Searching for GOD...

[BashfulAnthony]

Sassy,

tah da tah da tah da.

Started reading but you never listen and take no notice. Your sarcasm and insult is noted now let the adults get back to discussions.

The breathtaking irony of the last seven words is noted.

Ah well, again I tried. As with TW, look after yourself and wrap up warm this winter won't you. If your private beliefs, whatever they are, comfort you then all well and good - just don't expect anyone else to agree with them is all until you can finally express them in comprehensible and logically coherent terms.

I wish you well.

Your patience and kindness in the face of such rudeness is commendable, Blue. I'm afraid mine ran out long ago.

There is absolutely no way to get brains addled by religious rot to think sensibly about the subject, even though they may be quite normal in other areas.

When it comes to their religion, they are nothing more than programmed robots.

As indeed are you!  The irony is, you don't realise it yourself.

[floo]

Sassy,

tah da tah da tah da.

Started reading but you never listen and take no notice. Your sarcasm and insult is noted now let the adults get back to discussions.

The breathtaking irony of the last seven words is noted.

Ah well, again I tried. As with TW, look after yourself and wrap up warm this winter won't you. If your private beliefs, whatever they are, comfort you then all well and good - just don't expect anyone else to agree with them is all until you can finally express them in comprehensible and logically coherent terms.

I wish you well.

Your patience and kindness in the face of such rudeness is commendable, Blue. I'm afraid mine ran out long ago.

There is absolutely no way to get brains addled by religious rot to think sensibly about the subject, even though they may be quite normal in other areas.

When it comes to their religion, they are nothing more than programmed robots.

It is very hard not to respond to the jibes of the handful of 'Christian' posters who go out of their way to be nasty to those who don't see it their way. They incite others by their unpleasant WUMMY posts. Maeght is right when he suggests we shouldn't give into responding in that way, but one has to be a saint not to let rip from time to time when the goading gets too intense.

[Leonard James]

As indeed are you!  The irony is, you don't realise it yourself.

No, my dear Tony, quite the reverse. YOU are the one who has been programmed by that "holy" book you believe in.

I, on the other hand, accept nothing unless there is substantial evidence for it.

[BashfulAnthony]

As indeed are you!  The irony is, you don't realise it yourself.

No, my dear Tony, quite the reverse. YOU are the one who has been programmed by that "holy" book you believe in.

I, on the other hand, accept nothing unless there is substantial evidence for it.

I have spent my life studying Christianity, and I have looked at it in a critical manner, always.  There have been times when I have been doubtful;  but in the end I made up my own mind on the basis of my study.  That is the very antithesis of "programming."  Sorry, Leonard, try again!

[Leonard James]

I have spent my life studying Christianity, and I have looked at it in a critical manner, always.  There have been times when I have been doubtful;  but in the end I made up my own mind on the basis of my study.  That is the very antithesis of "programming."  Sorry, Leonard, try again!

That is precisely what programming is. You have succumbed to the apparent "truth" of the programme. 

Try again, Tony!

[BashfulAnthony]

I have spent my life studying Christianity, and I have looked at it in a critical manner, always.  There have been times when I have been doubtful;  but in the end I made up my own mind on the basis of my study.  That is the very antithesis of "programming."  Sorry, Leonard, try again!

That is precisely what programming is. You have succumbed to the apparent "truth" of the programme. 

Try again, Tony!

Sorry, but that comment is palpable nonsense.  As a reasonably intelligent person, who, unlike the atheists on here, has spent years of study in theology and Christianity, I am quite able to make my own decisions, including rejecting what is cleArly incorrect:  as I reject most of the OT Judaic belief.

[Leonard James]

... as I reject most of the OT Judaic belief.

And clearly you must be right and all the Jews wrong!

Pure programming!

[BashfulAnthony]

... as I reject most of the OT Judaic belief.

And clearly you must be right and all the Jews wrong!

Pure programming!

Have you no concept of critical thinking whatsoever?  Apparently not, hence your rejection of all religion, though you know no more than a smattering about it.  So, the question is: "who programmed you?"

[Leonard James]

Have you no concept of critical thinking whatsoever?  Apparently not, hence your rejection of all religion, though you know no more than a smattering about it.  So, the question is: "who programmed you?"

Nobody, I am happy to say. 

Since my own critical thinking released me from the potty teachings of Christianity, my beliefs are those for which there is convincing evidence.

[BashfulAnthony]

Have you no concept of critical thinking whatsoever?  Apparently not, hence your rejection of all religion, though you know no more than a smattering about it.  So, the question is: "who programmed you?"

Nobody, I am happy to say. 

Since my own critical thinking released me from the potty teachings of Christianity, my beliefs are those for which there is convincing evidence.

So you, unlike billions of others, are immune to programming.  Sorry, you can't see the fallaciousness, indeed, absurdity, of your own argument.

[Leonard James]

So you, unlike billions of others, are immune to programming.

Do you honestly believe that everybody is equally credulous? If you do, then you are more foolish than I thought you were.

Sorry, you can't see the fallaciousness, indeed, absurdity, of your own argument.

I am more sorry that you can't follow critical thinking.

[BashfulAnthony]

So you, unlike billions of others, are immune to programming.

Do you honestly believe that everybody is equally credulous? If you do, then you are more foolish than I thought you were.

Sorry, you can't see the fallaciousness, indeed, absurdity, of your own argument.

I am more sorry that you can't follow critical thinking.

