Things I wish I knew

[technolog]

I don't insist there isn't a god. I'd be quite happy to acknowledge his existence

Kinboshi in 'There might be a God' shocker!

 

[kinboshi]

I don't insist there isn't a god. I'd be quite happy to acknowledge his existence

Kinboshi in 'There might be a God' shocker!

 

Still waiting for that one bit of evidence that suggests he might be there...hiding.

[cambridgealex]

T

I wish I knew why anyone bothers to debate religion  
World would be a lot better place if everyone just beileved what they believed quietly.

Agree 100%.  That's faith, and that's great - everyone should be free to believe what they want.  Religion however, is about 'privilege' and if adherents to a particular religion are given privilege, that means that others must suffer as a result (zero-sum game).  A secular society is actually a lot fairer to those who want to practice whatever faith they want in their homes, in freedom.

Of course, I wouldn't dream of discussing the merits of any organised religion, it all just sounds like 'my dads bigger than your dad' to me.
What I was referring to was more the is there or isn't there question.
Now you are drawing me in, because I have to ask why you seem hell bent (excuse the pun) on proving there isn't a 'God'?
You seem more passionate about it than a lot of people I know are about there proclaimed religion!
Isn't that the same as people who insist there is?

I'm not trying to prove there isn't a god. Proving a negative is very difficult/ impossible. Why am I passionate about it? I think organised religion is responsible for a lot of wrongs in the world, and it's divisive and unhelpful. The law on abortion in Ireland, women's rights in Saudi Arabia, faith schools across the world, wars fought in the name of god are just some examples.

I'm also passionate about those who ignore the scientific method to sell their snake-oils as legitimate cures for diseases and illnesses, when they base their belief in the cures on faith and no evidence. In fact a lot know their alternative medicines don't work (much like that bloke selling the fake bomb detector), but don't care.

I don't insist there isn't a god. I'd be quite happy to acknowledge his existence, and my first question would be where has he been hiding and why?

Religion is responsible for a lot of rights and helps billions of people around the world find comfort and strength every day. Despite some of the extreme examples most people guided by a god aspire to live peacefully within a code of values which makes them better people. Think about the incredible number who pray to a god every day, most are asking for wholesome things whilst showing faith in something unproven. I’m not religious but that all seems like cool positive stuff.

Playing devil’s advocate here. That faith is a very real thing, and that strength and that comfort are very real things but they are bi-products of something which cannot be real? It’s like saying there is heat, warmth, and light but there can’t possibly be a fire. If somebody prays to god and gets strength it’s real, do we need to see an old man with a beard before we believe it so?

Finally, if you look around at all the miracles in the world from amazing nature to daily acts of kindness and human spirit I reckon god would be kinda pissed at the where have you been hiding jibe. So let us seek forgiveness now, come pray with me kinboshi, just to be on the safe side.

Nice post Mantis. Interesting debate here. I read one side and I agree completely. Then I read another side and I also agree completely with that

[kinboshi]

@Mantis - like I said, no problem at all with faith.  People should be free to believe what they want.  Just don't impose restrictions on what others do or believe, and don't expect or demand greater privilege to adherents of one faith over another.

[Acidmouse]

@Mantis - like I said, no problem at all with faith.  People should be free to believe what they want.  Just don't impose restrictions on what others do or believe, and don't expect or demand greater privilege to adherents of one faith over another.

Yep i 100% agree with this, but more and more in my life people feel the need to tell me how facts/figures and science mean i am wrong in having faith. Faith being the key word.

[kinboshi]

@Mantis - like I said, no problem at all with faith.  People should be free to believe what they want.  Just don't impose restrictions on what others do or believe, and don't expect or demand greater privilege to adherents of one faith over another.

Yep i 100% agree with this, but more and more in my life people feel the need to tell me how facts/figures and science mean i am wrong in having faith. Faith being the key word.

Don't worry if people tell you you're wrong.  Your faith means you're telling lots of others (of other faiths, or those with no faith) that they're wrong - as most faiths are mutually exclusive.  I like discussing with people why they believe in a particular faith over another, or why they think the world is as it is (through design or otherwise).

I have 'faith' or 'belief' in the scientific method, but I wouldn't say it's blind faith (so a different use of the word faith or belief).  I've seen the evidence that makes planes fly, or makes computers and phones work, and how my dad survived heart disease through a quadruple bypass and then bowel cancer through the amazing work the doctors and modern medicine did. 

It's the idea of 'religion' that is where the issue lies with me.  It's like we all may have prejudices, and that's fine, until it becomes discrimination.

[Woodsey]

 Just don't impose restrictions on what others do or believe, and don't expect or demand greater privilege to adherents of one faith over another.

