Originally Posted by ExKiwilass

No, that's a fundamental misunderstanding of the difference between belief and skepticism. Believers think because their worldview is based on faith, that therefore the same applies to non-believers (i.e. people who call athiesm a 'belief system'). But the two forms of thinking are quite different. Yours is based on faith in something that can never be proved by science. For many non-believers, including myself, it's not about faith in no god, it's about relying on scientific evidence to help understand the way the world works. I don't have 'faith" in science - science can be bad or bought by corporate entities. I don't have 'faith' that there is no god. Rather, I have a skeptical world view where I remain open-minded until science answers the question with evidence one way or the other. right now there is very little evidence for a God or grand planner and a huge amount of evidence (evolution) etc that is against the idea. I choose to go with the scientific method over "faith" or "belief".

believers like to kid themselves that non-believers are just like them, but we're really not, and to think so shows a misunderstanding of the scientific method. We're thinking in a completely different way to you.

Originally Posted by Steve_

There are plenty of other examples, what about internment in Northern Ireland which was plainly targeted against Catholics.

Originally Posted by ninaDGBCA

I worked in science until I had the kids and studied science and strongly believe in science and scientific prove of certain things but also that there is more to the story. A bit like "God made the big bang" I tell my kids about science and want them educated in every way and for me personally that includes faith too.

Being open minded would suggest though that you'd consider that there was a god. With you completely discharging this possibility you are very mind set on science and the prove we have thus far.

We are all different and that makes the world colourful, let's leave it at that.

Have a lovely weekend all!

Originally Posted by ultrarunner

A double entendre......

Why is that we can't all get along then?

Originally Posted by Shard

Religion.

Originally Posted by ann m

I am not religious, but I was given a grounding in basic Christianity. I got married in a church 20+ years ago. I'm not sure that I would now.

I do, however, believe in a few of those niggly fundamental principles:

I think it's great not to kill anyone.
I rather that idea about not stealing stuff.
I definitely have no plans to covet my neighbour's ox, or his wife.
I think adultery is just a shame for all concerned - sort your shit out first.

And I generally think being kind and thoughtful is a good human trait, whichever religion wants to claim that one.

I think schools should give an overview of religions. Not to actually teach or preach religion, but to teach about the various religions. It affects millions of the world's population, so some understanding of how or why people tick is a good skill. My children have barely any knowledge about any kind of religion - which is fine in some ways, but is a woefully inadequate understanding of the world around them, and the history of how it came to be this way.

Originally Posted by Shard

The fundamental principles you list are not limited to any religion, they are part of human morality. One of religion's big deceptions is to claim ownership of morality

Originally Posted by Oink

How come they know when Jesus was born but are a bit sketchy when he was crucified and came back to life? You'd of think they'd of made a note of it?

Originally Posted by KuroKuro

They don't. There's no reference to any kind of date of Jesus' birth in the Bible, let alone specifically December 25th. If anything, you can speculate that because of the shepherds that visited the stable were out in the fields tending their sheep before his birth, it was more likely to be fall than winter. Sheep would be kept under shelter in wintertime rather than let out.

It's said that Christians trying to convert Pagans to their faith were facing resistance because they still wanted to celebrate the winter solstice. So they gave them a different thing to celebrate to compromise the situation, despite the fact that there's no religious basis for it. But getting the most converts is clearly more important than telling the truth.

Originally Posted by Sally Redux

I don't think it's by any means certain that Jesus Christ even was a historical figure.

Originally Posted by Shard

My understanding is that he did exist, and was an important spiritual leader and political activist at the time, but it's the subsequent few hundred years when the Bible was put together than he gained his god-like status. (No irony intended.)

Originally Posted by Sally Redux

I don't think it's by any means certain that Jesus Christ even was a historical figure.