Cyprus-Forum.com

[cyprusgrump]

I'm the only believer in my group of friends (even my husband is agnostic) and all te times I had been criticized for it (In Spain now If you are a believer you are automatically supposed to be a fanatic right winger which I'm not) I answer that faith is a gift that I cannot share or transmit It's my experience, part of my life and I'll not be offended by your lack of it neither accept your so-called superior knowledge for believing in nothing-

That's good really...

[MariaEvri]

I dont think there will ever be such a thing in Cyprus. Most will believe in God even slightly.
If it helps thoughm, I am cypriot and atheist.

[hobx]

I didn't want this to turn into a does God exist or Religion vs Atheism thread, but looks like i was being a bit naive in that regard so on we go:

GR, if I am correct, Hbox, is that spotty face kid who used to have some things to say but disappeared. Seems his asking god to make him a stud and provide him with a woman failed, hence he turned athiest.

I find it amusing that you quoted my previous post about ad hominem attacks but quite obviously didn't understand it did you? Let me be more explicit for you. An ad hominem attack is when, lacking any real argument said person resorts to insults on the person rather then the argument itself. Bravo, you must feel very good about yourself. Oh and, its not very Christian is it? Just so you know, I've have a pretty good life, and was once a believer myself. The problem I had was when a certain religious education teacher introduced to the inexscusable concept of original sin. At which point I asked whether if a baby was born, then died straight away, it would go to hell? The preacher in question advised me this was not the case to which I replied, at what age does one gain original sin. He told me to not question the lord! Case closed. I'm guessing that you're orthadox, and I believe that you don't have that particular concept in your version of Christianity, but I'm just explaining what originally set me on my journy to atheism.

I find you people to be total hypocrites, you blame people for wanting to believe in something with no evidence, yet you have no F evidence yourselves that the opposite is not tru either.

Religion is one of the few concepts that asks people to prove a negative. I believe in the flying spaghetti monster, prove that that isn't real! And should you really want proof, well, there is masses and masses of evidence to support my outlook on life from many different fields, all mutually supporting each other. Archiological, historical (which also shows us the origin of religion, check out the Roman god Mithras who was born in december, attended by shepards, rose from the dead etc and who predates Jesus) chemical, and many other fields of science.

Go practice your shit wherever, but stop blasphemising the rest of the good folk that have their faith.

I'm half cypriot, I have just a right to be as you and I didn't start this debate, I asked a question. A part of being in a democratic society is accepting the beliefs of others, maybe you should convert to shia islam where blasphemy is a capital offence. Sounds much more to your tastes.

If you don't believe in a herafter, isn't life a bit depressing?

Not at all, in fact knowing that this is all we have encourages me to live life more. We are incredible lucky to be on this earth given the sheer probablity of not being here. Look outside your window, see the trees photosynthesising air from solar energy from the sun 93 million miles away so that we can breath? I find that amazing. Every day we find out more and more about just how amazing and unlikely this world is. The more I learn the more enthusiasitc I am to learn more. Unlike religion which encourages people to accept basic truths "God made it" science teaches us to question everything, and to continue questioning until find out everything.

Science btw allows us to even have this discussion on the wonderful thing called the internet.

Bananiot
I have read the God delusion, a brilliant book. I'm trying to build myself up to reading the Bible, the Quran, the Torah etc to head off any critisim in that regard. Know they enemy an all!

[Spanish_spinne]

I've have a pretty good life, and was once a believer myself. The problem I had was when a certain religious education teacher introduced to the inexscusable concept of original sin. At which point I asked whether if a baby was born, then died straight away, it would go to hell? The preacher in question advised me this was not the case to which I replied, at what age does one gain original sin. He told me to not question the lord! Case closed. I'm guessing that you're orthadox, and I believe that you don't have that particular concept in your version of Christianity, but I'm just explaining what originally set me on my journy to atheism.

I' Catholict so In my education it was also the concept of original sin , but I think what you have is a very bad teacher When I was a child I was told that original sin is related to all our "animal instrincts" we all are somehow instinctive even if this mades out inmoral or not so christian that's the way they explain to me why we need to be educated not only in religion but in morality, justice and so on. To explain you in other words its the oposite contept of what Rosseau says about mankind

By the way I have read the Holy Bible, (Catholic and protestant, and the Quran not to know about the enemy as you say but to learn about the culture and point of view of different religions

[miltiades]

I didn't want this to turn into a does God exist or Religion vs Atheism thread, but looks like i was being a bit naive in that regard so on we go:

GR, if I am correct, Hbox, is that spotty face kid who used to have some things to say but disappeared. Seems his asking god to make him a stud and provide him with a woman failed, hence he turned athiest.

