Never had faith

[mrmoody]

who really knows for certain what happens when we die. I know the body decomposes thats for sure and even the bones will turn to dust one day. Beet mentioned some intriuging  possibilities earlier in the thread.

[Micky]

It's not about gloating, it's about reason. I hope to find peace before I die and not after. No offence Zaf.

[Zaf]

None of us can be certain till it happens even if we believe we do

[Zaf]

It's not about gloating, it's about reason. I hope to find peace before I die and not after. No offence Zaf.

I'm not sure what you mean by reason.

No offence taken, I hope you do too

[Micky]

I'm pretty sure you know what reason is Zaf. Religion is so ingrained in our society that to not believe is seen as madness. Sometimes I feel like one of the few people who can see the Emperor is naked.

[Zaf]

That is a load of codswallop, it may have been a hundred years ago but certainly not now.  If not to believe (I assume in the Abrahamic god)  is a sign of madness there must be a hell of a lot of mad people in the world these days.

I think among my family and close friends most are either athiest or do not believe in conventional religions or faiths

[Micky]

There are intellectual people who pussyfoot around the area of religion for fear of upsetting the masses Zaf. Just because something has been around since millennia doesn't make it true.

[Zaf]

No it certainly doesnt

[Micky]

Thank you for clearing that up Zaf.

[Zaf]

But whatever people choose to believe we should respect their beliefs and not try to alter them imo

[mrmoody]

I dont think for a minute people like Richard Dawkins pussyfoot around with his beliefs. He is somewhat proud in being an aethist and although a brilliant writer he irks me in that he wants to convert everyone to his belief or else you are deluded.

 This discussion has gone back to religion again. Maybe we should have left it in the aethist section after all.

[Zaf]

I think anyone that trys to convert others to their own beliefs is wrong.

I'm beginning to wonder that too!

[mrmoody]

I agree Zaf, no one whether aethist or religious should try converting anyone.

People say religion is the cause of all wars. No, its human beings that are the cause of all wars. Take away all religion and there would still be wars and fighting. I think all wars are about land and resources, religion just being an excuse in some instances.

[mrmoody]

ok I should have mentioned ideology and genocide as causes of war also. But I think mostly religion is used as an excuse for war where as its about a land grab for whatever reasons such as resources

[Zaf]

It is in many cases I think but even the wars and killings that are based on religion are due to extremists within those particular religions