a top surgeon once said he has never operated on an atheist........they all trun to god in the end.

foinavon do you believe in aliens and reptiles

I think that there is a possibility that life exists elsewhere in the universe. Since it has occurred here, there is a possibility that it could have appeared elsewhere. It may or may not have evolved to the same stage that it has here. All depends where and when it began.

Reptiles exist here on earth, or haven't you noticed? I often see frogs and toads on my allotment, but not so many this summer as it has been on the dry side.

kweeveen......... the chances of there being a god are still a million to one despite the doctors claims

Agnosticism, in fact, is not a creed, but a method, the essence of which lies in the rigorous application of a single principle ... Positively the principle may be expressed: In matters of the intellect, follow your reason as far as it will take you, without regard to any other consideration. And negatively: In matters of the intellect do not pretend that conclusions are certain which are not demonstrated or demonstrable.

What doesn't add up for me is that these theists believe that this extraordinary eternal "being" has created the universe, this planet and every form of diverse life upon it, yet don't find it a bit quirky to think such an unimaginable, omnipotent & omnipresent entity gets his kn1ckers in a twist over such trivia as whether you should lop your foreskin off, eat sausage rolls and engage in bum sex. Let alone whether he gets huffy over being worshiped or not.

Different Christian groups believe in a different Gods ,same with the Muslims.
It's all faith just as athiesim and belief  in aliens are a form of faith.  It's difficult to prove any of them are 100% correct.  Those who think they are
100% right ( extremist religious groups, Dawkins, L.ron Hubbard)  tend to be the most disturbed as they appear to need to cling to belief in what they consider a certainty ,which is an illusion,and doesn't exsist.

Ovalman. 28 Sep 14 21:34 
Christianity and Islam are both derived from the Jewish god which is why it totally confuses me as to why Judaism is hated the World over.

If there is a god he is a very benign one and not concerned with human behaviour.


that's deism, and i think it's perfectly right to be agnostic and opened minded about it. you could reject on the basis of russell's teapot, but at the same time, an unconcerned entity not revealing itself is entirely consistent with the hypothesis of what it is.

monotheistic religions with a capricious, vengeful, sadistic, lazy, seemingly unconcerned yet simultaenously thought policing and meddling superbeing who for some perverse kick created us imperfect yet demands we resist those imperfections, who also gives a **** about the minutiae of our lives, down to some pretty odd details, is clearly a load of absolute b0ll0cks.

They are NOT the same God!

I second Velasquez's comments!

If you religious types can't agree what chance have the rest of us got?

Oh no it's not.

Tell a muslim Jesus is Gods son  ,they don't like it, tell them JC was God in human form and you start to see what demonic possession looks like

The Invisible Gardener by John Wisdom

"Two people return to their long neglected garden and find, among the weeds, that a few of the old plants are surprisingly vigorous. One says to the other, 'It must be that a gardener has been coming and doing something about these weeds.' The other disagrees and an argument ensues. They pitch their tents and set a watch. No gardener is ever seen. The believer wonders if there is an invisible gardener, so they patrol with bloodhounds but the bloodhounds never give a cry. Yet the believer remains unconvinced, and insists that the gardener is invisible, has no scent and gives no sound. The skeptic doesn't agree, and asks how a so-called invisible, intangible, elusive gardener differs from an imaginary gardener, or even no gardener at all.

He states absolutely, categorically that he is not and cannot ever be 100% sure as it cannot be proved either way and without such evidence he cannot claim 100% certainty.

If you could show any scientific evidence for God whatsoever then there wouldn't be any atheists - Dawkins included.

Tell a muslim Jesus is Gods son  ,they don't like it,

Muslims accept Jesus as the prophet as well as other prophets, Moses as well as others, BUT Muslims believe Mohammed was the final prophet, and his message is absolute.

Load of bronze age bollux if you ask me, but this is what the Muslims tell me.

So you cannot possibly have any objection to me (100%) and Dawlins (6.9/7) holding our views then.

If people weren't afraid of dying we wouldn't get any of this sh1te.

As an atheist, and at my age, used to the idea of death, it doesn't worry me now.

However, I first thought of death when I was about 17 at about 1-00 a.m. lying in bed.  I had trouble envisaging 'not being here' any more, and I don't think I slept all night.

Dependent upon life's experiences, you could get close to it once, but then totally ignore thoughts of it after that.

For me, death is the end, no heaven, no hell, just nothing.

My only concern is that my wife will be okay, as I'm long odds-on to go first.

Are other atheists unconcerned about death?

i think everyone is pretty scared of dying, we're programmed to try and avoid it, and there's a pretty decent chance that the process won't be pleasant and may not be quick.

but to be afraid of being dead is another thing. as you say CMAT, I think most people are concerned about how those that we love will be without us, but it seems likely that being dead is probably no different to being in a dreamless sleep.

Most older people aren't scared of dying in fact to many it would be seen as a release  ,whatever their beliefs, but they are scared of the pain and possible loss of identity in what leads up to it