Ok this is a more real question from me.....

[The Sherman]

And porbably a very important one!
Was watching telly this morning and saw an advert saying I should respect all religion. First off I dont like being told what to do by the telly 2nd should I?

[Davethedog]

Keyplus in October Gayle Williams, a chrstian aid worker was shot and killed by the Taliban in Afghanistan, because she was teaching christianity.

Ho w do you as the defender of the relgion of "peace" justify or support such an action in the name of Islam.

This is the 5th time I have asked and I have never received an answer and I will keep asking until you reply.

[123everton]

Or me Wizzard?
I'm happy to respect anyone's belief just so long as your not hurting anybody.
I don't know why you would shout at someone in the street, I don't go around advertising my beliefs nor do I seek converts or adherents, to me the simplest and most polite solution is to say "no thankyou" and walk away I don't want a piece of paper teliing me to go to some night club any more than I want to be asked to give my bank details to a perfect stranger to help what ever cause they seek to promote I don't shout at them nor do I give both barrels when I'm similarly harrassed by sales people on the phone.
I'm a Christian my future wife is a Buddhist, I respect her views (her deities populate the house) and she respects mine our children (God willing) will be schooled in both philosophies and any other religion we can find for them to understand as well as science.
I've no quarrel with atheists but why do some of them hate religion so much?
I think you need to relax.

[The Sherman]

Octavious I hate more the religion than the individuals

I ont have time to back that up just now but will do a proper post tonight when finished work.
Suffice to say (So far) I can't see many positives in any religion that i've seen and any positive has benn well countered by some of the attrocities that have occured thanks to religion.
I know thats a big statement to say without backing up just now but i will come back to this thread and justify my beliefs.

[123everton]

Sherman I think the point some of us (or at least me) have to make is that you don't have to justify your beliefs to anybody.
It's no skin off my nose that you're an atheist, it does'nt trouble me that my Mrs. is a Buddhist even though it means going veggie every 10 days or something, what possible harm can our beliefs and expression do to you?
Do you hate us for our beliefs?
Or is it theist envy?
Or is there a gap in your life that you've yet to fill that leaves you unfulfilled?
It sounds to me like your afraid of something, but alas none of us know what....

[Octavius]

Davethedog, nobody really shares their world view, they are a law unto themselves, even the Saudis said they "defame Islam and defame Muslims' reputations in the world."

I wouldn�t take the Taliban�s word for it that they were acting in the name of Islam, since most Muslims would disagree. It was sheer opportunistic murder. They don�t like women very much, even less Western women, and even less still a Western woman who isn�t Muslim. Whilst it sounds harsh, I do not intend to justify or demean her tragic death, but one must assume she knew the risks of working in such a place at such a time.

Sherman, you don;t really need to justify your beliefs to me, but I would be interested to hear how this 'hate' that you have manifests itself.

[Davethedog]

Octavius appreciate the comment but this is really about Keyplus.

I have argued with him over a number of Islam related issues in as much as he will defen everything Islamic raised on this board to the point, in my opinion, of stupidity.

He has in the past defended what I regard as the undefensable.

When this lady who worked with disabled children, was shot she was completley defenceless and shot because of her faith. Keyplus came on about something else and I asked him the question.

Now this man who has been most articulate and forthright in his views, quoting the Koran chapter and verse has completley avoided the question.

In my opinion because it cannot be defended a lady of peace and charity, killed for no good reason in the name of Islam and admitted to by the Taliban.

[keyplus90]

Dave � I don�t know when you asked me five times. But Octavius has already given you an answer but I know you want it from me.

OK you show me where in Islamic teachings it is said that Kill the one who preaches Christianity.

Then how much are you sure that she was only killed for what you are claiming or is it that, that is the way it was reported by media. In that case I can easily say that there are more people being killed in this world for being Muslims by American, and allied forces.

[naomi24]

Everyone has a personal right to believe as they will, and I respect that, but I don't respect it when they bludgeon others with their religion, or when their beliefs adversely affect others.

[Octavius]

So, personally I believe. But I don't bludgeon anyone with my beliefs. And I don't really believe that what I do in my belief adversely affects anyone particularly.

Will you just tar me (personally) with 2,000 years of historical attrocities to justify your harboured angst, and thus disresepct me?

[naomi24]

Are you talking to me, Octavius?

[jake-the-peg]

Davethedog

Atheism is NOT a religous belief

This is tosh put about by religious people

Atheism properly expressed stands ready to change it's position is evidence comes about - however says that such evidence does not exist.

You might confuse this with an agnostic - an agnostic believes that it is not possible to know whether or not God exists.

The idea that an agnostic just doesn't know personally - is a modern adaptation. Thomas Huxley was the first to use this term and this was essentially what he meant.

No religious person is ready to say that if evidence came about they would change their mind - to do so would deny their faith.

That is the difference - it may seem small but it's very important.

See Karl Popper and the principle of falsifiability

[123everton]

In a way Wiz I suppose an atheists views will be affected by the religionists they meet, birds of a feather flock together(generally speaking) so a non-religious person would tend to keep company with non-religious people so the only religious people they tend to meet are the ones who promote their creed, such people are not indicative of their faith. They're just a cross section of it.
I'm friends with a family of Jehova's Witnesses I'll never be a Witness (they know that) and they've never asked me to or even attempted to try.
Now ask yourself if you were at a table eating with a JW (not a JD) would you want to try and change their view on blood transfusions?

[Octavius]

Wazzard, I respect atheism and I respect people's non- belief in (a) God. I also respect religion and people who follow and stand up for their beliefs.

There are very few people (or 'groups/sects' etc) that I despise but that would be for very generic reasons, probably similar to your own.

[keyplus90]

Jake - You said that atheists are willing to change their minds about God provided someone gives them proof and no religious person would be willing to do that.

I give you my words that you prove it to me that God does not exist and I will change my faith.

God exists or does not exist is a subject no one can prove the way few people want it to be proved. Logically there are more reasons to believe that he exists than otherwise. Only reason atheists give is that they can't see him. What more?

[Ice.Maiden]

An it harm none, do what ye will.
Good practrice to live by.

[keyplus90]

Wiz � I don�t give a damn about Santa as long as I am aware for my children Santa is their Grand dad and to a limit me and my wife. Its all about giving gifts to each other. Now you name it to a character called Santa to make it more exciting for the kids or you say this is from me and your mum and children may not get excited. Unless that is the only time of the year they receive anything even from you as parents.

Wiz � You see, I have more reasons to believe that God exists, you have none apart from you can not see him. In that regard ask any Hindu and they will bring a god and put in front of you, would you believe in him then? Even your comparison to Santa tells a lot that what you want God to look like.