[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Yeah, christmas has evolved way past its original roots I think. Barely anyone sees it as a religious thing nowadays

You ever been to Church at Christmas Vicky? Easter and Christmas the places are heaving.

[MTVN]

I went to Church for the first time this Christmas in ages and there was barely anyone there lol, was really surprised, it is only a tiny village but I expected a good number of villagers there, must be practically dead on a normal Sunday

[GypsyGoth]

You were probably at the wrong church.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by MTVN

I went to Church for the first time this Christmas in ages and there was barely anyone there lol, was really surprised, it is only a tiny village but I expected a good number of villagers there, must be practically dead on a normal Sunday

Catholic Church?

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Cherie

You ever been to Church at Christmas Vicky? Easter and Christmas the places are heaving.

And if they did not sing carols no one would go.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

And if they did not sing carols no one would go.

No carols at Easter.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Cherie

No carols at Easter.

Yes and hardly anyone goes apart from the regulars. The fact that Easter is a moveable feast does not help also. Easter in the UK is easter eggs and not religion. Fact.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Yes and hardly anyone goes apart from the regulars. The fact that Easter is a moveable feast does not help also. Easter in the UK is easter eggs and not religion. Fact.

As I said above Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday, Catholic Churchs are heaving, why people go is up to them, just saying, if you don't go you can't possibly know what you are talking about.

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by GypsyGoth

You were probably at the wrong church.

Hmm I suppose I was pretty drunk at the time

Originally Posted by Cherie

Catholic Church?

Nah it was CoE

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Cherie

As I said above Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday, Catholic Churchs are heaving, why people go is up to them, just saying, if you don't go you can't possibly know what you are talking about.

I have been to churches through all major festivals and I also am aware of Christian church attendances in the UK and how they have performed over the last 20 years

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/11297461

Its a quickly dying superstition thankfully

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

I have been to churches through all major festivals and I also am aware of Christian church attendances in the UK and how they have performed over the last 20 years

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/11297461

Its a quickly dying superstition thankfully

well bully for you and your BBC News link. Catholics who never see the inside of a church from one end of the year to the other make the effort at Christmas and Easter, they also make the effort when they want to get their kids into the local Catholic school, in the main it has nothing to do with religion, more to do with tradition and past family values.

[Josy]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Yes and hardly anyone goes apart from the regulars. The fact that Easter is a moveable feast does not help also. Easter in the UK is easter eggs and not religion. Fact.

The Catholic Church is mobbed on Easter Sunday. so no it isn't a fact just because you have witnessed the people in one Church.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Josy

The Catholic Church is mobbed on Easter Sunday. so no it isn't a fact just because you have witnessed the people in one Church.

The figures speak for themselves - its a dying superstition apart from in countries where basic education is sadly lacking.

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

The figures speak for themselves - its a dying superstition apart from in countries where basic education is sadly lacking.

It's not superstition for a lot of people.

[Z]

I'm not of a religion but I don't really see why people bother pissing on others' religious beliefs, it has nothing to do with me and I don't understand it any more than religious people understand what it's like to have been brought up without a religion. If it makes someone happy and brings structure, positivity and teaches them to be kind to others then I'm all for people being religious, as long as they're not in my face with their religion trying to press their views on me. By the same token, I don't push my lack of religious beliefs in anyone's face. It's just common decency.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

It's not superstition for a lot of people.

If they chose not to see it as such then that is their prerogative but it is a superstition based on wishful thinking. There is no evidence to support any other likelihood.

[Kizzy]

Being fabulous...but it comes so naturally I can see me failing.

[Z]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

If they chose not to see it as such then that is their prerogative but it is a superstition based on wishful thinking. There is no evidence to support any other likelihood.

I often think that modern understandings of science is God. God is often a representation of what the human mind cannot understand; the rapid developments in scientific understanding over the last few centuries are filling the gaps in knowledge that humans did not have years ago. Quite why people insist on separating the two or pitting them against each other I don't know. I think it's offensive to call it superstition or wishful thinking; the vast majority of the world's population believes in some form of religion and while that doesn't make them any more or less right than people who don't believe in religion, I do think we should respect that billions of people find solace in their religion of choice. Religion has been responsible for a great deal of art and culture and has defined mankind for centuries, to disregard all of that as nonsense is a bit flippant and disrespectful. I say that as somebody who is not of a religion. It doesn't make my life any better or worse to just respect other peoples' right to believe in their religion without having their views mocked.

[Jessica.]

