Religion & Spirituality - 5 August 2006

Quote of the week:

My presumption of atheism is closely analogous to the presumption of innocence in the English law;

[...]

...the onus of proof...is up to the theist: first, to introduce and defend his proposed concept of God; and, second, to provide sufficient reason for believing that this concept of his does in fact have an application.

Antony Flew, God, Freedom, and Immortality.

2006-08-05 10:37:18 · 13 answers · asked by Atheist 2

Mine would involve being dumped into a pit of slimy, flesh-eating insects that would bore into my eyes first (but I'd still be able to see what they were doing to me). Or, I'd be impaled on a spiral, corkscrew-shaped lightning rod and repeatedly struck by lightning.

2006-08-05 10:37:12 · 17 answers · asked by I Know Nuttin 5

2006-08-05 10:35:43 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous

Mine would have lots of crystal domes, definitely. And also purple forests. Plus you could eat fattening greasy foods without clogging your arteries. And you could drink, smoke and do drugs all you want without any adverse effects. That's just for starters. I'll save my more freaky ideas for later but please feel free to post yours. Also look for another related question coming soon.

2006-08-05 10:35:32 · 6 answers · asked by I Know Nuttin 5

I pray before I go to bed and in the mornings. I also go to church. I know I am not the most Christian like person, but I am working on it. I am kind of frustrated and wondering if God really hears my prayers and cares? I have been praying about things to God, expecting for things to change, but nothing had changed. Maybe God is punishing me because I am not what he expects me to be. Does God really answer prayers? It's like I am losing faith or something because I don't think God really cares, due to the fact that my prayers are not answered. Can anyone offer any words of wisdom for me to keep the faith and continue praying.

2006-08-05 10:33:32 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous

Who created him? I often think about it, it's kinda weired but I want to know if anyone else has the same ideas or thoughts as me.

2006-08-05 10:32:26 · 20 answers · asked by minnie_mickey07 2

Just as you read what you want to hear from the bible and disregard the rest.

2006-08-05 10:28:41 · 22 answers · asked by Atheist 2

just donate to my paypal account and I will send you the information on it. Since I am new to the biz, my tithing is a low introductory 5%. But get in quickly because these rates will not last forever...only your salvation will.

2006-08-05 10:26:56 · 31 answers · asked by bc_munkee 5

I classify myself as an agnostic. I'd like to believe in a higher power, but I want a little more proof first. I don't know what that proof would be, though--I guess the only way I'd be sure is if he smacked me on the back of the head and said, 'Hey, I'm here," or something to that effect. Unfortunately, I doubt that's going to happen. Not that I know God doesn't exist--it's impossible to disprove something's existence--I just don't think he'd be up to personal appearances.

2006-08-05 10:25:07 · 19 answers · asked by faorie_arcana 2

Just tell me your religion. I’m looking to see how many pagans are out there but, if you not that’s ok still tell me.

2006-08-05 10:24:39 · 21 answers · asked by VeganCat 3

became illegal and punishable by death worldwide, would you still hold to your belief as vigorously or would you pretend that you didn't hold that belief or something else?

2006-08-05 10:23:23 · 25 answers · asked by po3try 2

It isn’t too uncommon for some theists to argue that logical, reasonable atheism requires such extensive knowledge that an atheist would have to actually be God in order to deny God. Here is an example once seen in the forum:

In order to be a real atheist, you would have to be everywhere, and have seen every part of the universe, to KNOW or not believe there is no God.
The Let Us Reason Ministries website expresses the same idea:

To be a Atheist one would have to be omniscient knowing all things having a perfect knowledge of the universe, to say they absolutely know God does not exist. For one to do this they would have to personally inspected all places in the present known universe and in all time, having explored everywhere seen and unseen.

2006-08-05 10:22:54 · 13 answers · asked by Atheist 2

I have a hunch who, but I wanna test my hypothesis.

2006-08-05 10:22:28 · 11 answers · asked by bc_munkee 5

She was more effiminate than most men I know-Curly Long Hair-Rosey Cheeks-let men slap her-wore a dress-had no sex drive-Baked Bread-I mean will somebody please point out some Macho qualities of this Fairy? He cried abouth others picking on him-wrecked his own house when angered(Took it out on inantimate objects rather than the men who caused the problems) was always talking about Blood and removing stains-How many times did you read he said Joseph? Never he was always hanging out with Mama-so there you have it gentlemen-The Bible is not your way of controlling women_Which it has been used for for thousands of years-but how a woman controlled you by keep your tetosterin levels down-its a sin to want more than 1 woman-geezus who do you know that wants just 1? You do know someone who does? YOU'RE A LIAR-we all want as many we think we can get away with-all except Jesus-he always spoke about sheep-lambs-children-and the only ball I ever hearsd he threw was THIS WORLD FOR A LQQP! baby!

