Searching for GOD...

[Gonnagle]

Dear Sane,

Where's the humility, which was being asked for earlier, in regarding ourselves as special?

Sorry but that sounds like a Christian question, humble in the service of God

Gonnagle.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Outrider,

I can imagine me surrounded by unicorn-riding leprechauns and yet, despite the word of your Bible, I can't actually make that happen.

Oh! you could, if you put your mind to it.

Ask the Wright brothers.

Gonnagle.

[Nearly Sane]

There have been atrocities carried out throughout history by those that claim to be mere tools in the service of something greater. Beware the effect of the ever so 'umble Uriah Heeps and their higher commands.

[Nearly Sane]

'Special' implies some kind of chosen-ness. Our muddle with our functional superiority and the notion of 'special' has led us to where we are now.

Dogs have emotional development akin to that of a two year old child. Their needs are different, true, but not as much as we like to think - we are both social animals. Yet we keep dogs isolated in kennels, we over-breed them, make them race each other, parade them for their looks, even experiment on them, and in some cultures, eat them.

Two year old child= special. Two year old dog = expendable.

that's because it is a simply instinctive animal that has no consciousness. You would be better comparing it to a non Christian as it is restricted in its ability to act. Just like the non believers who would be so much better if they were Christian.

[Rhiannon]

'Special' implies some kind of chosen-ness. Our muddle with our functional superiority and the notion of 'special' has led us to where we are now.

Dogs have emotional development akin to that of a two year old child. Their needs are different, true, but not as much as we like to think - we are both social animals. Yet we keep dogs isolated in kennels, we over-breed them, make them race each other, parade them for their looks, even experiment on them, and in some cultures, eat them.

Two year old child= special. Two year old dog = expendable.

that's because it is a simply instinctive animal that has no consciousness. You would be better comparing it to a non Christian as it is restricted in its ability to act. Just like the non believers who would be so much better if they were Christian.

Silly me, what was I thinking?

[Rhiannon]

There have been atrocities carried out throughout history by those that claim to be mere tools in the service of something greater. Beware the effect of the ever so 'umble Uriah Heeps and their higher commands.

Indeed.

[Gonnagle]

Dear World,

Well I suppose this little debatette goes no further, if you are a atheist then we/humans are just accidents, freaks of nature, nevermind!

Gonnagle.

[floo]

Dear World,

Well I suppose this little debatette goes no further, if you are a atheist then we/humans are just accidents, freaks of nature, nevermind!

Gonnagle.

Far better that than being the pawns of the evil deity if it exists!

[Gonnagle]

Dear Floo,

Spoken like a true Capricorn.

Its all in the stars.

Gonnagle.

[Nearly Sane]

not sure it can be categorised like that. Gonzo. There are many atheists who I know of who think they are the nonGod's gift.

[floo]

Dear Floo,

Spoken like a true Capricorn.

Its all in the stars.

Gonnagle.

I AM AN AQUARIAN!

[Nearly Sane]

Dear Floo,

Spoken like a true Capricorn.

Its all in the stars.

Gonnagle.

I AM AN AQUARIAN!

only the true Capricorn denies their Capricornhood.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Floo,

Ah right!! my mistake, that explains everything.

Your Horrorscope for today.

You will tell everyone that the Biblical deity is evil.

This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius.

Gonnagle.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Sane,

not sure it can be categorised like that. Gonzo. There are many atheists who I know of who think they are the nonGod's gift.

I am Gods gift but to what

Probably the garage mechanic who is now looking at my car, he has eyes which say, this will cost you a fortune guvnor.

Gonnagle.

[Outrider]

Dear World,

Well I suppose this little debatette goes no further, if you are a atheist then we/humans are just accidents, freaks of nature, nevermind!

Gonnagle.

Who said anything about 'just'? We're incredible... and so is everything else

O.

[Rhiannon]

Dear World,

Well I suppose this little debatette goes no further, if you are a atheist then we/humans are just accidents, freaks of nature, nevermind!

Gonnagle.

Why the 'just'? We are flipping amazing, incredible, but so is the hummingbird, the dung beetle, the oak tree.

Clouds, they are amazing bloody things. Have you looked at any lately? Why would I think I'm the pinnacle of creation when there are stars above me, worms beneath my feet?