Oooh, on another day with a couple of glasses of wine in me I could have a massive rant about this issue    

[MANTIS01]

@Mantis - like I said, no problem at all with faith.  People should be free to believe what they want.  Just don't impose restrictions on what others do or believe, and don't expect or demand greater privilege to adherents of one faith over another.

Religion is about interpretation. Most people are liberal and don't interpret every word in literal fashion. It sounds like your beef is with the radical interpretation of religion and are applying it to religion as a whole. That's a sweeping negative genralisation, like eg saying all muslims are terrorists.

Also conflict between religions is dumb. It's obv the same god just with a different costume on.

[kinboshi]

@Mantis - like I said, no problem at all with faith.  People should be free to believe what they want.  Just don't impose restrictions on what others do or believe, and don't expect or demand greater privilege to adherents of one faith over another.

Religion is about interpretation. Most people are liberal and don't interpret every word in literal fashion. It sounds like your beef is with the radical interpretation of religion and are applying it to religion as a whole. That's a sweeping negative genralisation, like eg saying all muslims are terrorists.

Also conflict between religions is dumb. It's obv the same god just with a different costume on.

Not just talking about radical fundamentalism, I'm talking about mainstream religion being divisive. Kids play together in the street, then they go to school - and suddenly Mo is different to Simon and his other friends from school.  Ireland is not generally considered a 'radical' nation, but religion allows priests to systematically abuse children for decades, and also infiltrates the politics of the country so that women who are raped have been denied abortions.  Religion shouldn't be involved in politics, and even 'mainstream' religion can demand religious privilege that means others' rights are impacted upon.

As for religions having conflict.  Is it dumb? Surely it's inevitable and in some ways the religions demand it as their 'god' is the one true god (or gods) and if you really believe that only adherents of your religion go to heaven (for example), then it's your duty to make others follow your god too - otherwise you're condemning them to eternal suffering.  Hence the missionaries and preachers, and even the crusades to some degree (of course they were more about power than religion for many) - get the barbarian heathens to believe and save them from eternal damnation!

[gouty]

12. How come if you make a deposit to a poker site/bookmaker with a debit card they get the money instantly but when you withdraw it always takes "3-5 working days"?

It's the debit card company that is at fault here. From the other side of the fence I can tell you it tilts the shit out of me.

Say over 7 transactions a punter does £100 on his debit card then has a winner for £200 and wants it put on his card which I oblige. He then comes up for another bet and card declines cos he only had the £100 balance he originally started with. The £200 hasn't gone on yet.

I am sure that most operators like me would prefer you all to be paid immediately as we can then begin battle again but it just does not work that way.

[david3103]

It's not just religious types that get into arguments about their beliefs...

A piece on PM tonight featured the debate over Aquatic evolution which has apparently been getting rather heated of late.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/apr/27/aquatic-ape-theory-primate-evolution

[kinboshi]

It's not just religious types that get into arguments about their beliefs...

A piece on PM tonight featured the debate over Aquatic evolution which has apparently been getting rather heated of late.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/apr/27/aquatic-ape-theory-primate-evolution

Not sure there is actually that much evidence in favour of this 'theory', based on what I've heard respected evolutionary biologists and anthropologists say.  But you're right, there's been a lot of debate by many on this - but mostly by lay-people with an interest in the subject, rather than actual experts.  There was something (also in the guardian) about this. 

Edit, found it:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/occams-corner/2013/may/07/aquatic-apes-creationism-evolution

This sums up the thrust of the article:
"One of the problems with human evolution, as opposed to, say, rocket science, is that everybody feels that their opinion has value irrespective of their prior knowledge"

Again wikipedia is a good source for the background on this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquatic_ape_hypothesis and the same for an alternative hypothesis that I think has more evidence in its favour (but is still disputed): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endurance_running_hypothesis.

[Acidmouse]

The pointless answers I just fuked up filming our two episodes for the show, fml.

[Doobs]

The pointless answers I just fuked up filming our two episodes for the show, fml.

You can't just leave it at that.  Questions please, is pointless Ricard funny in real life?   Did you know his brother was in Suede? when are you on?  Etc

[Acidmouse]

The pointless answers I just fuked up filming our two episodes for the show, fml.

You can't just leave it at that.  Questions please, is pointless Ricard funny in real life?   Did you know his brother was in Suede? when are you on?  Etc

semi final first episode, then we got to final round second episode.  Me and my mate got like 6, 3, 1 in the jackpot round. It was only for a few grand so not a huge blowout. Our downfall was Geography in first go but in the final it was Politics, name someone in the shadow cabinet from 2010. yeah gg fml. Some turd guessed with me Hilary Benn

We got a few pointless questions to boost the jackpot.

We chatted to a few producers and presenters before but tbh only small talk, guess they film 4-5 a day no real room for chat. I get email letting me know when its coming on.