Did God intervene?

Hi Floss, Dawkins? Shrill?! The man is a bit confrontational perhaps. I think that has something to do with the subject, as you mentioned already. People expect an automatic solemnness when the conversation turns to god or God. One is required to ‘dim down’ a bit when it comes to religious matters. And if you don’t, your voice is detected as loud, But why? We don’t do that when it comes to politics or finances or social matters. I believe (with Dawkins I suppose) that one should question, investigate and challenge all serious matters in life and that includes God. Can God not stand up for himself? I admire those ancient Roman faithful. They criticised, challenged and questioned their gods continuously. Those gods could take a bit of bashing (how did that job-less vagabond troublemaker ever win it from the mighty Jupiter?). What is it with modern religious people Floss, who think that if you speak up about religious matters, you are considered disrespectful (or less serious: shrill)? Especially if it concerns one’s own religion.

In defence of Dawkins; I think his style in the book is respectful and friendly. If this book was about the history of Cargo-sectarians, his style would be considered gentle and funny by Christians, Muslims and Jews alike.

flossheal, richard dawkins isn’t arguing that you cannot believe in both god and evolution. The point he is arguing is that religion qualifies as a delusion, and that a god almost certainly does not exist.

Thank you Silverwings.

I can not recall mentioning my friend, but I am sure you mean well. If you refer to the mother who I mentioned above, she is one of many war-victims suffering at this very moment. These people are calling for urgent constructive help. All over the globe.

I find it difficult to reply properly to your last answer. But allow me to ask you to donate not only prayers, but also money (or voluntary work) to a charity organisation that deals with aid to war-victims. Those mothers need food and shelter for their children now. I am sure that the footprints will be dealt with too, but the prompt help is very urgent!

Annv… I am sorry this happened to your friend…and I have no idea what the cirmcumstances are surrounding this terrible act of violence… and degradation… that took place in her life.

I can see that it made you very bitter, towards God, and I hope and pray that you somehow will be able to move past this.

I do know that we are to take on the whole armor of God, to be able to withstand all the fiery attacks of the enemy… I cannot judge this situation, as I was not there, or involved, in any way, so, all I can do is speculate.

However, I do know that the Word of God, tells us that we have an enemy…one that is continually seeking whom he may devour.

These are his footprints…

You can see the destruction.. that he brought forth.

I will be praying that God will shed light on this situation.

Hey Silverwings, yeah… exciting times alright… can’t wait to SEE him do it too…! ‘cause we haven’t seen much divine action on a grand scale recently. Perhaps God can end a few wars here and there while he is at it. Or answer some serious prayers (not the kind about new wheel covers for the Cadillac, but the ones from those mothers who lost their house and husband to some religious-fanatical scumbags who send her on her way in the weather with her children but not before she was gang-raped while she was praying her heart out for intervention by the one-true-&-living-god). It would be more than interesting to see him DO it! And it is my guess that the likes of Dawkins would find that too.

Good thinking Arachnid… …and it provided some extra warmth in my fireplace; it was a cold night… It might have saved me from a nasty flu…

It belatedly occurs to me that if “god intervened”, the only effect in the end was to slightly increase Richard Dawkins’ royalty payments. I guess he likes the guy! ;)

I agree - it’s a book that’s worth reading regardless of your religious persuasion. If you are truly confident that your beliefs are correct, you have nothing to fear from reading it, and reading things expressing views contrary to your own is enlightening - it shows you what the other side has to offer, and if you want to debate them, you’re able to do it from a position of knowledge, rather than one of ignorance.

Advising christians (or anyone else) not to read ‘subversive’ texts like this is as silly as telling an atheist not to read the bible, for fear he converts to christianity. Trying to do so to others is treating them like children.

James.. that is why Christians rec. that you seek the ONE TRUE & LIVING GOD. All the others are cheap imitations.

And this generation has been inundated by atheistic teaching, as well as evolution, which evolves from the same. No other generation in history has had as much Anti - God propaganda thrown at them. It will take a huge move of God, to bring them in, however, I am sure he is up to the task.

You can’t get up early enough to get ahead of him.

It will be very interesting to see how he does it.

I am glad that I am alive to experience it.

lol, you know we only read/watch/listen to what we already believe in… (and then you have the conservatives who for some reason cant read a book without falling for everything it says apparently so they wont read anything because it might be the devil’s work) I’ve gone through half the book, his theories are interesting, I dont think they’re particularly strong but they are interesting…

Man has been inventing “Gods” since the beginning of recorded history. I have an encyclopedia of gods and deities that contains more than 5000 entries. And judging by the state of this planet and it’s people, if there is a god he sure did a lousy job. And as George Carlin said, if there is a god he would have to be a man because no woman would ever F things up this bad! Take control of your own life and don’t wait for some imaginary force or entity to intervene in your life. Oh, and by the way, anyone forcing religion and the bible/koran/bagavad gita, etc on children should be imprisoned for child abuse.

Well, I like Richard Dawkins on any subject other than God - I enjoy and respect his comments in the newspapers and on radio. But when he gets onto to ‘God’ subject he becomes what my scientist husband describes as ‘shrill’ - it’s all a bit: ‘the lady doth protest too much’ for me. So I’ve avoided the book because he annoys me as much as the other side does, given that I stand somewhere in the middle.

Well, I will stand by my husband’s description of the guy’s radio manners as ‘shrill’ annv. He sounds just as idiotic as the Creationists when he gets going. To anyone who realises that there is a reasonable middle ground (I.e. one can choose to intelligently believe in both God and evolution), the fur that flies on this argument is just ludicrous. Both sides need to take a cold shower and look at what really matters, for example your war victim. Then they could stop fighting over minor issues and work together to do something that would actually help.

Floss, I could not agree with you more!