Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[kinboshi]

Religion is based on faith so if god was to show indisputable evidence faith would no longer exist. If I were god I wouldn't see the motivation in obliterating the concept of faith to appear on earth and go...ta dah!

Also I don't know why people expect god to keep popping up and intervening in our affairs all the time. If you create something that's free and you create people with a free mind then you leave them alone to exist freely and make their own choices. If he jumped in every time there was a war people would be just puppets on a string with god controlling what happens at every turn. And that would be like god playing with plasticine.

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

- Epicurus [341–270 B.C.]

You mention him "popping up and intervening in our affairs all the time" - well, we're not talking about all the time, how about the once?

[MANTIS01]

Religion is based on faith so if god was to show indisputable evidence faith would no longer exist. If I were god I wouldn't see the motivation in obliterating the concept of faith to appear on earth and go...ta dah!

Also I don't know why people expect god to keep popping up and intervening in our affairs all the time. If you create something that's free and you create people with a free mind then you leave them alone to exist freely and make their own choices. If he jumped in every time there was a war people would be just puppets on a string with god controlling what happens at every turn. And that would be like god playing with plasticine.

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

- Epicurus [341–270 B.C.]

You mention him "popping up and intervening in our affairs all the time" - well, we're not talking about all the time, how about the once?

Jesus?

[kinboshi]

Religion is based on faith so if god was to show indisputable evidence faith would no longer exist. If I were god I wouldn't see the motivation in obliterating the concept of faith to appear on earth and go...ta dah!

Also I don't know why people expect god to keep popping up and intervening in our affairs all the time. If you create something that's free and you create people with a free mind then you leave them alone to exist freely and make their own choices. If he jumped in every time there was a war people would be just puppets on a string with god controlling what happens at every turn. And that would be like god playing with plasticine.

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

- Epicurus [341–270 B.C.]

You mention him "popping up and intervening in our affairs all the time" - well, we're not talking about all the time, how about the once?

Jesus?

What?

[david3103]

Religion is based on faith so if god was to show indisputable evidence faith would no longer exist. If I were god I wouldn't see the motivation in obliterating the concept of faith to appear on earth and go...ta dah!

Also I don't know why people expect god to keep popping up and intervening in our affairs all the time. If you create something that's free and you create people with a free mind then you leave them alone to exist freely and make their own choices. If he jumped in every time there was a war people would be just puppets on a string with god controlling what happens at every turn. And that would be like god playing with plasticine.

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

- Epicurus [341–270 B.C.]

You mention him "popping up and intervening in our affairs all the time" - well, we're not talking about all the time, how about the once?

Jesus?

What?

John 3:16

[kinboshi]

Religion is based on faith so if god was to show indisputable evidence faith would no longer exist. If I were god I wouldn't see the motivation in obliterating the concept of faith to appear on earth and go...ta dah!

Also I don't know why people expect god to keep popping up and intervening in our affairs all the time. If you create something that's free and you create people with a free mind then you leave them alone to exist freely and make their own choices. If he jumped in every time there was a war people would be just puppets on a string with god controlling what happens at every turn. And that would be like god playing with plasticine.

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

- Epicurus [341–270 B.C.]

You mention him "popping up and intervening in our affairs all the time" - well, we're not talking about all the time, how about the once?

Jesus?

What?

John 3:16

If we're quoting the bible, let's quote the passages where god commands men to commit genocide:

Deuteronomy 2:34

Deuteronomy 7:2

Joshua 10:40

1 Samuel 15:2-3

Deuteronomy 3:6


He's a hoot, isn't he?  Oh, but god didn't really say those things.  Yeah, and Jesus wasn't really god's son...

[millidonk]

Only passage you need to know: Ezekiel 25:17

Blessed is he who in the name of charity and goodwill shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee. Motherfucka.

[Tal]

As fun as winding up kinboshi on this subject is, it's only going to descend into unpleasantness.

