General Chat

I think we all need to relearn the art of laughing at ourselves. PC has changed that. Laughing at our imperfections is human but we are so careful these days.
Sue

Too true, Dermot :o)

It is a test of a good religion whether you can joke about it. (G K Chesterton.)

Uggers, 'Life of Brian' is an incredibly funny and uplifting film, and even the deeply religious are allowed a sense of humour!!! In my opinion, if a person can't sometimes see the funny side of some of their beliefs - or non-belief come to that - they're well on the way to becoming a fundamentalist!!...............................



And boring with it! LOL

As a child I was taught by my parents that I should respect other people’s beliefs, belongings & never make another person feel bad about themselves. We were taught right from wrong. The Victorian term would be ‘God Fearing’, but I like to think of it as a blueprint to social living.

I have as everyone else has ,,,,the right to verbal any religious teachings of any faith ,,but

I do """not""" have a right to verbal those who follow those teachings,...


many many dont like knock at the door religious callers,,,many many turn them away --- go on admit it,!!,---,,its not the caller thats dislked ,,but for the religion,,,,,,its the religious teachings of that faith thats not agreed with,,,,,not the beliver,,

It's a difficult thing imo. I have beliefs in lots of things and some of them are stronger than others. Some of them are logical and others barely explicable. I have a religion but find Life of Brian one of the funniest things ever and that mocks some of my beliefs....so I suppose what makes the difference to me is how beliefs are mocked and whether it's between friends, for humour's sake, whether there's malicious intent and so on.

Lol Maggie,

TOR I believe mocking anyones beliefs represents a deep sense of self loathing and mistrust. We cannot all respect what others believe, me included, but we can agree to not mock.

Caz x

This is an interesting debate and I hope it doesn't deteriorate into a squabble.

There are a couple of points from Michael's posting with which I feel I disagree to a certain extent.

Firstly science deals with theories. It never says things are proven since it can never prove that something doesn't exist or hasn't happened somewhere. A theory is a set of observations which have not been disproved.
Our observations are based on our own perceptions of the universe. Even what we have discovered often flies in the face of common sense. Objects which are solid in our world are mostly empty space at the subatomic level. Quantum mechanics deal all the time with the weird and totally unlikely.

Therefore logically I cannot say that there is no spiritual realm. I am not personally aware of it on a daily basis (though I have had what I feel may be spiritual experiences) but that does not preclude there being people with perceptions I do not possess.

Secondly I feel politics is a vitally important subject and should be understood by more people. It is the method by which humans conduct their lives at local, national and international levels. If people opt out of taking part then we leave ourselves open to being led by dictatorships and oligarchies.

I do agree that education is a very important thing and should be a lifelong process. My own education has led me to rather different conclusions and beliefs.

Sue

I think I know the blog TOR is referring to. If it's the same one, this person isn't just mocking a person's faith belief, they are mocking the people who hold those beliefs in a rather crude and viscious manner.

To decry a person/set of people in the way this blogger is doing is rather reminiscent of the way negroes were/are viewed by the Klu Klux Klan, ie 'We're white and superior to you, and we can say what we like' - even though the majority of society finds their argument sadly lacking as is their sense of humanity and ....well....just sense!!! No logic to what they say or why they say it - they just feel they have the 'right' to lynch someone of a different colour. Likewise this blogger feels they have the right to metaphorically lynch anyone who subscribes to a belief system - they don't and think they are superior.
Which, if you take it further means they belong to a belief system that puts them in the group of 'superior' people who go round with their heads up their own backsides because that's as far as they can see of the outside world!!


I'll take me medication now LOL

maggie

I have beliefs that can't be explained.... they aren't religious as such but people still ridicule them.... I just think its ignorance or lack of understanding on their part as I am sure they believe in things I don't and I don't ridicule them!!!

I treat people how I want to be treated and if they are rude to me then I blank them in future

SIMPLE AS THAT!

Michael - you've hit the nail on its head.

We are all 'human' with accompanying frailties - 7 days a week. It's been like this since Adam & Eve eat the apple & did other things too. So, it turned out that the Garden of Eaden wasn't all it was supposed to be.

