General Chat

The majority of the population of the world is at least nominally committed to some religion or another. And despite the perception in some parts of the Western world that religious belief is in terminal decline, or that economic and social development go hand in hand with secularisation, there are many parts of the world where fundamentalist religious belief is firmly entrenched (including arguably the most ‘developed’ nation on earth, the USA). Religious belief, it seems, refuses to go away. Some people might think that religion is not an appropriate topic for debate – perhaps because it is too personal, too sacred, or outside the realms of rational debate. For the rest of us, however, I have enjoyed this is fascinating and lively debate. There are many different dimensions to debates about religion. To start with there is the philosophical question of how plausible belief in God is. Then there are social, moral, and political questions about the effects of religious belief on individuals and communities both in the present and historically. Has religious belief, on balance, been a force for good or for harm in the world?

Paula, i agree, fundamentalism is on the rise, especially int the USA.

I strongly beIieve that fighting over the best god has been the cause of more misery, death and atrocities than tongue can tell. I find nothing good in any religious belief. What other reason would we suffer a grown man to put a babys penis in his mouth after mutliating it witha knife. Only in the name of religion. HIV is bad, but not as bad as condoms. And so on and so forth. No, i cannot find anything to suggest religion is a force for good.

Have no idea what on earth the last few posts before Paula+ were all about. Bias and tunnel vision are easy criticisms to make. But I cannot see where I have said that it was ok for anyone to lie with a 9 year old. Or a 14 year old. I am sure my opinion will be the same as yours.

The Bible seems pretty precise about sex. It suggests a Christian marriage is between a man and a woman and is for the procreation of children.

And if society strays too far from the basic values of the old books like the Bible and Q'ran, it can easily fall apart imho.

Early Christians believed it was good to be celibate. Paul praised the state of celibacy. That probably is the basis in some churches and religions for the teachers to be celibate.

Rev John Wesley, the Methodist founder, was a bachelor and working in Georgia in the States in 1735. He held the hand of a young lady gently and she assumed they were engaged from that moment. Later it was a strict rule that none of his male preachers should lay a hand on a lady for fear of being misunderstood.

Sometimes I am Confused.com :-S

John does that Paula :-S

He makes a lot of things up in case you hadn't noticed ;-) :-0

"He makes a lot of things up in case you hadn't noticed" So have we all, Island. That is the fun of many threads.

But nothing whatsoever made up on this thread. You have my sincere opinion, Eldrick's sincere opinion, Cynthia, Sylvia and quite a few others. You have contributed some of your experiences. Lot of thought and care in what we write. Nobody getting nasty or petty. None of us trying to proselytise, I hope.

None of us being patronising or demeaning. But serious, sometimes informative and nothing made up. ;-)

*grabs Island, Ann, Wend and Julia and goes off to the pub* :-D :-D

Did someone say PUB without me :-(

I shall be the drunk propping up the bar and all on my lonesome :-(

hic hic :-D

Roy

well gerra move on Roy - the drinks are on you!!!!!

or that you look like Eldricks avatar :-0 :-0 :-D :-D

Thanks for telling me what's what with the threads Johnski :-D

Right gang......two pints and a pack of KPs :-D

please :-D

Sorry Roy, *handcuffs him to the bar*

I have a big anything alcoholic, I am that desperate!

Thanks Roy, Sue, Sylvia backwards and Island. On balance, I think we are all agreed that it was not a good idea for the House of Laity to defeat the motion to appoint female Bishops :-D ;-)

And agreed that on other threads I make things up. I will let you into a secret - I don't live in a castle and I wasn't phoned in early hours of this morning by Warren Gatland to play for Wales this afternoon.

But religion and politics are two things I never joke about :-) Particularly religion.

*hic* I'm past caring, Roy is unconscious, Julia is chatting up a man in unform, Wend is dancing on the table and Island has somehow got behind the bar and is laying under a faulty optic with her mouth open :-D

Looks like it was easier to RR than answer

Look at the state of you lot lizt again :-0


oooooo Sylvia what did you say? :-D

No Hayley I was RRED because I asked John if he thought it was fun to claim to have love notes from me .

roflmao @ Roy

You want to hope it's not scout leaders, can you find your woggle?

My family where very poor and with being brought up on a council estate with a large dog to feed we could not afford a woggle so i just fasten my neckerchief with a safety pin

I only joined the Army to get 3 meals a day

Roy

Are we then all agreed that this thread about female Bishops has run its course? Seems to have developed into a private fun chat for some reason :-S :-S :-S