Originally Posted by waylander
I have to say that this does seem to be a big difference between the UK and the US - people seem a lot more open about their beliefs and (on here at least!) less liable for criticism/ridicule...
let me also be one to add that I do like this thread, well written and heartfelt - I also like the fact that those who disagree have done so in the same manner... thank you to both
Well, Waylander, in
this particular thread I didn't feel it necessary to criticize John or our other members. I'll save that for other threads
.
And ridicule.........you wouldn't catch me ridiculing anyone. I can only live my life the way I feel it ought to be lived & let others live theirs the same way.
Don't get me wrong: personally I feel that religion & belief in something no one can prove is an enormous waste of human talent & time. In fact, I believe that religion is dangerous: just because the prevailing religion of this country today is rather peaceful doesn't let some other ones, like Islam, off the hook. The fact that even broaching this subject flies in the face of political correctness irritates me to no end! But this has been covered shortly in other threads like this one:
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...e-general.html
Besides, if John was some raving religious extremist who constantly got in everyone's face about his particular form of delusion
I wouldn't be so inclined to let his comments go.
But he's not. He bravely comes out here & places his feelings in the vast ether of the internet. That takes a little courage. Who knows, someday when I'm feeling especially capable of expressing
my dismay with religion I may throw something out here that will raise hackles.
Then again, I think I already have in other threads!
And Franc, if you don't mind me jumping in here & attempting to answer the question you posed to Fastforfun (& I do not mean to answer for him!):
does it
need to serve a purpose? Can a life not feel fulfilled without the inclusion of a diety of some sorts?
I can tell you that I feel perfectly fulfilled when I see my children carrying on with their young lives. I am completely at ease knowing that I will live on within them. I am perfectly content knowing that, however long I may live, that I've tried to make the people around me as happy or comfortable as I am able. Frankly, I think that is man's most noblest goal; not to live your life because of some reward promised you, but to try to your best ability to provide those you love with happiness. I do not need a god to do so.
It's the heathen in me
!