Do you believe in god?

[Unicorndreams24]

i have recently been thinking a lot about religion and wondering how many believe in god and also what made you come to the decision of believing?

Apologies, I’m not always quick at responding as I am juggling a full-time job and children and a few other things like volunteering roles and a long commute. So I try to reply when I’m breastfeeding my youngest when I can, I do apologise!

Yes!

People that cannot accept that we don’t know how the universe was created are so afraid of the unknown that they wishfully believe in a god, whether they’re scientists or not.

I’ve not seen ANY helpful evidence for the existence of any god. And I am open minded and listening for any clues!

People can hold a belief but they don’t have proof.

I hear this. But in general non-belief is benign.
Belief has a very poor track record when it comes to peace and kindness. It is divisive and, in some of it's manifestations, cruel.

Don't apologise 😊 The beauty of a forum is that you can choose your pace.

I wanted to post this article by Andrew May which is a overview of where science is at with the Big Bang theory. The article is about current scientific thought. The most legitimate argument today is for the Big Bang theory and cosmic inflation theory working together in science with Creationism. You can download these articles to read later.

This article is interesting, it has not got stats and data in it, but they make the argument that more women are being involved in the Christian faith. The link I posted after you download the report where it came from for free. It is a long thread and I am sorry if this evidence was posted earlier.

Women are joining the quiet revival too
https://www.premierchristianity.com/columnists/women-are-joining-the-quiet-revival-too/20310.article

The link below is where you can read the report on the quiet revival in the Christian faith.
https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/research/quiet-revival

Given what is happening in the US with young men who profess Christian faith, I am not convinced this is a positive development. The last thing we want here is that kind of Christian nationalism.

I would like to see a breakdown of increased religious adherence across all faiths, not just Christianity. Gen Z does seem to be leaning more towards faith, but I doubt Christianity is the only faith to benefit. A lot of the young women I know have chosen paganism.

Can you zoom into the bit about creationism, and post that on its own ?

Is it this Andrew May ?

Andrew May (andrew-may.com)

Oh, bless him, he writes for UFO magazines 👽 He sounds a very engaging character - lively interest in a range of topics, open mind and an actual sense of humour! It'd be fun to meet him in the pub.

Yes it seems the same person, they are noted on the BBC website to.
https://www.sciencefocus.com/author/dr-andrew-may

It does not take that long to read. The article I posted was on the Big Bang theory and where it has moved to today in science.

“Yet the Big Bang prevailed in the end, and the steady state picture fell by the way side. Thanks to further observational evidence”

“Scientists found it impossible to reconcile this with the idea that the universe has always been expanding at the relatively slow rate we observe today. Instead they had to assume a very brief period of Cosmic Inflation during the universe grew at a truly enormous rate”

pointythings. I am a Christian and I found an article about Kemi Badenoch'S faith which I found interesting that she was featured in. She is a Conservative MP. She used to be a Christian but advocates for Christian values. We are still Church of England country and I think that some poliices still come from this..We have the benefit system for those who need it. In Christianity to they care for those who need help. It is asked in the New Testament. To the NHS system seems to come from Christian values in society. We are 42% Christian country by the last census. Still, I would like us to remain with Christian values and the Church of England gives a basis for this. I don't like the US system how it handles care and medical need.

Where would we be without this? Kemi's article that she featured in is below.
premierchristian.news/en/news/article/kemi-badenoch-reveals-how-she-lost-her-faith-in-god

What’s the name of that magazine, please?

Sorry @Justmerachjust seen it-I am officially an idiot.