[millidonk]

As fun as winding up kinboshi on this subject is, it's only going to descend into unpleasantness.

I actually agree.

Pics of van please!

[david3103]

Say what you like about faith and God and the belief system you choose to adopt, I know this for certain.
My Dad's belief in God and his adherence to the Christian church meant that he ended his days on this earth in calm and peaceful fashion.
He subscribed strongly to the idea that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us and his impact on the lives of those around him will be remembered for many years.

RIP William

[kinboshi]

Say what you like about faith and God and the belief system you choose to adopt, I know this for certain.
My Dad's belief in God and his adherence to the Christian church meant that he ended his days on this earth in calm and peaceful fashion.
He subscribed strongly to the idea that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us and his impact on the lives of those around him will be remembered for many years.

RIP William

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule - it's not a uniquely Christian maxim, and one that many humanists adhere too.

I'm happy that his faith made him happy, and I'm happy that he was allowed to practice the faith he wanted. He can't have been that bad a fella, as his son's a decent bloke.

[kinboshi]

For a change of subject:  http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=61512.0

Tom, any regrets?

[Redsgirl]

Do you know, I really do learn such a lot from the good people of the Blonde forum.
Today I have learned the word agnostic, which I am delighted with as previously I was like Mr Huxley, 'without a rag of a label to cover myself with.'

As millidonk says, it may be a bit of a namby pamby, on the fence option, but if that's how you feel what else do you do?

There's no point me flatly denying the existence of God/Gods because to me everthing know and are still learning about life and the universe is so incredible, so improbable, that I have difficulty ruling anything out completely.
On the other hand I cant say 'yes I believe' because that would be a lie, I know that, and if there is a God he'd know that too.

I frequently make this point to people who insist I must be 'saved', 'Come to church' they say, 'Offer yourself to the Lord and he will touch your heart'
So I have. On many occasions. I've been to C of E, Catholic, Born again christian and Hindu services.
I've joined in with the prayers and the singing and slightly strange rituals as wholeheartedly as I could, but I still find myself thinking 'this is all very nice but you cant be serious, can you?'

Nowadays, I mostly keep my thoughts to myself. I try not to influence my children in any way,
I don't intentionally blaspheme and try not to do anything else to offend people beliefs (although to be honest I'm rarely offered the same courtesy)
I do like discussing my opinions with people who can be subjective about the matter, but THAT doesn't happen often!

[kinboshi]

"I don't intentionally blaspheme and try not to do anything else to offend people beliefs"

[kinboshi]

More interesting is this extract from Fry accompanied by the brilliant Hitchens:

[RED-DOG]

Do you know, I really do learn such a lot from the good people of the Blonde forum.
Today I have learned the word agnostic, which I am delighted with as previously I was like Mr Huxley, 'without a rag of a label to cover myself with.'

As millidonk says, it may be a bit of a namby pamby, on the fence option, but if that's how you feel what else do you do?

There's no point me flatly denying the existence of God/Gods because to me everthing know and are still learning about life and the universe is so incredible, so improbable, that I have difficulty ruling anything out completely.
On the other hand I cant say 'yes I believe' because that would be a lie, I know that, and if there is a God he'd know that too.

I frequently make this point to people who insist I must be 'saved', 'Come to church' they say, 'Offer yourself to the Lord and he will touch your heart'
So I have. On many occasions. I've been to C of E, Catholic, Born again christian and Hindu services.
I've joined in with the prayers and the singing and slightly strange rituals as wholeheartedly as I could, but I still find myself thinking 'this is all very nice but you cant be serious, can you?'

Nowadays, I mostly keep my thoughts to myself. I try not to influence my children in any way,
I don't intentionally blaspheme and try not to do anything else to offend people beliefs (although to be honest I'm rarely offered the same courtesy)
I do like discussing my opinions with people who can be subjective about the matter, but THAT doesn't happen often!

My goodness! She's so grown up.