You reached the correct conclusion,but don't say how you came to it,was it logic,experience of observation,or perhaps the way religious people attempt to influence the gullible,the weak & vulnerable?
I too was indoctrinated by religion at a young age,thankfully I am & always have been, an extremely logical thinker.
I do not consider myself an "Atheist",rather I am 100% agnostic,not because I think there is a spiritual dimension,on the contrary,I KNOW there isn't,that's not arrogance,it is simply logical.
I am also reinforced in my views,thanks to the scientific,technological advances in astronomy & cosmology,I simply do not need to believe that some supranatural creator pulled the switch that began it all.
In my opinion,religion is just like politics or historically like royalty,with it's connotations of class superiority, it's all about CONTROL,of wolves leading the unthinking & compliant sheep.
Eaxactly how many of you are servile & subservient to those who consider themselves your superiors?
How many of you for instance would bow or curtsy before any of the royal family,rather than stand with chin up looking them in the eye,even if you would want to shake their hand?
I hold my own belief & that is in myself,I don't need drugs of any kind,my head is clear every day , no matter how I feel,even though near retirement.
Do not waste time on religion or politics,educate yourself,try visiting various websites like NASA,Chandra,Spitzer,CERN learn about the Big Bang theory,Black Holes etc, we are after all is said,nothing more than nuclear waste that has evolved with the right conditions to the point of life,however temporary it may exist here on earth,you will learn that life is possible virtually anywhere,even if not ready to switch into activity.
That is the real marvel of the universe,that it has produced life which is capable seeing,hearing,smelling & reasoning about it's origins,it's current place & the future of the universe itself.
Train yourself to think outside of the box,think freely,it is like a drug that produces a 'high' of fresh air for the brain,you will find that religion has no place for you.
Religious people do NOT have a monopoly on altruism,on the contrary,many believers go to church one day a week,then practice the vices the other six days.

Forgot to mention......my son wasnt christened/baptised until he was 14yrs old as I didnt believe in pushing my beliefs on him! He knew I attended our local spiritualist church on a regular basis but decided himself what denomnation he wanted to be.... and by the way he decided he wanted to be C of E!!

Bev x

A converted cannibal is one who, on Fridays, eats only fishermen & chips.

I believe in God, I believe there is something more to life than this!

I am a spiritualist and proud of the fact but I would never preach or push my beliefs on someone else!

Due to certain experiences that are private to me I am utterly convinced that our loved ones never leave us and are there for guidance and simply to look out for us!

I once got asked to leave a church for my beliefs because it went against what that particular church believed in!!

I also believe that there must be life on other planets.......why should we, out of the entire solar system, be the only planet with life on it?? But hey thats what I believe....I wouldnt ram it down anothers throat!!

Bev xx

As Tor particularly referred to religious beliefs i will speak about those.

I think you can respect a person's right to follow certain beliefs, respect their right to have those beliefs, respect their religion if you like and therefore respect them. but that doesn't mean you are saying you agree with their beliefs.

I was brought up a Baptist and I still consider myself to have the beliefs of that religion although as I have got older I can see that there is no need to be as narrow minded as my parents were.. One of my friends is a Roman Catholic, pretty far from the Baptist beliefs but we respect each other's beliefs and would not try to change them. Neither of my children go to church but they are both good people and I respect their right not to follow my religion. Son's wife is C of E and a Christian, son respects her beliefs while not following them himself.

ann
Glos

Yes, i know. That's why i asked if the respect the person not the belief was limited to religion alone or extended to other belief systems as well. (my post 12.06, page 1)
By asking that i was indicating that i realised it was veering off the topic of faith but thank you for pointing it out in case i was unaware.
xx

well as for me ..yes i believe in god...my choice ...but if theres one thing i hate is having it rammed down my throat.i can see both sides.believers and non believers .not a problem .but for me i supose it depends which way you look at it.anyway off for me tea.xx

Unsub522

This was about faith beliefs, not beliefs of some people that what they are doing is right.

Mo