Originally Posted by Toy Soldier (Post 6494351)

I struggle with this... I know a couple of devout Christians and thwyre very nice, kind, generous people and they get a lot out of the church and the community that surrounds it, a lot of strength and support in tough times, which can only be a good thing.

However, trying to take organised reliion seriously is almost impossible. It's quite clearly ridiculous. They not only sound like fairytales but also it's very obvious (and understandable) WHY they exist (fear of death, fear of loss, fear of the unknown, a sense of belonging), which makes them even less believable, IMO.

It's like trying to keep a straight face whilst someone tells you in all sincerity that their best friend is Spiderman.

But each to their own... I suppose... so long as they're not hurting anyone (another debate, and certainly not all or even the majority of "believers" do harm) then each to their own. I personally find the whole concept as mad as a bag of frogs. And it's certainly not a "national disgrace" that the churches are seeing less attendance and support. Gone are the day's when "faith" was enforced through government, thankfully, and so keeping their flock is entirely their own responsibility. People aren't interested. It's as simple as that.


Side note on Christmas: it's true that it hasn't been a pagan festival for hundreds of years. But I'm afraid it also hasn't been a Christian one for at least three decades. You can't willingly accept the former whilst denying that the latter is also perfectly valid.

Originally Posted by Kazanne (Post 6493312)

I find churches quite comforting and peaceful.i don't get caught up in all the religious hoo ha,I have my belief which I don't force on others, so for me a church is a place to reflect and think.

Originally Posted by arista (Post 6494473)

Yes as a Disco it will have a Chill Section for you

Originally Posted by Kazanne (Post 6494479)

Stop it arista,otherwise I might have to incur the wrath of God on you:hugesmile:he IS a bigger force than you.

Originally Posted by Simple Minds (Post 6494494)

That looks like Liam Neeson Arista! :hugesmile: while I wouldn't go so far as to say he is a God I did love his narration on the new Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds :dance:

Originally Posted by Simple Minds (Post 6494484)

Which God? :hugesmile:

Zeus? Mars? Hera? Horus? Athena? Dionysius? Heket? Ra? Thor? Acan? Ah Tabai? Gukumatz? Raven?:p

Originally Posted by Simple Minds (Post 6494494)

That looks like Liam Neeson Arista! :hugesmile: while I wouldn't go so far as to say he is a God I did love his narration on the new Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds :dance:

Originally Posted by Kazanne (Post 6494500)

This one :hugesmile:

Originally Posted by Niamh. (Post 6494504)

Have you not seen Taken? :pipe:

Originally Posted by Simple Minds (Post 6494507)

I haven't, I get the feeling it's a must see :pipe:

Originally Posted by Niamh. (Post 6494510)

Yes you must, put it on your "to watch" Christmas movie list (not that it's a christmas movies but you know what I mean) you won't regret it

Originally Posted by Simple Minds (Post 6494514)

I don't want to take this thread any further than it already is off the beaten path but I just looked on amazon the blu-Ray is only 7 quid. Think I'll 'take' that :hugesmile:

Originally Posted by Kazanne (Post 6494500)

This one :hugesmile:

Originally Posted by Livia (Post 6494462)

Because taking organised religion seriously is impossible for you, that doesn't mean that the faith of religious people is wrong. Comparing God to Spiderman is typical of the smart-arse, athiestic ridicule that non-believers think they have a right to throw at people of faith.

If you have no faith, that's your thing. I'm not going to laugh at you and I'm certainly not going to try to convert you... I respect your belief. And yet, you feel free, more than that, you feel entitled to laugh at me?

I also feel quite insulted when non-believers sum up faith by saying that people follow a religion because of "fear of death, fear of loss, fear of the unknown, a sense of belonging..." You have no faith, so what would you know about why people are religious? How about if I sum up all non-believers as being too shallow to truly comprehend what faith is? That'd be really insulting and ignorant of me wouldn't it. Yet it's the same thing as you trying to sum up why I am religious without knowing the first thing about either my religion or about me.

I'm not sure how you decided that for three decades, Christmas hasn't been a Christian festival. I think the 2 billion Christians in the world might disagree with you on that point.

Originally Posted by Jesus. (Post 6494698)

I'm not saying I agree with everything that was said, but the definition of faith is to believe in something for which there is no evidence. To call someone too shallow to have that position (which I know you weren't doing) just wouldn't be an insult, because it's absurd.

Even parts of scripture that may carry truth, still carry more myth along with it. If you read a child some of the stories from the monotheistic books, then there is a huge amount of insanity in there.

To play devils advocate for a second, what is the difference between Samson killing 1000 philistines with the jawbone of a donkey, and spiderman fighting Dr. Octopus?

Originally Posted by Niall (Post 6493199)

Given the often backwards and intolerant nature of the Church, I can't say I sympathise with them. Hopefully it'll push them in the right direction of modernisation, and to re-think the issues with which they are deeply misguided. Organised religion nearly always tends to be rather toxic anyway..

Originally Posted by Kizzy (Post 6494443)

You can have that level of faith in christianity/god without the conflicting views of the church of England/ catholicism though.
The King James bible was written to control the masses, it's not working anymore.

Originally Posted by the truth (Post 6495272)

Christianity was NOT created to control the masses, if anything it rebels against the monarchies and fights the power