Quote: sootyj @ January 6 2012, 4:23 PM GMTHow do you know other creatures don't have religion?
Praying Mantis?
Why do people believe in God(s)? Page 4
Pope Tiger.
Quote: Leevil @ January 6 2012, 4:12 PM GMTWell before that it was "attractive". When you do that science talk it goes up to "very".
Wait til you hear my understanding of quantum theory 
Quote: Timbo @ January 6 2012, 4:20 PM GMTBelieving in God is an entirely logical position. The prospect of an afterlife acts as a consolation, and if you are wrong you stand to lose nothing, while if you are right you get clouds and harps and shit. The poor old atheist does not even get the satisfaction of saying, "I told you so."
Sadly God would see the truth in your heart and know you were just taking out an insurance policy.
Always remember a Viz letter arguing for God:
Of course there is a god, who else would be rewarding me with bright flashing lights in my head after telling me to kill whores.
Quote: sootyj @ January 6 2012, 4:21 PM GMTI mean ignorance as in the generalisation that you chose to base your rambling screed.
Ignorance is saying religion is about avoding hell and gaining heaven. Which hasn't been part of any realistic mainstream theology in actually centuries.
This is what I have been lead to believe whilst taught at a Christian school, where we would do Christian things and be all Christian n that. It's fair to say we didn't go very deep with religious teachings but from what I learned it was about being kind to your fellow man, except homosexuals and the like, and do not be mean about God. Love him as you love your Mum and other peeps you know. That is as far as my understand goes beyond real historical facts. I can't imagine what else anyone would gain from religion apart from a few basic common sense rules about living in a society. My thread, albeit a lighthearted one intended to find out what other people thought, what else a religion could be apart from a set of rules and men in the sky with big beards.
Quote: Leevil @ January 6 2012, 3:18 PM GMTI put my faith into the Doctors when I take a drug. I haven't researched the drug myself, much in the same way I haven't researched the bible when I question a religious person about it. But it's all faith in the mighty science!
It's not really "faith" in the same sense, is it.
When you put your faith in a doctor, you're subconsciously processing evidence. People go to doctors, they get better. Your brain has seen it happen. You've taken pills, you've got better.
Religious people have faith despite the evidence. If they think about it at all they have to disregard evidence in order to support their views.
Well then tread lightly.
A Christian school that hated homosexuals? How old are you? How dodgy was this school?
Woot! This debate is descending into the 'handbags of the righteous' and is akin to reading comments on You Tube videos.
Let's try and keep this good natured, by Vectron's Kindly Claw.
Quote: sootyj @ January 6 2012, 4:14 PM GMTYes a few religious sects do fanatically believe all their texts are entirely accurate, that it's all like gaining merit badges to go to heaven and avoid hell.
Without the sacred texts it's just a big game of Chinese whispers, carried out over thousands of years.
Quote: Timbo @ January 6 2012, 4:26 PM GMT*zooo and AJGO depart thread to form otter-worshipping cult*
As you can see from above picture of dearly beloved Otters (note use of capital 'O' from this point forward, the day which shall be renamed Otterday (all other periods of 24 hours shall be known henceforth as otherdays)) the Otters signify both the cute, fluffy aspects of the human character as well as the grumpy, put-me-the-bloodyhell-back-down side of our natures. Please note that collective nouns for Otters include 'bevy' and 'romp' and acceptance of the cult shall be assumed should anyone use these words in reference to zooo, AJGO, or Otters.
I dunno some very interesting groups like the Quakers pray almost entirely in silence. And at the heart of Catholic theology is to use the teachings to explore your own inner spiritual space.
The scriptures are in most religions little more than markers on a map.
Quote: Kevin Murphy @ January 6 2012, 4:31 PM GMTIt's not really "faith" in the same sense, is it.
When you put your faith in a doctor, you're subconsciously processing evidence. People go to doctors, they get better. Your brain has seen it happen. You've taken pills, you've got better.
Religious people have faith despite the evidence. If they think about it at all they have to disregard evidence in order to support their views.
S'ok, this wrong use of the word "Faith" has already been noted.
nb with medicine there's still huge amounts of faith.
Double blinds can only explain one particular effect.
Rarely spot side effects. And in the case of modern antipsychotics and antidepressants which utterly transofrmed psyhiatry from a philosophy to a science.
There's no real understnading into how and why they work.
Quote: AJGO @ January 6 2012, 4:37 PM GMTAs you can see from above picture of dearly beloved Otters (note use of capital 'O' from this point forward, the day which shall be renamed Otterday (all other periods of 24 hours shall be known henceforth as otherdays)) the Otters signify both the cute, fluffy aspects of the human character as well as the grumpy, put-me-the-bloodyhell-back-down side of our natures. Please note that collective nouns for Otters include 'bevy' and 'romp' and acceptance of the cult shall be assumed should anyone use these words in reference to zooo, AJGO, or Otters.
Happy Otterday!
*eats a raw fish in celebration*
Quote: sootyj @ January 6 2012, 4:42 PM GMTThere's no real understnading into how and why they work.
God makes them work. With his magics.
Quote: zooo @ January 6 2012, 4:44 PM GMTHappy Otterday!
*eats a raw fish in celebration*
Happy Otterday! *Waves her hands in the air like she's escaping from a bear*