24 September 2010
14:0072301Although I have always had a fancy for Stairway To Heaven at my funeral.......
That and Fire Down Below by Bette Midler
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
24 September 2010
14:0472303I did not say God found it insuling what I said was I find it insuling,how can a person who said there is no God sing to him.
24 September 2010
14:1172304Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
24 September 2010
14:2472308I respect the faith of others and I attend memorial services as a way supporting the memories of those being celebrated. Another way of showing my respect is by not singing, I have a singing voice best used in silent pictures.
If you pay attention next time Vic you will notice that I do not pray either, I do, however, know the words of the lord's prayer and have read the Bible (and the Koran and the book of Mormon), have you read Dawkins? We should be open to all points of view, not just the ones we agree with.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
24 September 2010
14:2572309Yes Bern you are right but I am not God I can not be like him.I find it like someone who knows me very well and hates me,ringing on my door and when I open it that person says"Vic How nice to see you"then coming in having tea etc, then when outside again saying "I do hate him"so why come to my house in the first place.?
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
24 September 2010
14:2972310Vic - I dont much like church services and find them, frankly, a boring waste of time. Thats purely how I find them and its a personal thing.
That said I have been to services for special events, for instance Rememberance Day, to show respect and gratitude to the fallen, true I dont sing or pray myself, at these times but following on from your logic I should not attend. You have some very odd ideas about church usage - as a believer I would have thought that you would be grateful that athiests, such as Chris and I, expose ourselves to your beliefs and, maybe get redeemed (if thats the right expression!)....
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
24 September 2010
14:4072314BARRY I love to see new faces in church,but just to come because you on a Town Council in my eyes is not right,if some ones comes into church to try and fine God or hear about him that is just great,but as I said I am not God and I am wrong but that is the way I feel about it,any church will welcome you with open arms even if you do not know God. I know God but I also know that I will not be joining him when I die because who I am and the way I think.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
24 September 2010
15:1172317like most people i attend wedding and funerals, usually churches, latterly registry offices, plus one in a hindu temple and another in a synagogue.
i join in as much as possible as a mark of respect, put my head down at the right time, kneel if everyone else is, i don't mind tucking into the buffet and booze later, so the least i can do is to go along with the ceremony.
one word of advice, never bother with a muslim wedding, they spend an age in the mosque and they do not even offer you a drink later.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,707
24 September 2010
15:1372318Bern my comments earlier were a general comment about the propensity of the religiously minded to try to convert the rest of us, not a direct reference to this forum.
I believe that all religions should be disestablished and that the blasphemy and religious hatred laws repealed, they serve little or no useful purpose and IMHO there are more than adequate laws on the books to deal with abuse and/or harassment. Belief systems are just that, believers should be strong enough to stand up to others disagreeing with their belief or poking fun at the irrationality of it all
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
24 September 2010
15:2572319Exactly!! I suppose having some humour about it and disagreeing are different, though, to abuse and vitriol, which has happened sadly. Disagreeing and having a laugh about our differences is fab and long may it continue. It isn't always the "humourless relidge" - to characterise - who put the spoke in the wheel though. Atheistic intolerance is also sometimes a root cause.
PS - my son is buying us the Dawkins book, as he knows that it is something we like to discuss - I am Catholic and he is Atheist and my husband is rampantly Atheist - and we have some fab dingdong debates about it!! And because we respect each others views and even live with them, we can discuss without rancour.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
24 September 2010
15:5372325The Dawkins book does have its good points, as does the Chris Hitchins book, but I always feel that a combination of the two would be my prefered option.
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Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
24 September 2010
16:3272334anything by charles darwin is worth a read too.
24 September 2010
17:0872336Chris - I enjoyed that! One of my favourite movies.......
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
24 September 2010
18:1672339I did place some picture`s on here a few month`s back regarding my niece`s wedding up near Blackpool, and the particular church charged an arm and a leg for it, which must be one of the greatest source`s of income for church`s these days to keep them in good repair. I do wonder sometimes whether or not many vicar`s would care if any wedding guest`s in the church were atheist`s or not, and I`m sure some wedding guest`s would be. I was in the church for the wedding above but didn`t pray, for obvious reason`s, and didn`t sing, purely because I can`t, but would`ve done otherwise but out of liking certain hymn`s from school days. If a god disapproved, then it would be down to that particular god for not showing his presence all this time, and he shouldn`t hold a grudge against me for feeling that way.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
24 September 2010
18:2272340God presence is with us all 24/7 at home,work, church. he holds no grudge with any of us, unlike myself at times ,but to feel his presence all you have to do is talk to him, or even about him, he is with us right now .

24 September 2010
19:5172344Here's another fascinating image of Jesus with his dinosaur.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
24 September 2010
20:2372349Unfortunately Rick, as we know, this is what this new cult in the U.S. is preaching, humans and dinosaur`s living together at the same time, and the above would be a perfectly feasible picture if it were true, so please don`t anyone view this as taking the p..., even if it looks to be doing so. The catholic church and hopefully the English church don`t go along with this idea at all, and I am pleased that the Vatican have taken Professor Stephen Hawking as an adviser. They know they have to keep up with modern day thinking and discoveries.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
24 September 2010
22:0972380Don't worry mate God knows everything about everything-so you are forgiven-but he knew that anyway. Unfortunately God is not a Christian-he doesn't have to be because he knows everything-so,I reckon that the best thing is to convert to Catholicism...how big do you want your can of worms?
Never give up...
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
24 September 2010
22:1372381Professor Stephen Hawking? How trendy can you get-well I guess it beats Tony Blair on guitar!
Never give up...
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
25 September 2010
13:4672453Ross, your phrase: ''I believe that all religions should be disestablished and that the blasphemy and religious hatred laws repealed'' has been registered by me, and if it so happens that a campaign is made in that direction, to allow people to sit there merrily insulting the Christian Faith and expressing their hatred against Christians, then believe me, I too will express the same hatred in no certain terms towards your thoughts! Not on this Forum, but by all means publicly
You ought to think carefully, Ross, before posting a statement asking for freedom to hate religion, because you shouldn't think that other people will just sit there and be harangued for stating their own thoughts while they themselves are being merrily insulted.
Think it over, Ross! It can be easier to start an argument than to finish one!