I know when I was younger I thought everyone was brought up Christian. It just seemed to be that way. I couldn't tell you the first time I actually met someone who didn't believe. The law requires state schools to give children Christian morning worship? Can you tell me more about this?[/color]
What's to say about it? It is required by law and the argument behind it is that this country is predominantly Christian and has a predominantly Christian history, so therefore Christianity must be upheld through state schools. Children must be taught Christianity and must be given a chance to worship God.
Most schools break the rule of morning worship, because of space. We have an issue with space here in the UK, specifically a lack of space. So schools don't always provide children with morning worship, simply because they cannot fit every child in their auditoriums.
Quote:This seems to be another common occurrence. I would imagine that if someone is not ready or willing, etc. to accept religion of any kind that having it forced on them could cause more harm than good. It's a shame that it isn't understood that you cannot force anyone to believe anything. If someone believes because they were forced, is that belief or just surrender?
That's a strange question to ask, MA. I would say it was surrender to belief. But in a way, if you raise your children as a Christian, are you not forcing your beliefs on them? Sure, they could learn about other beliefs, but I doubt you'd be teaching your child about the other beliefs in their proper light.
If I were in your position, I certainly wouldn't, merely because I don't know enough about the other religions to do so.
Quote:Science again. Hmmmm. Ok, so does this mean you needed more complicated answers also?
Maybe it's this viewpoint that atheists usually point out that makes some religionists feel so threatened by science. It could explain the anti-science backlash from Creationists and I would say even IDers.
Seriously, it's not science per se. It's the thought processes required. The logic. The need for proof and to be able to prove that proof. In other words, it's the scientific method.
You know what I fear the most? That people would see all these atheist/agnostics who reject Christianity and cite science as one of their reasons. Would it inspire anti-intellectualism and anti-science? It seems as if it already has.
Quote:Guess this kind of answers the above. I completely understand this. Is it a matter of not accepting that God actually is superior to man? Is it a matter of not understanding that is possible? This particular area of non-believing really frustrates me because my concept of God's superiority is the complete opposite. So, maybe you can help me with this, Wolf? Can you explain what it is or why it is some have problems with the concept of God being all knowing, all seeing, etc.?
It is not the matter of God not being superior to man. As I stated before, Hitler could be regarded superior to the people he ruled over. He had more power, he had more resources to allow him to know what was going on in his country.
Politically, he was superior to everyone in the country. Morally, he was inferior, of course.
None of these things you cite are important to my non-belief of God. They are merely things that I thought would be interesting to mention. It is an analysis, if you will, of what is possible.
You don't have a problem with the fact that in all sense of the word, God is a tyrant?
Quote:Wow. Now, we are getting somewhere! Ok, I understand the logical inconsistencies. I admit, there are things in the Bible I just can't say I understand at all. Now, is that because I just haven't found those answers yet? I don't know. You think "those that started up religion...."? Very interesting thought. If this were the case, do you think they didn't do a better job of it because the times were so primitive and they just didn't realize the progression that man would make both socially and psychologically and intellectually?
Hm...
They certainly didn't do a better job of it because of what you said. This really has very little to do with my non-belief of God, though. I guess it would have made me more of an agnostic, though.
There'd still be the issue of the other religions.
Quote:True, you cannot disprove God's existence and you can't actually prove it either. So, do you think that maybe some don't believe because we aren't completely capable of being these things ourselves? If we were capable of being these things, would we then need God?
No, not because they cannot become these things themselves. It is because the very notion seems like some kind of fairytale... possibly like Santa. He is the closest secular supernatural entity you can get to God. The notion just doesn't seem grounded in reality, not because we ourselves cannot become such a being, but because such a being seems impossible.
Quote:These are very interesting thoughts, Wolf. So, would you say then that you are "on the fence?" You seem more open than some to the possibility that God does exist.
Hm, am I on the fence? Good question. I am more open to the possibility of God's existence, but only because to not do so would just be hypocritical. After all, I maintain that a lack of evidence for evolution does not disprove it (which is true). If I don't apply that same thought to God, I would be severely hypocritical, something I attempt to avoid at all costs, because it's just wrong to be so.
Some atheists here would say I'm taking a soft approach, that I'm not being gutsy enough. They would say, why go half way? Perhaps you'd be thinking the same thing.
Fact of the matter is, a true scientist should be open to new and old ideas but also equally critical of them.
Quote:Wolf, to be completely honest with you, I don't think ANYONE at all has the absolute correct definition of God. I believe you are right, man has twisted and distorted things in so many different ways to accommodate themselves that I believe God has gotten lost in there somewhere. It's not hard to understand why so many are either confused about God or just don't believe.
Really? You gave me the impression that you didn't understand. Maybe I'm just tired. It is getting late over here...
Quote:I have no problem with that analogy whatsoever, Wolf. In fact, I agree. Unfortunately, a virus has been spread. The pureness of God and His Word has been infected by man and man's changing things to accommodate them.
Um, that's not what I meant, but I think you know that.
That's a good one! Got me good! Ok, let's see if I can rephrase this to make some kind of sense.