declarations in the Qur'an, Muslims insist that this land belongs to them? Are they still not reading their holy book?

2006-07-06 23:53:29 · 9 answers · asked by deed 5

These muslim extremist ..i mean muslim fanatics who havent got any work to do just sitting on their asses and Using foul languages against christians like i'll get to see some on this questions answers..When they realise they are wrong they start commenting on other religions...why dont these people just get a life.
And just live in their muslim community .

2006-07-06 23:45:38 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous

Arabic is a language of only small number of muslims. but during my travels to non arabic speaking muslim countries, i saw muslim s repating arabic koranic verses that even they dont understand. These people are made to byheart the entire koran in arabic like parrots without knowing even the meaning of one word.
How stupid do you thin they are?

2006-07-06 23:43:52 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous

you know i still havent gotten a strait answer...why is harry potter evil again?

im 24 and i freakin LOVE harry potter as do my two cousins (dont have kids, so) why would you religious people be against a great kids story like harry potter!

hell, even i want to go to hogwarts!

i understand that you guys have a dislike of witches and magic...but come on...theres a fine line bwtween magic and a miracle...assuming miracles exist.

turning water into wine is no differen that turning roy (of sigfried & roy) into a white tiger.

explain yourself! is nothing innocent with you?

2006-07-06 23:42:14 · 10 answers · asked by johnny_zondo 6

2006-07-06 23:42:06 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-07-06 23:38:26 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous

Mine is Isaiah. He was weird and wonderful.

2006-07-06 23:38:12 · 14 answers · asked by SweetyPie 2

2006-07-06 23:31:04 · 18 answers · asked by noya 1

hi, i´m having problems understanding when you stop being helpful. I like to help people and feel that i shouldn´t try to change my character. but if a friend starts being unappreaciative and doesn´t give, only takes, when should the giving stop? should i keep giving out of kindness, or should i step back when i realize this person is not being a good friend? and what about people who woudn´t help me when i was in a bad situation? should i help them now that i am better? what i mean is, shoud kindness run out if it is not being appreicated or if the people aren´t loving? and if so, does that mean that i am becoming hardened? i know that the common sense answer is, but i would like to have a buddhist /loving perspective.
thank you

2006-07-06 23:28:57 · 17 answers · asked by ingrid 2

Many people in the world earn much less then we here. They struggle for survival, they starve... etc. Don't you feel guilty that we have computers, mobiles, more food than we actually need... etc.? I do, but I'm a hyprocite. How about you?

2006-07-06 23:27:46 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous

I was digging a hole in the backyard to bury my dead hellhounds because they got into the poisoned beefsteak, when I discover the bones of Jesus himself! When I touch one of them, they begin to shake and fall apart. After they crumble away, a heavenly light envelops me. I look up to see the reincarnation of Christ descending upon me, and boy does he look pissed.

Without a word, he begins hurling fireballs at me. Luckily, I had just finished building a death ray out of lollipops and rainbows and sunshine and laughter.

Dodging out of the way of the fireballs, I fire three well placed shots at Jesus. He holds up his hand, and blocks them. I curse to myself, and jump behind a tree for cover. I hear a loud crash, and note to myself that the fireballs have caught the tree on fire. I jump around and start firing blindly, hoping against hope to hit him. Nothing works.

As a last ditch effort, I pull a flash grenade out and throw it, blinding him. I use this time to safely escape.

2006-07-06 23:27:16 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous

I know the answer. I am challenging you to answer with scripture.
Ready, Set, Go!!

2006-07-06 23:27:06 · 11 answers · asked by dawn m 3

the do not beleve a baby has sin from the day it is born it is just past on i blame eve she was the one who go coned by the snake not adam

2006-07-06 23:26:09 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous

I have asked this Question yesterday, but, I don't know why, only three people can say a word about it...
It seems that you Christains have nothing to say about the question...
it reads:
Despite the view of many Christians to the contrary, one need only refer to a host of Christian writers through the centuries to show that reasonable interpreters of the Bible have consistently upheld the doctrine of the unity of God throughout history. A good example is Edward Elwall, prominent eighteenth-century Baptist merchant and writer of religious literature. In 1726 he wrote in his tract Dagon fallen upon his stumps, `Is it not as gross an Absurdity to say, the One God of Heaven and Earth, is Three or Four Persons, as to say, the One King of Great Britain and Ireland, is Three or Four Persons? Is not the former altogether as false as the latter?

More on this? Go to: http://al-islam.org/islaminthebible/index.htm

2006-07-06 23:23:44 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous

heh, beleive it or noti think that its a GOOD thing! hell yeah i do....im an atheist as well..if possible if you respond to this please put your age, just so i have an idea of the range of people (indulge me...please) . ive been cruising yahoo answers since day 1 and im still surprised how many of my fellow atheists seem to be coming out and making their voices heard! its great!

2006-07-06 23:23:18 · 9 answers · asked by johnny_zondo 6

If you met a really nice person then found out later s/he was an atheist would your opinion of that person change? If so, how and why?

2006-07-06 23:13:43 · 8 answers · asked by laetusatheos 6

2006-07-06 23:10:47 · 13 answers · asked by sanjay b 1

I do voluntary work. I give to some charities. The difference is , I don't do it for some reward in heaven as YOU do. So why do you think you are better than me?

2006-07-06 23:09:52 · 17 answers · asked by Atheist 3

I've summarized a comment left on one of my recent questions:

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Answer:

I've read your posts and you are a hateful person who is attemping to make other people's lives miserable by your questions.

Stop trying to tear down other people's beliefs (with your words).
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I am an atheist and there is no question, answer, comment or remark that will influence that "belief" (or non-belief).

How can people claim to have divine power or inspiration if their faith is so weak it can be affected by someone else's words?

This is a serious question.

2006-07-06 23:07:14 · 15 answers · asked by Left the building 7

Um what events need to happen if you were to say believe in something different then you do today?

2006-07-06 22:57:39 · 11 answers · asked by american_stallionn 2

5:51. O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust

2006-07-06 22:45:22 · 17 answers · asked by skeptic 2

what do u have against athiests? all christians seem to hate me, but i just want to be friends with everyone, even christians. and please dont say you pray for me, i respect u, so please respect me and answer sensibly. i also dont care for athiests saying 'they are scared we will bring down their religion'

sensible answers only please, greatly appreciated

2006-07-06 22:43:36 · 21 answers · asked by ezzaphill 3

2006-07-06 22:43:34 · 15 answers · asked by a V a 4

Or are you so brainwashed you can't think for yourself?

2006-07-06 22:41:17 · 20 answers · asked by Atheist 3

10 - You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.

9 - You feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt.

8 - You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Triune God.

7 - Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" including women, children, and trees!

6 - You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky.

5 - You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of Earth (few billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that Earth is a few generations old.

4 - You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs -- though excluding those in all rival sects - will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet consider your religion the most "tolerant" and "loving."


3 - While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in "tongues" may be all the evidence you need to "prove" Christianity.

2 - You define 0.01% as a "high success rate" when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% FAILURE was simply the will of God.

1 - You actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history - but still call yourself a Christian.

2006-07-06 22:39:18 · 15 answers · asked by Atheist 3