Nope, I'm not religious but I think Lent has a nice message and I have participated in the past, but people have a skewed view on Lent anyway, it's not just about giving things up, you could take something on instead, like walking to work instead of driving or something like that, for younger kids it could be helping more with housework, it's a bit silly to just be like "I wont have any biscuits for the next 40 days and 40 nights! :B"

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Zee

I'm not of a religion but I don't really see why people bother pissing on others' religious beliefs, it has nothing to do with me and I don't understand it any more than religious people understand what it's like to have been brought up without a religion. If it makes someone happy and brings structure, positivity and teaches them to be kind to others then I'm all for people being religious, as long as they're not in my face with their religion trying to press their views on me. By the same token, I don't push my lack of religious beliefs in anyone's face. It's just common decency.

The fact that we have religious schools filling childrens heads with utter crap and that grown men who mutter to invisible gods thinking it will help them are in the House of Lords (and getting paid for it) means that its a very big issue. No one cares that people believe that harry Potter is real or that the Loch Ness Monster exists but they would if it were taught as fact at schools etc.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Zee

I often think that modern understandings of science is God. God is often a representation of what the human mind cannot understand; the rapid developments in scientific understanding over the last few centuries are filling the gaps in knowledge that humans did not have years ago. Quite why people insist on separating the two or pitting them against each other I don't know. I think it's offensive to call it superstition or wishful thinking; the vast majority of the world's population believes in some form of religion and while that doesn't make them any more or less right than people who don't believe in religion, I do think we should respect that billions of people find solace in their religion of choice. Religion has been responsible for a great deal of art and culture and has defined mankind for centuries, to disregard all of that as nonsense is a bit flippant and disrespectful. I say that as somebody who is not of a religion. It doesn't make my life any better or worse to just respect other peoples' right to believe in their religion without having their views mocked.

face facts millions of people do so because they are effectively brainwashed by their parents and elders and the fact that millions are very poorly educated. Go into any highly religious society and they will also be highly superstitious.

The people that you speak of would find greater solace in a proper education and the ability to appreciate the true wonder of the world through a scientific education.

[Me. I Am Salman]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

The figures speak for themselves - its a dying superstition apart from in countries where basic education is sadly lacking.

Why do you try so hard to be obnoxious? Atheists are too quick to dismiss religion as superstition and its believers as having no logic. I know in Islam that religious figures and scholars are extremely well educated, more so than you will ever be

I believe in the Qur'an because it's just so amazingly and intricately written, addresses so much about the nature of life, explains science including things which were not discovered at the time. When I read it I really can't comprehend there being no truth to it, it's just too elaborate to be written by man. The Bible and Torah(?) are vastly similar as all it really is is a different interpretation of the same belief

I bet you haven't even picked up and read a Qur'an/Bible/Torah and dismissing all religions just because you don't like them. Biggest get out of jail free card going

[Livia]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

face facts millions of people do so because they are effectively brainwashed by their parents and elders and the fact that millions are very poorly educated. Go into any highly religious society and they will also be highly superstitious.

The people that you speak of would find greater solace in a proper education and the ability to appreciate the true wonder of the world through a scientific education.

Hmmm... I've had a proper education. Also, I have a cousin who's a very successful physicist and also devout, in fact much more devout that I. I get a little peeved when Atheists lump everyone together: Believe in God/idiot... Don't believe in God/thinker.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Livia

Hmmm... I've had a proper education. Also, I have a cousin who's a very successful physicist and also devout, in fact much more devout that I. I get a little peeved when Atheists lump everyone together: Believe in God/idiot... Don't believe in God/thinker.

There are exceptions but I am talking about big number in SOuth America and Africa.

I also very much doubt that educated people truly believe, I think you can enjoy the tradition and also weigh up the outcome of rejecting it and come to a happy medium of going along for the ride without buying the car, so to speak.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Salman!

Why do you try so hard to be obnoxious? Atheists are too quick to dismiss religion as superstition and its believers as having no logic. I know in Islam that religious figures and scholars are extremely well educated, more so than you will ever be

I believe in the Qur'an because it's just so amazingly and intricately written, addresses so much about the nature of life, explains science including things which were not discovered at the time. When I read it I really can't comprehend there being no truth to it, it's just too elaborate to be written by man. The Bible and Torah(?) are vastly similar as all it really is is a different interpretation of the same belief

I bet you haven't even picked up and read a Qur'an/Bible/Torah and dismissing all religions just because you don't like them. Biggest get out of jail free card going

We are all Atheists