Re: Religion's influence in the UK : Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:58 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

You're missing a fundamental point. usually, both sides pray to God, and he's such a mischievous monkey, he tells 'em both to get stuck in, as God Is On Their Side. Presumably, having lit the blue fuse paper, he then retires and watches from a safe distance.

I'd have thought he'd be too busy watching everyone have sex and making sure they're using the pre-approved holes to be getting involved in any of that nonsense. Maybe he delegates the voyeurism to Jesus.

Re: Religion's influence in the UK : Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:01 pm  

Kosh wrote:

With a large bucket of popcorn and a six-pack.

Yeah, I've heard God is quite ripped.

Ah, is that my coat?

Re: Religion's influence in the UK : Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:09 pm  

I might be going out on a limb here, but I don't think Rock God X believes in God.

Re: Religion's influence in the UK : Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:10 pm  

peggy wrote: As Mintball states -some people have a religious belief – and are perfectly entitled to do so. But you do pose a rather interesting point, I once prayed to God to save my younger brother, he was a bad lad on the way to oblivion, at the age of ten he was selling glue in the school playground. Stealing money from home, setting places on fire etc. I told God that if he saved my brother he could anything to me, he could even take my life whenever he wanted. My brother led a happy life, successful and trouble free life. Gods work? Two years ago today I lay in Hull Intensive Care Unit with a fifty fifty chance of surviving the night and if I did survive I would never walk again. The resident priest, vicar or whatever came to my bed and asked me if I wanted him to say a prayer and make my peace with God. I was surprised to hear myself say yes, he prayed at my bed for what seemed at the time like hours. Today I am driving to the gym, swimming, sauna and a walk round town doing a bit of shopping. Gods work? I don’t really think so but when people are in times of desperation, confusion and fear is it any wonder they put their faith in “The Almighty” their intangible last hope? My brain tells me that is all a set of folk stories and a way of controlling the people. My heart is confused. Last year I went to a talk at my local "Skeptics in the pub" by Matt Parker which, was on the topic of how seemingly incredible results can actually be meaningless random patterns. An example IIRC, was of a young woman who was showing some childhood photographs of herself at disney world to her fiance when, he saw himself as a child standing quite close by in the same photo. To draw a parallel with your own situation, from the individual's perspective it seems miraculous but with six plus billion people in the world, it's not supprising that such events happen to someone somewhere.

peggy wrote: As Mintball states -some people have a religious belief – and are perfectly entitled to do so. But you do pose a rather interesting point, I once prayed to God to save my younger brother, he was a bad lad on the way to oblivion, at the age of ten he was selling glue in the school playground. Stealing money from home, setting places on fire etc. I told God that if he saved my brother he could anything to me, he could even take my life whenever he wanted. My brother led a happy life, successful and trouble free life. Gods work? Two years ago today I lay in Hull Intensive Care Unit with a fifty fifty chance of surviving the night and if I did survive I would never walk again. The resident priest, vicar or whatever came to my bed and asked me if I wanted him to say a prayer and make my peace with God. I was surprised to hear myself say yes, he prayed at my bed for what seemed at the time like hours. Today I am driving to the gym, swimming, sauna and a walk round town doing a bit of shopping. Gods work? I don’t really think so but when people are in times of desperation, confusion and fear is it any wonder they put their faith in “The Almighty” their intangible last hope? My brain tells me that is all a set of folk stories and a way of controlling the people. My heart is confused. Last year I went to a talk at my local "Skeptics in the pub" by Matt Parker which, was on the topic of how seemingly incredible results can actually be meaningless random patterns. An example IIRC, was of a young woman who was showing some childhood photographs of herself at disney world to her fiance when, he saw himself as a child standing quite close by in the same photo. To draw a parallel with your own situation, from the individual's perspective it seems miraculous but with six plus billion people in the world, it's not supprising that such events happen to someone somewhere.

Re: Religion's influence in the UK : Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:16 pm  

Sandra The Terrorist wrote:

I might be going out on a limb here, but I don't think Rock God X believes in God.

I do. Zeus is the only true God - all others are false idols.

Re: Religion's influence in the UK : Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:21 pm  

Rock God X wrote:

I do. Zeus is the only true God - all others are false idols.

No way!

Thor!

Re: Religion's influence in the UK : Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:24 pm  

When I was a kid I spent years praying for a new bike without my prayers being answered. So I went and nicked a bike and prayed for forgiveness, that worked

Re: Religion's influence in the UK : Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:28 pm  

Mintball wrote:

No way!

Thor!

Pah! Zeus sh!ts on Thor!

Zeus had more powers than anyone. Zeus could throw his voice, and sound like anybody. He could shape shift, and look like anybody. In fact, he was so good at shape shifting that he could shape shift into the form of an animal. He could throw lightning bolts. His horse, Pegasus, carried his lightning bolts for him.

Zeus had a quick temper, a big sense of humor, and lots of girlfriends.

I don't think Thor is even immortal, is he? I can't check, because Wikipedia is down today.

Re: Religion's influence in the UK : Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:31 pm  

When schizophrenics kill people and tell the Police God told me to do what's the difference to when a President/Prime Minister kills thousands and tells the world God told me to do it?

Re: Religion's influence in the UK : Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:32 pm  

Rock God X wrote:

I don't think Thor is even immortal, is he? I can't check, because Wikipedia is down today.

That's a Thor point...