Believers,

[nailit]

is there ANYTHING that would make you think that you may be wrong?
And in the interest of equality, sceptics, is there anything that might make you think you may be wrong?

[jomifl]

Mrblear, the reason christians pray to an omniscient god is that they don't understand the meaning of the word 'omniscient'. Either that or they have been precluded from thinking because they have faith.

[birdie1971]

Khandro - "... Your 26 line essay..."

Too many words for you? Oh deary me. I wasn't aware that I needed to clear the number of words in my posts with you beforehand.


K - "... when you finally get to the Pearly Gates..."

Which don't exist...


K - "... and the angels re-direct you to the place they don't like to call by name..."

You do understand the absurdity and irrationality of threatening an atheist with eternal damnation don't you?

While we're conversing, any chance of answering the question put by mrblear?

[naomi24]

Birdie, //While we're conversing, any chance of answering the question put by mrblear? //

He doesn't have an answer to that - and he doesn't have an answer to my question either.

[jourdain2]

nailit - in answer to OP (and I have not read any other answers) I can honestly say that there have been several (if not many ) occasions which have made me think that I might well have been wrong and deluded myself.

At various times in my life I have considered myself an agnostic and in private I have wondered about atheism. Much angst has ensued.

It would be hard to list these times, but they have happened. One such would (within the last 5 years) have been the death of Mr. J2's daughter. She had been a nurse, never drank much, never smoked, healthy diet etc.. Bowel cancer got her. It is the wrong way round for a child to die first.

He struggled for some time, but has held his faith, indeed he has emerged stronger - as have I.

Best I can do :)

[Khandro]

//the reason christians pray to an omniscient god is that they don't understand the meaning of the word 'omniscient'//

jomifl; At risk of flattery, because of your unwavering certainty on religious matters, I have always thought you had more than a touch of omniscience yourself.

[naomi24]

Pity you haven't Khandro. If you had you might be able to answer questions put to you.

[Khandro]

birdie; //K - "... when you finally get to the Pearly Gates..."
Which don't exist...//

Oh boy, are you in for a surprise! If I get there first I'll try to put in a good word for you (that might be a tough assignment!). Good luck.

[naomi24]

Whoosh! :o)

[Mamyalynne]

I would think it is an almost impossible question to answer - considering the huge number of people on this planet who may pray in some way or another each day, the reasons will be many depending on what is happening in their lives and how they personally conduct their worship.

[naomi24]

Mamyalynne, //I would think it is an almost impossible question to answer //

Mine isn't impossible to answer. Mine is a very straightforward question. Nevertheless it is being ignored.

[jomifl]

//I have always thought you had more than a touch of omniscience yourself./
LOl, Khandro, coming from you I can only take that as an ill concealed insult. Until such time as god reveals itself I'll make the only assumption possible to a pessimist and a sceptic.

[Mamyalynne]

Understood.

[naomi24]

Jom, //Until such time as god reveals itself //

Never mind god revealing itself. Khandro revealing an answer to a simple question would suit me!

[maggiebee]

Ratters comment //they became believers with absolutely no proof or reliable evidence, I doubt they are ever likely to change. Its called "faith"// sums up how I feel.

You can put up any argument you want but I will still believe - my faith is part of who I am.

[jomifl]

Maggie, you are a rareity..I find people who just have simple faith to be no problem. It's the believers who try to distort reality in order to justify their belief(I think we know some of those) that do themselves and religion a disservice.

[birdie1971]

Naomi - "Whoosh! :o)"

Whoosh indeed. Astonishing isn't it?

[birdie1971]

Khandro

No reply from you to the courteous question from 'mrblear' yet [this thread, 15:23 Wed 17th Feb 2016].

Surely good manners and humility are some of the things that help you get through those 'Pearly Gates'? Or maybe you're so full of your own self-righteousness that you think you'll make it past old Pete without breaking sweat?

Isn't arrogance (or pride) one of the so-called 'Deadly Sins'?