Hi CurlewKate this is a link to the magazine for anyone who wants to buy it. Mine was sold in a supermarket Waitrose.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Astrophysics-Comprehensive-Future-Publishing/dp/B0CKKNDBVN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=NUUXERFAU8KF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sSCj-C1i_kpzV9XWC0862ai2hqitaULUMafUbBvnO_U85tukaWX634Dly_JYp9exN6E-8LusaAdZjIcMcAH0kVYnrbphNbcwGZ0Qpur8CTgBTzXiWV_RPs5TqeSI6P73X2tnfu4nwJeX47J-GuQ35wexDkQ4bwScH0Ps-gjWdGTZxImtnt8rmX2dnHJymTlTjGXiMlqil5P5lp6rA-JbjQ7jUGhdyFu1hOLtzuf8mJs.ba-gqqKeidfeBik_8CmyMxJF-k8gOye1vzvsq2oAwbg&dib_tag=se&keywords=astrophysics+magazine&qid=1768411601&sprefix=astrophysics+magazine%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-1

I am fully aware of who Kemi Badenoch is and I have no time for her 'values'. She thinks that giving SEN students support and extra time in schools confers 'an unfair advantage'.

Aside from that, we could have the endless debate about how values we perceive as inherently moral must be Christian rather than innately human, but that one never leads anywhere. The number of Christian churchgoers in the US is much higher than in the UK, and yet their values seem very questionable on many topics. Whereas many more secular countries in Europe have values that very much align with ours here in the UK, rather suggesting that the causal factor is not that likely to be Christianity. There are very similar values around caring for one's neighbour in Islam and Judaism, for example. I don't know enough about Hinduism to speak on that, but the Sikh community also has very strong supportive and humane values. I appreciate those values, but I do not associate them with faith, much less any particular faith. Assuming moral superiority is a very dangerous path.

Most faiths are fundamentally peaceful. Some people take it to the extreme like with Holy war and Islam and they may read them wrong. Just out of interest can you name the countries that have a benefit system and free health care system? This year the Archbishops speech Sarah Mullally was on the NHS. The UK still is quite secular and I wouldn’t like it to change. I think it could lead to a slippery slope and I wouldn’t like to see that.

The only thing that outrages me in these debates about Christianity is the overt or covert assumption many Christians have that morality is inherently Christian and if you aren’t a Christian you have no moral compass.

Most countries in Western Europe have a benefit system, and many are far more generous than ours. In the Netherlands, where I am from and which is highly secular, there is a contributions based system which means that if you lose your job, you can get up to 75% of your last wage for as many months as you had full years in the job. This means no instant fall into poverty, and a better chance of finding a new job. Disability benefits are also much higher.

Free at the point of use systems are rare, but I'm not ideologically wedded to those. The norm in most of Europe is for an insurance based system which is heavily subsidised and cost effective, with those on the lowest incomes receiving the highest levels of subsidy or not paying at all. Outcomes are better, waiting times shorter, spend per capita on health higher than in the UK.

For what it's worth, I think the UK is still decently secular - but I do worry about the young male demographic and their churchgoing activity, because there is a strong overlap between evangelical Christianity and Reform type Christian nationalism. Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Ten Names) is now professing to be a Christian to get on board that political gravy train. Not a positive development.

I don't see any link with reform type 'Christian' nationalism and evangelical Christianity. I can't imagine all the right wing idiots in my town shouting against asylum seekers and saying we're a Christian country ever darkening the door of an evangelical church and sitting through a half hour sermon. They seem to have forgotten (! Doubt they have ever opened one) what the Bible says around welcoming the foreigner and the outcast.

“Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Ten Names) is now professing to be a Christian to get on board that political gravy train.”

This is a very judgemental position to take. To presume to know the inner workings of a man’s heart regarding his relationship with God is extraordinary. There’s one Judge, and none of us are Him.

@LeaningOnTheEverlastingArms Yes but looking at the fruit of someone's life gives you an insight into their heart. Not a definitive answer, I will grant that. But Jesus did talk about how we treated the 'least' of people.

Afaik the person we are discussing has only recently professed faith in Christ. Let’s be gracious and give time for fruit to grow.

Given this individual's history of offending and behaviour, including very recently when he beat up a man at St Pancras rail station and only got away with it because his victim was too afraid to press charges, I'm going to go with some secular level judgement. The kind of faith that stands by and gives evil people a pass because they've professed Christianity and 'might change' when they are showing no sign of doing so is dangerous. All that it takes for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing.

If you look specifically into the trends for young men, it's clear that they are seeking out socially conservative church groups because of 'anti-woke' and 'traditional masculinity'.

Traditional masculinity tends to be the kind that oppresses women so no, not a positive trend.