What about atomic explosions where they in fact split the atom?
(Or is that just a dummies way of explaining it for plods like me who wouldn't understand the actual process?)

Plus do we think that all atoms magically began existing one day? Or did they gradually become unstable and change, evolving in to many different kinds of atom, just like people? I like that idea. Perhaps I'll write a book on it!

It is fascinating to play the 'but why' game - and 'but how', and 'but what about after that'. But then in my more rational moments I think what difference does it make anyway, we can't do anything about it, best focus on the cure for cancer and world peace.

Got to admit I thought someone would ask me for more detail - I was surprised when Graham immediately said it was obvious!!

It all still exists, just converted to another form. Also if string theory is to be believed, then atoms don't really exist as a definite solid thing but more a vibration of a string. So spliting an atom doesn't really get rid of what made it 'it' but more converts it to a different frequency or form.

Ie all the energy which was grouped together in to what we call an atom, is still there but grouped differently? All the quarks and subprotons and oojimeeflips have just moved places? This is making my brain stretch!!
I should get me one of those Stephen Hawkins books...

I think (in my head at least!) that it's just the same as there being the same amount of energy in the universe as there was when it all began (however THAT was LOL) - it just changes from one form to another (the conservation of energy rule??? Going back to GCSE physics now...). Same with water - changes from clouds to rain to sea/rivers, then evapourates back to clouds - same water going round and round....

Hmm it's too early for this

Graham

Yeah - I think you are right - it was explained in the programme I saw.

Almost, more like a knot in a piece of string, if you undo the knot, the string is still exactly the same lengh, just looks and behves differently. Back to the heaven thing though. Imagine each knot is connected by some invisable force to many other knots spread around the cosmos, so when you die, all the 'knots' that made you up, still exist, exactly how they did when they were part of you, just not all together in a big bunch anymore. I like to think it's the reason you get on with some people beeter than others, or some people are more empathetic towards you, maybe you share some of the same atoms in the brain and there is an unseen bond between them.

Whoooha it's 11am on a sunday and were having an anti religion meeting, in a virtual church. Cool, the first step to man's salvation from the shackles, tyranny and oppresion from the misery that organised religion has caused.....

That's like my 'bits of your floating around' after you die, theory. I like it!
Amen to that.

Jesus you lot, bit heavy for a Sunday morn.

Lovely idea about the unseen shared bond as you share some of the same atoms - I likey

Not long ago I was reading some of the latest research on neurons, and they have discovered that for example all the famous face recognition you do is performed by 1 single solitary neuron in the brain. Not millions like they used to think, just one! To me that implies that the info and computational power needed to do face recognition can't possibly fit in one neuron and so therefor must exist elswhere. I think a neuron might be more like an aerial that taps into something else for all our higher skills, and conciousness.

This thread has had me in stitches

Personally, I think we all came from rejects from other planets ! You know Urgon the great on the Planet Zog decides that dear old John Smith isnt good enough for his super planet and zaps him down to that shitty little self destructing planet called earth on the edge of the galaxy, where he can do no harm. That would explain all the different races I think

Anyway, religion is for people who dont want to take responsibility for themselves or their nearest and dearest...................wasn't me, twas the Devil, the Devil made him do it

He'll be Right when he reaches out to the Lord

True and what amazes me is how it's possible during wars for priests to move through the ranks of soldiers, bless them and tell them they are on the right side, the good side and that god's ok with it all and on their side. Yet those same priests believe all that they do becasue of the bible, and gods number 2 commandment was 'Thou shalt not kill'. It's doesn't have a sub clause on each commandmant, like: 'Thou shalt not kill' unless it's baddies you're fighting. Or "Thou shalt not covet thou neighbours wife unless she's a bit of a looker" etc.

Absolutely, you're so right

Again this bit
"It's doesn't have a sub clause on each commandmant, like: 'Thou shalt not kill' unless it's baddies you're fighting."

Baddies

So True

It's generally accepted that a bloke called Jesus did exist - but the events of the day have been so diluted, distilled, distorted and abused that he's effectively redundant. At its core I think we can say that Jesus basically wanted everyone to get along with each other ... and not be so nasty to prossies and cripples. Radical stuff. All the rest is mumbo-jumbo - no more or less sophisticated than a 2000 year old fairy tale.

Atoms are long-lived, but not permanent - the is no exact figure, but it's probably about 10 to the power of 35 years. To quote from Bill Bryon's 'A Short History of Nearly Everything':

"Every atom you posess has almost certainly passed through several stars and been part of millions of organisms on its way to becoming you. We are each so atomically numerous and so vigorously recycled at death that a significant number of out atoms - up to a billion for each of us, it has been suggested - probably once belonged to Shakespeare. A billion more each came from Buddha and Genghis Khan and Beethoven, and any other historical figure you care to name. (The personages have to be historical, apparently, as it takes the atoms some decades to be thoroughly redistributed; however much you may wish it, you are not yet one with Elvis Presley)."

So if there is a God who invented God or where did he come from then or are we working on he was formed in that major atomic blast that started it all.