posted March 01, 2007 08:02 PM         

hers part of the information page from 'the god delusion' book

quote:

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From Our Editors
Evolutionary theorist Richard Dawkins is not an atheist who sits quietly in the pews. The scientist Discover dubbed "Darwin's Rottweiler" refuses to regard religion as mere harmless nonsense; he views it instead as one of humanity's most pernicious creations. In The God Delusion, he attacks arguments for the existence of God; accuses religions of fomenting divisiveness, war, and bigotry and castigates believers in intelligent design.

From the Publisher
Discover magazine recently called Richard Dawkins "darwin's Rottweiler" for his fierce and effective defense of evolution.
Prospect magazine voted him among the top three public intellectuals in the world (along with Umberto Eco and Noam Chomsky). Now Dawkins turns his considerable intellect on religion, denouncing its faulty logic and the suffering it causes.

He critiques God in all his forms, from the sex-obsessed tyrant of the Old Testament to the more benign (but still illogical) Celestial Watchmaker favored by some Enlightenment thinkers. He eviscerates the major arguments for religion and demonstrates the supreme improbability of a supreme being. He shows how religion fuels war, foments bigotry, and abuses children, buttressing his points with historical and contemporary evidence. In so doing, he makes a compelling case that belief in God is not just irrational, but potentially deadly.

Dawkins has fashioned an impassioned, rigorous rebuttal to religion, to be embraced by anyone who sputters at the inconsistencies and cruelties that riddle the Bible, bristles at the inanity of "intelligent design," or agonizes over fundamentalism in the Middle East-or Middle America.

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from just this information alone it seems like the books is making some really valid points, and i've always questioned chrisitan/islamic/judiac religion - because it never made sense to me, it just didn't, and i've always believed that religion holds you back from your true potentials, and i'm seriously thinking, its like, personally, i'm never going to be totally athiest without something to believe in, but i'm not going to stay with the church all my life, anyway, i really don't know what to do with myself, but i'll keep you updtated,

heres my question, bceause i'm confused about this, i'm taking a college biology course and right now were talking about cell theory, and it basically states cells can only come from pre-existing cells, so since (or if) God doesn't exist, then what was the pre-existing cell that formed the universe?

and, since i can ask a question like that, doesn't the cell theory mean that the big bang never happened?

(so sometimes, doesn't science cancel itself out?)

(some answers to my questions would be great for discussion, and for me to know, lol)

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Virgo Rising 8'57, Sagittarius Sun/4thH 3'26, Pisces Moon/6thH 8'22

"Our passions are not too strong, they are too weak. We are far too easily pleased." - C.S. Lewis

posted March 01, 2007 08:36 PM         

to create, spark!

The Spark of Life is GOD...
force and energy...

if science does not tie the soul
to Us, they will never figure it out. ...

posted March 01, 2007 08:59 PM         

I have HUGE issues with organised religion in any way, shape or form. Religion is warped by man and the furthest thing away from spirituality you can get. Just look at the problems in the world today and down thru thousands of years of history. Man has done some horrible things in the name of their god. I don't believe any higher power could condone any of that.

I read the entire bible 2 years ago out of curiousity. I went to catholic schools most of my life so I'd had it shoved down my throat, but it was interesting to read as an objective adult.

I actually laughed that so many people take it as the be all and end all, its contradictory and in so many parts (especially the old testament) more unbelievable than most of the sci-fi/fantasy novels I own.

I believe Jesus was a man, a very good, gentle, peaceful, man but not the son of god. If I believed that then I'd believe Anikin skywalker is the son of the 'force'.

The higher power is something everyone must believe in to some extent, it can never be proven or disproven. I don't know why people even both to try.

posted March 01, 2007 09:06 PM         

we are all God's Children
created equally...by the Force

we turned our back on God MOther
and Father, we fell
we then, on each continent
created religion=laws

veiling the Truth of
Our un-doing, and changing
the Truth...

some remains, some is hidden
it was all about power and ego

same as today...

have we learned nothing?

God is within, no where else
and no One else can connect
you, but you...

posted March 02, 2007 12:25 AM         

quote:

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Dawkins turns his considerable intellect on religion, denouncing its faulty logic and the suffering it causes.

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I Richard Dawkins.

posted March 02, 2007 06:11 PM         

I really believe that we're moving into an era where we will take the power back to humanity, and away from some deity in a cloud. Remember that pisces is about sublimation, giving up power, whereas aquarius is all about the individual and how they are unique. We are already seeing the new "religion" emerge, look for buzzwords like "the universe," "karma," "manifesting," "synchronicity," "meant to be."

posted March 03, 2007 01:00 AM         

It is certainly everyones choice to believe or not in God. There are billions of people who inhabit this planet and there are billions of people who profess some kind of religion and the belief in God.

posted March 03, 2007 04:32 AM         

quote:

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Guess we will all find out in the next life who was right and who was wrong won't we?

