smiths » Sat Jan 17, 2015 2:05 am wrote:blasphemy for blaspemy's sake is for 12 year olds
No, blasphemy is necessary. Until religious people stop killing those who blaspheme it should be done on a daily basis, everywhere. You can't have a dialog with someone who tries to kill you when you say the wrong thing.
interfaith dialogue to overcome hatred does not begin by everyone sitting round insulting each others faith as delusional
I couldn't care less about interfaith dialogue. As far as I'm concerned they're all delusional and should be consigned to history.
if you you think you have a rational alternative you yourself are delusional
This is a dis-ingenious statement. Not involving god in the equation is not delusional. It's the rational thing to do. You can't measure god, detect him or in any way, shape or form prove that he exists, so for all intents and purposes he doesn't. The rational thing to do is to assume that he doesn't.
science explains mechanics, it doesn't explain beginnings or endings
Patently wrong. See for instance abiogenesis.
atheism is unprovable for the same reasons as religion
There is nothing whatsoever that indicates that god(s) exist. Not being able to explain something in nature does not equal 'God exists'. With zero evidence to support his existence, the logical conclusion is that he doesn't, ergo atheism. All the evidence (or lack thereof) points there.
the big bang is a religious tale - something out of nothing, the universe is almost certainly one in a multiverse, and the most likely explanation for it all is that it is infinite and we, as finite and insignificant beings, will never be able to comprehend it
The current observations and understanding of the laws of nature supports the big bang theory. If someone comes up with a better explanation I'd be happy to consider it, but it has to be better than "God did it!".
recognising that some people have beliefs that you may not agree with and respecting them as people first is the way forward
Like Dick Cheney and Rumsfeld?
I respect the person (the pope seems like a decent guy), but I don't respect his beliefs.
the Pope went against the global sheep movement by pointing out that attacking others' faith is not in the spirit of building a better world
No, he basically said the same thing as the Charlie Hebdo gunmen, only without killing anyone.
isnt that what you all want?
Can't speak for the others, but I want a world free from organized religion. It belongs in the history books, not the news.