I find it amusing that you quoted my previous post about ad hominem attacks but quite obviously didn't understand it did you? Let me be more explicit for you. An ad hominem attack is when, lacking any real argument said person resorts to insults on the person rather then the argument itself. Bravo, you must feel very good about yourself. Oh and, its not very Christian is it? Just so you know, I've have a pretty good life, and was once a believer myself. The problem I had was when a certain religious education teacher introduced to the inexscusable concept of original sin. At which point I asked whether if a baby was born, then died straight away, it would go to hell? The preacher in question advised me this was not the case to which I replied, at what age does one gain original sin. He told me to not question the lord! Case closed. I'm guessing that you're orthadox, and I believe that you don't have that particular concept in your version of Christianity, but I'm just explaining what originally set me on my journy to atheism.

I find you people to be total hypocrites, you blame people for wanting to believe in something with no evidence, yet you have no F evidence yourselves that the opposite is not tru either.

Religion is one of the few concepts that asks people to prove a negative. I believe in the flying spaghetti monster, prove that that isn't real! And should you really want proof, well, there is masses and masses of evidence to support my outlook on life from many different fields, all mutually supporting each other. Archiological, historical (which also shows us the origin of religion, check out the Roman god Mithras who was born in december, attended by shepards, rose from the dead etc and who predates Jesus) chemical, and many other fields of science.

Go practice your shit wherever, but stop blasphemising the rest of the good folk that have their faith.

I'm half cypriot, I have just a right to be as you and I didn't start this debate, I asked a question. A part of being in a democratic society is accepting the beliefs of others, maybe you should convert to shia islam where blasphemy is a capital offence. Sounds much more to your tastes.

If you don't believe in a herafter, isn't life a bit depressing?

Not at all, in fact knowing that this is all we have encourages me to live life more. We are incredible lucky to be on this earth given the sheer probablity of not being here. Look outside your window, see the trees photosynthesising air from solar energy from the sun 93 million miles away so that we can breath? I find that amazing. Every day we find out more and more about just how amazing and unlikely this world is. The more I learn the more enthusiasitc I am to learn more. Unlike religion which encourages people to accept basic truths "God made it" science teaches us to question everything, and to continue questioning until find out everything.

Science btw allows us to even have this discussion on the wonderful thing called the internet.

Bananiot
I have read the God delusion, a brilliant book. I'm trying to build myself up to reading the Bible, the Quran, the Torah etc to head off any critisim in that regard. Know they enemy an all!

A brilliant post.

[purdey]

Yes an fine reply. However, Science also teaches us to read all data before making a informed opinion. I suggest you read the relavant books you highlighted with an open mind.
Good reading.

[hobx]

I' Catholict so In my education it was also the concept of original sin , but I think what you have is a very bad teacher

No argument there, any teacher who tells a student asking a question to shut up is by definition bad.

When I was a child I was told that original sin is related to all our "animal instrincts" we all are somehow instinctive even if this mades out inmoral or not so christian that's the way they explain to me why we need to be educated not only in religion but in morality, justice and so on. To explain you in other words its the oposite contept of what Rosseau says about mankind

Not having studied the bible in any real way for a long long time I won't argue apart from saying that, I take offence to anyone who calls me a sinner. I live a good life and don't tell anyone else how they should live. If people ask me a question or attack me, I'll give my opinion, and reserve the right to not sugar coat it.

By the way I have read the Holy Bible, (Catholic and protestant, and the Quran not to know about the enemy as you say but to learn about the culture and point of view of different religions

Good for you. I have no problem with religious education as whole, as it has great historical relevence. At a later school I thouroughly enjoyed RE as we studied all the religions including budhism and hindism and were a whole lot more philosophical about it. I do have a problem with dogmatic denomination specific classes being called Religious Education. (and don't even get me started on Intelligent design in science classes).

Miltiades: Thanks, reading it back I'm cringing a little bit of the reuse of certain words (everything, people, amazing) lol but I think I got my point across

Yes an fine reply. However, Science also teaches us to read all data before making a informed opinion. I suggest you read the relavant books you highlighted with an open mind.
Good reading.

As I said, I'm trying to work myself up to it. However I'm very aware that a lot of the meaning might be lost due to my limited knowledge of old English and such. It will be a hard slog, but I'll get round to it eventually.

[Get Real!]

I'm still waiting for a free observation tour of Bananiot's chemical reactions in his central nervous system...

[Bananiot]

Get hold of yourself GR, you are fast losing it! However, I will do you the favour, but, beware od neurotransmitters.