You really are an arrogant piece, aren't you?  The certainty of your stance is grotesque. I have admitted to having my doubts about my beliefs, but you are so programmed, you cannot admit to any other point of view.  Critical thinking does not come into your orbit.  When do you ever debate the ifs and buts of religion?  All you do is roundly condemn it all  -  it's like trying to knit fog to persuade you to any attempt at critical analysis.

[SusanDoris]

No, my dear Tony, quite the reverse. YOU are the one who has been programmed by that "holy" book you believe in.

I, on the other hand, accept nothing unless there is substantial evidence for it.

Well said. I'm afraid the words 'smug' and 'self-satisfied' do spring easily to mind in connection with BA's posts, apart from the phrase 'chip on shoulder' I mentioned last week.

[BashfulAnthony]

No, my dear Tony, quite the reverse. YOU are the one who has been programmed by that "holy" book you believe in.

I, on the other hand, accept nothing unless there is substantial evidence for it.

Well said. I'm afraid the words 'smug' and 'self-satisfied' do spring easily to mind in connection with BA's posts, apart from the phrase 'chip on shoulder' I mentioned last week.

I had thought you were reasonably intelligent  -  it appears I was wrong

[Leonard James]

You really are an arrogant piece, aren't you?  The certainty of your stance is grotesque. I have admitted to having my doubts about my beliefs, but you are so programmed, you cannot admit to any other point of view.  Critical thinking does not come into your orbit.  When do you ever debate the ifs and buts of religion?  All you do is roundly condemn it all  -  it's like trying to knit fog to persuade you to any attempt at critical analysis.

Don't be idiotic! I don't "roundly codemn" the teachings of Christianity, and you know that perfectly well. Stop lying!

I have always seen most of the moral teachings of Jesus as wise. He was a man born before his time.

What I refuse to swallow is all the  supernatural mumbo-jumbo that he was taken in by.

That is critical thinking!

[Leonard James]

No, my dear Tony, quite the reverse. YOU are the one who has been programmed by that "holy" book you believe in.

I, on the other hand, accept nothing unless there is substantial evidence for it.

Well said. I'm afraid the words 'smug' and 'self-satisfied' do spring easily to mind in connection with BA's posts, apart from the phrase 'chip on shoulder' I mentioned last week.

I had thought you were reasonably intelligent  -  it appears I was wrong

No you weren't! Susan is a very intelligent person, who sees a lot more clearly than you do.

Don't start with the insults again.

[BashfulAnthony]

You really are an arrogant piece, aren't you?  The certainty of your stance is grotesque. I have admitted to having my doubts about my beliefs, but you are so programmed, you cannot admit to any other point of view.  Critical thinking does not come into your orbit.  When do you ever debate the ifs and buts of religion?  All you do is roundly condemn it all  -  it's like trying to knit fog to persuade you to any attempt at critical analysis.

Don't be idiotic! I don't "roundly codemn" the teachings of Christianity, and you know that perfectly well. Stop lying!

I have always seen most of the moral teachings of Jesus as wise. He was a man born before his time.

What I refuse to swallow is all the  supernatural mumbo-jumbo that he was taken in by.

That is critical thinking!

Refusing to swallow anything shows your predisposition to uncritical thinking.  I am not lying, I am stating a view based on your pretty predictable and rather immature postings about all thing religious.

[Leonard James]

Refusing to swallow anything shows your predisposition to uncritical thinking.  I am not lying, I am stating a view based on your pretty predictable and rather immature postings about all thing religious.

I'm sure you believe that is true, Tony.

It isn't, of course, but as long as you're happy.

[floo]

Leonard, one can only conclude that certain posters are jealous of the mental acuity that you and Susan display, especially as you are both senior members of this forum. 

[BashfulAnthony]

Refusing to swallow anything shows your predisposition to uncritical thinking.  I am not lying, I am stating a view based on your pretty predictable and rather immature postings about all thing religious.

I'm sure you believe that is true, Tony.

It isn't, of course, but as long as you're happy.

I am always open to discussion on my views, and I'm prepared to accept that things may change in the course of time.  Are you, because nothing in yotr stance suggests any such thing?

[Leonard James]

Leonard, one can only conclude that certain posters are jealous of the mental acuity that you and Susan display, especially as you are both senior members of this forum. 

Thank you, Roses! I am extremely grateful for my luck in the genetic lottery, and hope I die before senility overtakes me! 

[BashfulAnthony]

Leonard, one can only conclude that certain posters are jealous of the mental acuity that you and Susan display, especially as you are both senior members of this forum. 

Thank you, Roses! I am extremely grateful for my luck in the genetic lottery, and hope I die before senility overtakes me! 

Have you been keeping up with the posts concerning floo recently?

[SusanDoris]

Leonard, one can only conclude that certain posters are jealous of the mental acuity that you and Susan display, especially as you are both senior members of this forum. 

Thank you, Floo, that is kind of you to say so!
Jealousy/envy are always part of such patterns of behaviourI have found.

[floo]

Leonard, one can only conclude that certain posters are jealous of the mental acuity that you and Susan display, especially as you are both senior members of this forum. 

Thank you, Roses! I am extremely grateful for my luck in the genetic lottery, and hope I die before senility overtakes me! 

Dementia is indeed a terrible fate. My brother-in-law (82) is totally away with the fairies now, which is so very sad, especially as he was a very intelligent man like my husband, his much younger brother. My husband says he would sooner be dead than suffering from dementia.

[Leonard James]

My husband says he would sooner be dead than suffering from dementia.

That is precisely how I feel, not least because of the stress and sadness it inflicts on those lumbered with caring for us.