Do you honestly think this whole complex universe, with complex minds and bodies came from a random big bang from nothing?

I'm not happy with sciences answers but the god hypothosis is just as bad. It's much easier saving a step and explaining things without the need for a creator. If there is one, he's very benign and simply rolled the dice and let us get on with it. Science doesn't have all the answers but it's getting there slowly.


How do you explain people's near death experiences?

Tricks of the mind. When the Oxygen finally runs out, the electrical impulses stop and we go back to nothing, just like it was before we were born.

How do you explain the sightings of ghosts?

The brain tricks us into seeing things that aren't actually there, that's why we see a face on the Moon and in clouds etc.

How do you explain the DMT lodged in our brains and other living things?

Ain't got a clue either what DMT is either.

So you all believe in nothing? Do you believe in yourself?

I used to be an atheist but often viewed the world in a negative light and became depressed. Don't know how you do it.

I don't force it upon anyone but I guess it's alright to spread the negative depressing views of atheism right?

Atheists need to shout loudest, they`re the ones running scared. Bit like muslims, really, hoping to shout loud enough to blank out the knowledge that they`ve backed the wrong horse. Fail miserably to convince even themselves, deep down, let alone any good Catholics.
Shout away, boys, but you know The Day of Judgement`s coming!

I remember him saying that male circumcision is some terrible mutilation, but it is relatively minor

Female circumcision is more intrusive so I am against that

It is very primitive as well, predates Islam, I think we should discourage that

Although I am not over keen on women at times, I do stop short of cutting bits off them

Regarding your post on circumcision Gery, isn't that depressing? Surely it's wrong to do that to a child. Wait until he is old enough to decide for himself. I'll bet there won't be many takers.
Strange that those who believe that a perfect god created them in his own image should feel the need to modify that perfect creation with a knife. How do you explain that?

I'm off to bed so will duck out for now.

I don't agree with your assessment of Richard Dawkins at all. He is always quiet and dignified and gives reasoned arguments for any claim that he makes. This is more than can be said for most of his detractors.

You mentioned that the C of E does not force it's values on the rest of society and that is largely true today although it doesn't hold back when giving it's opinions. It wasn't so long ago that it had much more influence and religions can become nasty when they hold a lot of power as can be seen in many places today.

What are religions if not groups of people motivated by a set of beliefs?

The beheaders of IS say they do it in the name of Islam

The Catholics who burned humans said to be witches and heretics at the stake said that they did it in the name of Christianity.

I agree Dotchinite, it seems to me our human nature is at fault rather than religion

I am sure Richard Dawkins presents himself well, but he does seem to me to have a complete obsession against religion.

There is a mix of good and bad in religion, if there were no good at all, why does it exist?

Religion has been frequently misused, some of the things people say are about religion , if one looks closely,
turn out to be about things like: land, power, control, wealth, defence of a culture(religion is just a part). Religion is just being
used.

Personally I doubt anyone who does not want to believe gets converted and nor do people who do believe gets unconverted,
and if opening any book on science does not say GOD is dead, I do not know what does.

Perhaps people need a religious belief in Atheism as much as people do in Religion. They a god a GOD in Richard Dawkins.

Still Isaac Newton had his Alchemy, so perhaps Richard Dawkins needs his extreme Atheism as sort some of break from all that heavy
scientific stuff.

I had a religious conversion as a child to Atheism, the cause Science Fiction, I found it a lot more interesting than the Bible.
Still I could hardly claim everything in Science Fiction is true , any more than it is in Genesis.

I believe let people believe want they want to believe.

Ithink you have misinterpreted that verse Foinhaven.

The New Testament itself (Paul) calls its message "Foolishness" - foolishness preached to a dying world...Paul calls the cross of Jesus Christ the ultimate "foolishness". Dawkins is a flat-track bully. You're going to get people who are not too bright in every walk of life.

But hey ho, time ticks away - jog on Dawkins.

What did Solomon ask for? Gold? Intelligence?

Wisdom?

As for the vine and branches, the branches don't have to struggle or grow of their own accord - they don't have to do anything except remain in the vine.

http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Fellowship/Murray.The.True.Vine.html

The True Vine by Andrew Murray - an examination of Jesus' metaphor which Jesus took from the Old Testament.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv2U2Xp2Nu8



Richard Dawkins Struggles to Remember "Origin of the Species" Title Against Rev Giles Fraser.

"...uh...uh...uh...it has a subtitle..."

14th February, 2012 on Radio 4.

Religion is only suitable and safe in the hands of the English middle classes (if such a thing still exists), it is not suitable and very dangerous in other sections of society and the world.

The MOB!

The TIDE!

Got your popcorn and 3d glasses, folks?

Cool...

DAVID BODANIS, author of  "E=mc2: A Biography of the World's Most Famous Equation" :

"Bodanis' effort to make science accessible extends to the historically tense relationship between science and religion. Unlike many scientists, he sees nothing mutually exclusive about science and religious faith.

"I love the humility of Michael Faraday, that his religious views led to those deep insights in science and I can't bear people like Richard Dawkins who are anti-religion and who tend to pick soft targets. For instance, Dawkins misses the fact that Einstein had a subtle religious view."

Bodanis is all for inclusiveness, in contrast, he says, to a science writer such as Dawkins, who is one of the leading advocates of Darwinism.

"Instead of saying you have your view and I have mine, Dawkins says I am 100 per cent right. He is not the ideal calling card for evangelical atheism, though he is a gifted writer." "

the posted video of dawkins and his simpering acolytes is him at his absolute worst.

this is not about furthering the cause of atheism, or helping to convert the religious. this is about intellectual superiority and laughing at people in the throes of cognitive dissonance who have most likely had the unfortunate circumstances to be born into religious families and have lacked a thorough education.

Had Dawkins been born in a mudhut in rural Pakistan and sent to a Madrassa because his parents couldn't afford to feed him, what are the chances he'd be where he is today.

It is no good advert for atheism or humanism to show such a sneering lack of compassion.

As always, South Park were on the money, nailing it Go God Go.

"Let us not forget the great Richard Dawkins who finally freed the world of religion long ago. Dawkins knew that logic and reason were the way of the future. But he learned using logic and reason isn't enough. You have to be a dick to everyone who doesn't think like you."

The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful, and has nobody to thank

yet our government has legalised gay marriage whilst still supplying state funding for faith schools.

and we still have decision makers in our upper house of parliament who have been appointed based on their position in their religious organisation alone.

and we still have blasphemy laws.