Light sensors cause religious row

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Story here.

Maybe they should just move?

Poppity -- look at Abraham's family tree

[hijack] growingup is the rev! You have been uncommonly grumpy on this thread, are you OK?[/hijack]

busted

I didn't make that connection at all! I was raised a Catholic, but my mother is CoE and was quite resistant to us being too Catholic (she signed up to us all being raised Catholic when she married my father, and I think it was a cause of contention/pain all through my childhood). I would generally say I was an aetheist, I think my brother and sister are probably more in the non-practicing agnostic/maybe Christian area, and my biggest sister is Evangelical CoE, was a vicar, and is now a chaplin. I sometimes think all the religious genes went her way (like blue eyes or CF)!

For me I just found that my religion brought me nothing, and I suddenly felt hypocritical saying words, that to me meant nothing. Knowing that they were very important to my sister and parents made it worse really. I think you either have faith, or you don't. I am sure that my sister thinks the time will come when I am saved, but I don't feel any particular need for religion. The world is an amazing wonderful place to me without feeling the need to ask "why?" after all "why not?"

ilovemydog, while looking for a family tree(link to a good one with explanations anyone?), I found this, worth reading for someone interested in understanding what you are all talking about? Or not a good example?

Nooka, your second paragraph sums it up for me, I had that hypocritical feeling too, and simply had to address it rather than go along with my parents or peers.

Ah! growingup, I have seen you on other threads

Well, I've come back on here to find it has all gone completely mad, Swedes is being sexist and totally offensive (thanks - just the sort of thing that drove me away), and I've lost track of everything.

I still don't get how I am being "rude" when the arguments on here are quite simply a lot more polite and measured than one finds on many other fora - and indeed in sections on here. You only have to look at the occasional "I'm the other woman" thread or a private schools barney to see what REAL vituperation is like.

It just does nothing to dispel the idea that the religious are just not used to having their assumptions questioned, and that they don't like it up 'em.

(I had a weekend away, btw - didn't mini-flounce or anything.)

Swedes was rather rude. But she doesn't strike me as religious. I think actually it was a believer who leapt to your defence. I think it may be someone else who doesn't like it up 'em

That wasn't aimed at Swedes specifically. This thread (not necessarily just me) has been described as rude in general, which I find surprising.

very interesting thread, and fwiw, i dont think anyone has been that rude, just an old fashioned good debate.

Yes, sorry I was rather rude. I've had multiple confrontaitons with UQD on religion threads and I find his intolerance unbearable - it completely stifles any sort of proper discussion. He is like the defender of the non faith, sitting there waiting for anyone who dares to try and explain the nature of belief.

So sorry UQD and Onager for being rude.

what is a non-believer doing on the religious threads?

That is very gracious, swedes. Perhaps in turn unquietdad might acknowledge that the comment:

"It just does nothing to dispel the idea that the religious are just not used to having their assumptions questioned, and that they don't like it up 'em."

was quite unjustified, given that it was a self-declared believer that took the trouble to defend him.

You do realise don't you, unquietdad, that you are arguing against atheists and agnostics, not just believers?

to be fair, this started as as 'In the News'

There's a lot of sound and fury on this thread.

It's interesting to see how far people think that tolerance should extend. Everyone seems to think that religious observance is fine so long as it is private and doesn't interfere.

But when other people's religious habits impinge - be it so ever slightly - on the secular majority, then it all becomes more problematic.

Poppity, it states in several places of the Bible, that Jesus had brothers and sisters. I don't have time right now to trace the quote, but there is a bit where Matthew, I think it was, tells Jesus that his brothers and sisters are asking for him.

Lucia, when I first mentioned about historicial evidence for the existence of Jesus, I thought it was you who came up with an argument that there was not. Therefore that is what I was arguing. Not as to whether Jesus was the Christ, but as to whether did he actually exist.

I do, and I've taken the trouble to explain why I am not an agnostic, further up.

As for "what is a non-believer doing on the religious threads?" I think that has been answered, but I've not found people (with one or two exceptions) objecting to atheists and agnostics posting in those areas in the past.

I cannot fathom what Swedes is on about when referring to my "intolerance". I am no more intolerant than a Labour voter of a Conservative, a fruitshooter of a non-fruitshooter, a monogamist of a swinger, a driver of a cyclist (actually the "men who don't drive" thread a few weeks before I left was hideous - showed far more intolerance and rudeness than I ever have), or a meat-eater of a veggie - or any of the other polarisations in the many other threads on here.

I can't see how asking questions which other people have acknowledged as "interesting" stifles discussion. What stifles discussion is the acceptance of religious belief at face value, which is sadly what a lot of those on the faith side want.

It's not the questions that are the problem

Give me an example of my supposed rudeness and intolerance.

UQD - the 'oy vey' comment made me wince. I do think you are a bit unbending on most subjects, but you know, that doesn't trouble me.

UQD, you can't really compare someones religious beliefs with their political beliefs or any other beliefs thay may have. someones faith is deep and powerful.

sorry, i must have missed some of your posts, you are of course entitled to express your views on the religious threads, i'm just a litle confused as to why you would.?