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Well, if it turns out there is a God, I'm going to have a thing or two to say to Him/Her about this system!

posted March 03, 2007 11:07 AM         

Barnabas 10:3
Accordingly he mentioned the swine with this intent. Thou shalt not
cleave, saith he, to such men who are like unto swine; that is, when
they are in luxury they forget the Lord, but when they are in want
they recognize the Lord, just as the swine when it eateth knoweth not
his lord, but when it is hungry it crieth out, and when it has
received food again it is silent.

A second century reference to "foxholes" ?

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~
What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world is immortal"~

posted March 03, 2007 02:11 PM         

So neptune, unless you are in pain you will not know.

It is really not about God. Its about us.
Heh BlueRoamer. Well said wise one

posted March 03, 2007 07:41 PM         

I'm not quite sure I understand the meaning of "foxhole," is that like being between a rock and a hard place?

posted March 03, 2007 07:55 PM         

quote:

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In the history of science, alchemy (Arabic: الخيمياء, al-khimia) refers to both an early form of the investigation of nature and an early philosophical and spiritual discipline, both combining elements of chemistry, metallurgy, physics, medicine, astrology, semiotics, mysticism, spiritualism, and art all as parts of one greater force.

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posted March 03, 2007 09:54 PM         

The classic definition I believe is the process of turning another element into gold, the methods of which can vary from magical to scientific.

If anyone has read the book, "the alchemist," they'll know that this book definise alchemy as something very different. Alchemy here is a spiritual science in which the person channels god to accomplish their goals. Alchemy is about a spiritual journey, of transforming one's life into what one wants to be.

posted March 04, 2007 08:52 PM         

quote:

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I hope nobody thinks I don't believe in god/higher power cos I do, very much so.
I just don't believe in religion. God/higher power may save me down that foxhole, but how can religion???

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very good point OZMeg, religion is usually what is holding people back.

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Virgo Rising 8'57, Sagittarius Sun/4thH 3'26, Pisces Moon/6thH 8'22

"Our passions are not too strong, they are too weak. We are far too easily pleased." - C.S. Lewis

posted March 05, 2007 03:12 AM         

quote:

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Well, if it turns out there is a God, I'm going to have a thing or two to say to Him/Her about this system!

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Which system?? Organized religion? But that is humans created mess. System of God's Law? Do we know anymore what it is?

posted March 05, 2007 03:22 AM         

Sometimes I wonder if I'm glad to be in America. People may disagree, but people are heard. Which other country can boast of such a freedom.

On the downside, is our freedom our greatest weakness? Not when people have evolved and they do not look back.

Science will always be there. We have invented airplanes by observing the birds. Theres no denying. It is not alchemy, but science. We learn from nature. All gods, visitors to earth, humans , etc are witnessing God in my opinion. And because we cannot see does not mean they don't exist. The empty space around us is considered to be simple and zero energy vacuum. But it is something which sciene is still baffled with.

Anyways my 2 cents.

Cheers.

posted March 05, 2007 03:39 AM         

Does any one watch full metal alchemist on the cartoon network? I used to watch it often from my hotel room.

posted March 06, 2007 02:31 AM         

A "foxhole" is a name given to the trenches that soldiers dug for themselves as protection during WWII. Probably WWI too though I don't know that for a fact. I don't know if soldiers still dig foxholes these days either. I guess the saying came from war when a soldier feared for his life under attack and while the bombs are flying.

Yes, juni, that verse is the equivalent to a modern day "foxhole." Well chosen verse.

Religion is a tool like everything else one uses on their spiritual path. It is not the end. It's the means to the end which is God.

Mostly religion is how one worships or pays homage to God. Worshipping or paying homage to God has been going on all through human history in one form or another.

Many people find worship and the places of worship to be very spiritual. Others find nature to be very spiritual. Some people, like myself, find both nature and places of worship uplifting and spiritual. It is all God and it is taking time aside from the world to pay homage to God wherever you prefer to do it. Even at home in a quiet room.

Every place and every organization that has large memberships has to apply some rules and structure. We even have rules here at LL. Otherwise chaos would prevail. That aspect of worship or religion is indeed man made but not meant to control people as much as to have an orderly environment for worship. Each religion has it's own form of worship and the members all share the same beliefs. The doctrines of all religions are meant for the same reason. So that all the people of any chosen religion share the same beliefs. Guess that is why we call it "organized" huh?

What works very well for some people in finding their way back to the Source may not work for someone else. Such is life and such is the nature of humankind. No matter. God knows how to reach each and every one of us.