[Gonnagle]

Dear Rhiannon and Outrider,

One last try.

We can work with this world or destroy it, no other species has this gift ( gift ) that is the special I am looking for, we do have that power.

Gonnagle.

[Nearly Sane]

Dear Rhiannon and Outrider,

One last try.

We can work with this world or destroy it, no other species has this gift ( gift ) that is the special I am looking for, we do have that power.

Gonnagle.

Arguable whether we could destroy it, certainly do damage but destroy it? And surely given that is a function of technology it means we have only be special for the last 50 years or so? What about the millions of years including when Jesus was about that such a claim was laughable? Never mind the billions of years where we didn't exist.

[Outrider]

Dear Rhiannon and Outrider,

One last try.

We can work with this world or destroy it, no other species has this gift ( gift ) that is the special I am looking for, we do have that power.

Gonnagle.

We have power, certainly, I don't think anyone's disagreeing with that. What would make us special would be if we were wise enough to use it cautiously or selflessly, but I'm afraid I don't see any sign of that.

Certainly in some instances - I'm thinking of the American Tea Party movement in particular, here - there are those who think that because their god has given them dominion over the Earth, they don't have to cautious or selfless, that their god will ensure it's all fine.

Powerful, yes. Unique, yes. Neither of those is the guarantee of a good outcome that, for me, special would imply.

Of course, that power isn't enough to 'destroy' the Earth, but it is enough to disrupt it sufficiently to undo much that we have achieved. Earth will continue, life will continue, what our power threatens, in the main, is individual species - including our own.

O.

[Rhiannon]

No, the world will probably be here even if we fry ourselves in a nuclear hell. It will survive climate change. The universe certainly will still be here. And both will get on just fine without us.

Instead of thinking how we can save the world maybe, just for once, we should think about valuing the ways in which it saves us - the forests, oceans, fruit trees, honeybees. Instead of patronising nature why don't we try being bloody thankful for it? How powerful we be when the bees are dead, the trees are dead, every cloud pours down acid rain?

[Gonnagle]

Dear Rhiannon, Outrider and Sane,

Destroy it!! do you actually think that nuclear is the pinnacle, no we will build bigger powerful, man's imagination has no limits.

As for how long we have been damaging this planet, when did we discover greed.

Anyway, most enjoyable but I must be away to tend to the tedious things in life, saving the world will just have to wait

Gonnagle.

[Alan Burns]

Oh, so Christians are better people. Glad we got that sorted.

I am not saying that any person is better than another - just that each person could achieve personal improvement by embracing Christianity.  I would certainly succumb to more selfish temptations if I were not a Christian.  But as I previously mentioned, personal improvement is a by-product of the main goal of achieving eternal salvation of your soul by accepting Jesus as your saviour.

[Nearly Sane]

Sorry, you are missing the point, Gonzo. Are you saying we aren't special until we could/can destroy the planet? If so we were not special, before it.

[Nearly Sane]

Oh, so Christians are better people. Glad we got that sorted.

I am not saying that any person is better than another - just that each person could achieve personal improvement by embracing Christianity.  I would certainly succumb to more selfish temptations if I were not a Christian.  But as I previously mentioned, personal improvement is a by-product of the main goal of achieving eternal salvation of your soul by accepting Jesus as your saviour.

But you are saying that a Christian Rhiannon would be a better than a non Christian Rhiannon. And would thereby be a better person. Given your inability to judge design because it would be artogance, why are you so arrogant to tell Rhiannon that she could be better by bring a Christian? Particularly given that she once was? Was she better then, and has become worse? If so, please tell me (a) in what way, (b) how you know, and (c) why that doesn't make you arrogant?

[Outrider]

Oh, so Christians are better people. Glad we got that sorted.

I am not saying that any person is better than another - just that each person could achieve personal improvement by embracing Christianity.  I would certainly succumb to more selfish temptations if I were not a Christian.  But as I previously mentioned, personal improvement is a by-product of the main goal of achieving eternal salvation of your soul by accepting Jesus as your saviour.

Wow, just imagine how horrific the Westboro Baptists would be if they weren't Christians... ?

O.