Can religion offer a rational argument?

[naomi24]

Rojash's post below apparently heralds a victory for the atheists, and consequently the demise of R&S, an event which saddens me greatly, so in an effort to resurrect a little intelligent, polite discussion, and breath a modicum of new life into this section, are there any believers out there who feel they can offer rational reasons for their belief? Thoughtful debate is name of the game here, so civility if you please.

[mibn2cweus]

Running out of room in the freezer Naomi?

[naomi24]

They're stacking up Mibs.

[China-Doll]

Thoughtful debate that includes mocking people you perceive as having 'heads in the sand.' I expected better from the pair of you.

[naomi24]

China, not mocking - simply alternative terminology for the reaction of those here who peddle their religion to the rest of us relentlessly, and yet flatly refuse to face and answer the resulting questions. Pretty accurate I'd say.

[Ankou]

i think if you were aiming to win the 'kill a topic' challenge then you have a resounding victory. congratulations.

[mibn2cweus]

Is this what its come down to? The religious all now with their heads buried safely in the sand the atheists have resorted to pieing each other. Oh the humanity!

[China-Doll]

To have a faith isn't burying your head in the sand and neither is accepting that someone does. It may be that you don't agree or don't choose to live your life that way and you can disagree with the sentiments that some aspects of religion inspire others to live by but to accuse others of burying their heads in the sand is insulting.

I can no more understand the leap of faith people with religion make than you but neither can I understand the intolerence towards people who have a faith or the insistance that they should justify it. Debate the whys, facts and wherefores most definitely but if you have faith and it gives you cause to go about and live your life in peace, doing good things and not inflicting it on others who don't is perfectly ok with me.

[Ankou]

is 'bury head in the sand' the new phrase for 'head up own arse' then, I can see a lot of it of late.

[naomi24]

China, I didn't say that to have faith is to bury your head in the sand, so don't put words into my mouth. Read my last post again. People peddle their religion relentlessly, tell us all we're going to hell if we don't believe as they do, and then refuse to answer the resulting questions - and those who disagree are supposed to be happy with that? Well, you excuse it if you want to, but don't expect me to.

Ankou, I have no idea what you're talking about.

[Ankou]

well you wouldnt if youve got your head ... in the sand.

[mibn2cweus]

So much for civility. Looks like there's more than custard flying.

[chakka35]

Er..could some religionist please answer naomi's question?

Can you offer a rational argument for religion?

A civilised question that deserves a civilised answer - even if that answer is No.

[Lonnie]

Hi naomi, unfortunately. I have nothing to say, regarding your question, not being a believer, but i've noticed that every so often there is a bleak spell.

Do you remember me posting a 'This site is dying'?, sometime ago, it picked up again after that, so hopefully your post will be the catalyst for a re-emergence of decent posts

[China-Doll]

Your words.

And someone has yet to tell me I'm going to hell for my disbeliefs.

Find someone else to patronise.

[naomi24]

Hi Lonnie, yes I do remember your question - and you are right. This section does flounder at times. Still, it picks up again, as we can see. :o)

China, no, not my words. Your words. I don't patronise anyone, least of all you, but if you are hasty enough to put your size nines (or fours) in without reading and understanding the posts properly, and then feel miffed when your mistake is pointed out, sadly there's nothing I can do about that. It's your problem - not mine.

[chakka35]

Well, not really, Lonnie and naomi. No believer has tackled naomi's question yet. So still in the doldrums as far as I can see.

Maybe the religionists have nothing more to say, and we can move on to more interesting things. Maybe a site about why people believe weird things, of which 'God' is only one of many.