Dec 28, 2011 -- 6:03PM, journeying wrote:

Is there anything mystical about the creeds or are they simply man's description of Godde in terms that men at the time might understand? Is Godde really a male? Did the male Godde send his male son or did Godde come to us in the human form that the people at the time could recognize and follow? If the latter is true, why are there two separate people? Is the Holy Spirit/Ghost a third being or Godde with us? Is Godde always with us at all?

There are plenty of questions that have personal answers which enable us to live with or reject our beliefs and faith. The more literal one takes the Bible to be, the more difficult it is to discuss religion with an atheist. My atheist brother and I have had many discussions. He respects my faith because he knows that I have spent much time and effort developing it and it works for me. Over the weekend he admitted that he is beginning to see my reasoning and now wonders if I might have a point. He hasn't met anyone else who can discuss religion without getting upset. Sad as it is an interesting topic.

Extremely well articulated. I've had the same experience with my brother, who is RC. And we respect each other's understanding, and we have fantastic discussions.

Feb 23, 2012 -- 9:27AM, Dutch777 wrote:

Is everyone --- anyone? --- aware of this upcoming debate between the ABC and Dr. Dawkins?  The cynic in me is tempted to label this the "Fuzzy - Dickie -Drama".

I wonder if this event will be streamed?  I'd love to have the peanut-candy-popcorn concession, but most everyone will be British, so I imagine cucumber sandwiches and scones will be the order of the day.  The concession is probably socialized anyway.

oxfordstudent.com/2012/02/16/archbishop-...

Here is the streaming site, Dutch.

fsmevents.com/sophiaeuropa/

Jim

I have learned so much from this discussion.  It is the type of discussion that brings me back to this forum again and again.  Can you recommend any books that might relate to this discussion that I might be able to access?

Feb 25, 2012 -- 9:20AM, Nino0814 wrote:

It is unfortunate some in the media will misrepresent Dawkins, and the readers will not investigate his comments in context.  The press "jumped" on Dawkins assessment that he is not 100% certain that there is no God.  That is what you would expect of anyone who is a scientist.  On a scale of 1 to 7 (1 = absolute confidence that there is a personal deity in control of our affairs, and 7 = absolute confidence that there is no God) Dawkins rated his conficence as 6.9.

Does this scale work for you?  I am confident that God exists, but it depends on the definition of God.  In terms of the God expressed in the Bible (hands on creator and God who breaks the laws of nature), I am with Dawkins.

Where would you rate yourself, if the scale works for you?

I agree with your position. The "Sky-Daddy" brand of God just doesn't get it for me.

The existence of the JudeoChristian god  = 7

The existence of some power that is interested in us and occasionally interferes on our behalf = 2.5