2006-08-05 10:20:46 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous

The psychology behind suicide bombings.
By - Pierre Rehov, documentary filmmaker

On July 15, MSNBC's "Connected" program discussed the July 7th London attacks. One of the guests was Pierre Rehov, a French filmmaker who has filmed six documentaries on the intifada by going undercover in the Palestinian areas. Pierre's upcoming film, "Suicide Killers," is based on interviews that he conducted with the families of suicide bombers and would-be bombers in an attempt to find out why they do it. Pierre agreed to a request for a Q&A interview here about his work on the new film.

Q - What inspired you to produce "Suicide Killers," your seventh film?

A - I started working with victims of suicide attacks to make a film on PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) when I became fascinated with the personalities of those who had committed those crimes, as they were described again and again by their victims. Especially the fact that suicide bombers are all smiling one second before t

2006-08-05 10:19:32 · 13 answers · asked by reneyhun 5

I have seen people use the arguement "Humans have more in common genetically with a banana." I would like to thank them for helping me further my belief in Evolution. Evolution states that ALL life started from a single source. Therefore it would stand to reason that ALL life would have similar genetic sequences. As we discover more about DNA we are showing that all things in fact do have similar genetic sequences thereby proving that ALL life branched out from a single source. Here is some reading on it...
http://www.dnaftb.org/dnaftb/40/concept/

2006-08-05 10:19:24 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous

other than your own religion though.....

2006-08-05 10:18:33 · 16 answers · asked by Be-hive Baaaby 3

2006-08-05 10:16:44 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous

I know he said some bad stuff and hurt them but he did apologize at least twice and sounds very sincere. He didn't give an excuse but seeks help with his problem of alcoholism etc. why can't people just get past it and say look this guy has a problem and he is being upstanding and trying to fix it, he apologized and is seeking help - forgive and move on? Why the grudge and bad press? The guy isn't a creep. He screwed up and that doesn't excuse what he said but he seems to be very sincere in his apologies and desire to change or get better. Why not help him out instead of beat him down? What happened to so called forgiveness etc.? All these churches preach it yet so few practice it when push comes to shove.

2006-08-05 10:16:36 · 9 answers · asked by Inquisitive Guy 1

Is anyone here actually open minded to any other beliefs or is everyone here to say what they believe is right and to bash everyone else?

2006-08-05 10:16:01 · 33 answers · asked by John 2

Mere atheism is no more a religion than mere theism is. Atheism is the absence of belief in gods and lacks any of the defining characteristics of religion — like belief in sacred objects or space, a moral code, a social group based upon a philosophy or worldview, rituals, etc. Atheism can be part of a religion, just like theism can be part of a religion. All by themselves, though, they are individual data points and not belief systems that could possibly qualify as religions

2006-08-05 10:13:20 · 13 answers · asked by Atheist 2

I am!

2006-08-05 10:13:06 · 20 answers · asked by Axel ∇ 5

I love a good scare!

2006-08-05 10:12:59 · 21 answers · asked by Gypsie 5

2006-08-05 10:12:49 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous

If God is salvation (it's what the name of Jesus means), does anyone else believe that many atheist already foun him, but in an impersonal way? Does Romans 2:14 support that?
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

2006-08-05 10:10:31 · 14 answers · asked by Cyber 6

2006-08-05 10:08:52 · 31 answers · asked by Gonzo 2

I met this girl and we got along real well. she lives kinda far (like 60 miles away). I havent got my permit yet. Im really sad because everyone went back to their home town today including me. I wanna see her so bad. I havent been able to stop crying (seriously). I cant take it anymore. I have her #, but wont it bad to call her the same day we just said bye? Help me. Im really getting depressed.

2006-08-05 10:08:37 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-08-05 10:07:55 · 16 answers · asked by soulsista 4

The question of belief (and how it might be achieved) is a crucial point of disagreement between atheists and theists. Atheists contend that believers are overly credulous — that they believe things much more easily and readily than is rationally warranted. Theists, on the other hand, argue that nonbelievers deliberately disregard important evidence and are thus unjustifiably skeptical.
Some theists even contend that nonbelievers do indeed know that there is a god or that there is evidence proving a god but willfully ignore this knowledge and believe the opposite, whether due to rebellion, pain, or some other cause.

2006-08-05 10:07:33 · 4 answers · asked by Atheist 2

2006-08-05 10:05:46 · 13 answers · asked by Axel ∇ 5