Matthew Le God

I didn't say it did. But I don't think it is unreasonable to think a religious adult who believes the Bible is the word of God is going to have the book impact a wider range of their actions than a 4 year old who believes the tooth fairy gives them money for a tooth.

Name something you could pray for that has no impact on anyone else?

That post doesn't say I did say that. But it is true to the extent that the indoctrination churches do impact on the actions of people who go to church. Actions impact wider society.

The tooth fairy impacting on the actions of a child, is very different to the religious beliefs impacting on the actions of an adult. People make all kinds of actions based on religious belief that impact on those in their families and wider society. Parents circumcising their children for religious reasons really is child abuse, all children are born atheist so they shouldn't have body parts removed without consent for religious reasons.

See post #922

1) Do you agree beliefs impact on actions? 2) Do you agree actions impact on other people? If people believe prayer works then that impacts their actions and their actions or lack of action impacts society as a whole. There have been cases where people have been so brainwashed to believe praying for the sick to recover works... that parents prayed for their children to recover rather than take them to hospital and those children died.

They are harmless on their own as long as they aren't followed up with church, home or school indoctrination and brainwashing. Spring equinox (Easter) and Winter solstice (Christmas) presents to children pre-date Christianity.

We are just playing around with words here. What do you believe and why concerning god...?

There is no 'my reality', reality is the same for all of us. In reality there is no credible evidence that prayer works. In fact the counter is true, it has been shown under scientific conditions prayer has a negative impact on medical conditions, perhaps through performance anxiety having a negative impact if people know they are being prayed for. People claim prayer heals cancer, but we know that cancer can go into remission on its own. Why has prayer never grown a limb back for an amputee?

Yes, things like believing Mohammed flew to heaven on a winged horse is gullible. They are more than welcome to show me otherwise. Same with Christians, Hindus etc etc with the claims in their holy books.

It is very relevant to a discussion about beliefs to know the position of someone. My position is... I don't believe any god claim has met it's burden of proof. That is not the same as saying there is no god. I'd rather live believing in things that correspond to reality. Making up comforting things is asking for disaster as it limits your motivation to actually do something yourself to iprove your situation as you think there is a chance god will sort it out for you.

Not suggesting... I am saying it. It is gullible to believe any religion full of contradictions and riddled with plot holes. Christianity isn't alone in contradictions and plot holes. If you have some evidence of a religion without plot holes, has supporting evidence and doesn't contradict itself I'd love to hear about it! So... do you?

My point is that it is built on something without foundation. I'd rather believe as many true things and as few false things as possible... wouldn't you? Why do you always refuse to answer what you believe and why regarding god?

It potentially sets people up for being gullible in later life and believing a whole host of things without evidence. From fairies to gods and messiahs.

Not ironic, I didn't answer your question because it was based on a misquoting of my posts.

Comfort in something that doesn't manifest in reality.

Trying to get you to answer questions! Do you believe in god, if so... why?

It is not my job or my life.

False comfort is not helpful, it stunts human development to actual answers.

People believing in things that aren't true is not helpful to society. If you are willing to accept prayer can bring peace then you are more likely to not think humans are the reason why peace happens and won't work towards that.

Again.... I said it would require god to change his mind... not God changing someone else's mind. How can a prayer to god result in peace unless he acts on it? For him to act on it he would need to change his mind... yet if he is all knowing he already knows what he will do. So prayer is pointless.

I'm aware what I've said, none of it contradicts the post you just highlighted.

I didn't say for god to change someone's mind... I said for god to change his mind. Praying for peace is asking for god to change his mind.

Tree

I have had conversations with Muslims who were happy to chat about it about belief before. Don't need to go to Friday prayers at a mosque to do that. Yet again you refuse to answer a question. I'll try... again... Saying that the Jews worship a baby killing god is not anti-Semitic. Do you deny the Torah says god killed babies?