Golactico

Doesn't invalidate your point, but that was Tuesday, not today. They were busy today scraping a 1-0 win against Harrow Borough from the 7th tier (I think - might be 8th) of English football.

My son and I started watching the mid-2000s US series 'Lost' a while ago. The first few seasons were really good but we are now in the middle of season 5 and the constant flashbacks and flashforwards are making the plotline really hard work to follow. We are even wondering whether we can be bothered to see the rest of season 5 and the final season through. Is it worth sticking with? Does the plot settle down to a more regular rhythm again?

'We will not be in a climate crisis this winter.....' Well, that's a bit of good news, that climate change will have all gone away in a few weeks time.

Really good that someone like Souness has made it known that he doesn’t eat animal products. Hopefully, this will help to dispel the ‘snowflake’ stereotype. It should be noted too that he’s been vegan for 3 years and only mentioned it as an aside, in response to a directly related question - not as some big statement. As Sydney_saint says, most vegans really don’t care what others choose to eat and, if anything, it’s vegans that get drawn into unwelcome and sometimes confrontational conversations about their diet.

Ref the publication of the findings of the enquiry into how religious groups handle child sex abuse, it's another very bad day for those who entrust society's moral stewardship to our religious institutions.

I though same at first, but I think he was talking about the Euro 2020 semis and final, which of course are now being played this year, and are all being played at Wembley.

So, after tonight's events, is there anyone who still seriously thinks there is a God?

Many Christians will have thanked God when the vaccines were developed. Why does God get credit for this, but he doesn't deserve reproach for the virus' existance in the first place, or for letting £100k and counting die? and millions worldwide.

Seriously though, isn't it about time that God (who loves us, remember) put a stop to all this virus stuff? If the intention is to punish all us who don't believe in him (or the right version of him), then he really needs to think of a more targeted approach.

Badge it how you like, the fact is that most people in this country are celebrating something much closer to the Roman festival of Saturnalia at this time of year. I'd wager that the vast majority don't give little baby Jesus half a second's thought.

Let's be honest, there is clearly a lot of space between the statements: 'I do not claim the non-existence of God' and; 'There could well be a God'

Bump!

We wouldn't want this to get lost in the traffic

Oh, and St Paul is widely thought of as having been a murderer of Christians prior to repenting and being offered salvation. He ended up being one of Jesus' best mates! He knew how to play the game. Oh, and a lazy assumption has been made that I found a video on YouTube and have framed my whole outlook around that. Convenient, but lazy and presumptious. My life experience actually puts me in an ideal position to form a balanced view on these matters. Note that I'm not claiming to be 'correct', just well informed.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 | NIV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 | NIV Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19 | NIV Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13 | NIV Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Matthew 3:8 | NIV For the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him. 2 Chronicles 30:9b | NIV The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 | NIV But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Matthew 9:13 | NIV From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17 | NIV Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8 | NIV Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Revelation 3:19 | NIV Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Joel 2:13 | NIV I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:7 | NIV For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live! Ezekiel 18:32 | NIV In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. Acts 17:30 | NIV “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15 | NIV I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Luke 5:32 | NIV ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 1:3b | NIV Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 | NIV In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10 | NIV I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Luke 13:3 | NIV Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. Proverbs 1:23 | NIV

The Bible is clear that salvation is only possible through the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4: 10-12). It also says that those who don’t believe will be condemned (John 3:18). It's not a great book, but if you have decided to live your life by it, probably best to be familiar with its content - or are those verses not included in the ones that Christians like to cherry pick?

This is the first time I've ever got involved in one of these ' You're soooo wrong and I'm soooo right' forum dust ups - quite good fun isn't it? Perhaps next time though, I'll choose a more challenging argument than reason and science based evidence Vs medieval myths and legends. Anyway, the point of the exercise was to test the Christian view on the Sam Harris question (since I lack the interlect to come up with my own!). Perhaps surprisingly, I got an unequivocal answer on that. Full marks to all for honesty.

First para: Words fail me. Second para: No. How could I possibly believe this? If you read between the lines of my posts, you'll hopefully deduce that I'm an atheist. I don't believe that God created anything because I don't believe that God exists.

If a question ain't broke, why fix it? Look up the word 'literally'. I did faithfully convey the sense of Harris' question but I certainly didn't 'literally quote word for word'. Those with an eye for detail will have noted the opening sentence in my first post on this thread, making it abundantly clear that the question was not my own work. For reference: 'I'd like to ask a question, first posed by someone much brighter than me'

If the accusation is that all my knowledge and beliefs originated somewhere else, then yes. Absolutely. Guilty as charged. Multiplication wasn't my idea either, but it kind of makes sense.

Really? Take out my anger on 9m little tiny babies? No, I wouldn't. Being all powerful and able to do anything, and just simple not being an evil bastard, I'd take a far more targeted approach for displaying my disappointment. If I were a vengeful God (shouldn't he/she be above that very human frailty?), I'd target those awful humans who caused all the suffering in the world. Obvious really. Credit where it's due to the brilliant Sam Harris for the question (included in clip below). I recommend his books and other YouTube clips to anyone with an open mind and isn't afraid of having their beliefs challenged in an intelligent, logical way.

So, God is having a hissy fit over the ungrateful human race and is taking out his annoyance on 9m innocent babies a year (and millions of others who suffer undeservedly). The answer is b).

I'm not sure that this really addresses the question MF. Those 9m babies aren't exercising any 'free will', they just desperately need some devine intervention to alleviate their extreme suffering, caused by their misfortune of being born in a particular place. Any just and loving God would deal with this grotesque injustice. I'm curious why God advocates on this thread who have previously been very active, seem to have suddenly gone quiet. The answer to the question posed has to be one of the two options given and either one surely cannot fail to make any believer with any kind of enquiring mind question their faith?

I'd like to ask a question, first posed by someone much brighter than me. For the purposes of this question we are to assume that there is an all seeing, all powerful God who looks favourably on those who worship him. I'm happy to be corrected if these assumptions are not consistent with people who believe in God. Statistics show that approx 9million babies die in the world each year. Most of these innocent, little babies die horrible deaths due to disease, malnutrition etc. The parents of many of these poor children are believers who desperately pray for God to use his power to intervene and help their children. These prayers go unanswered. Question is, does God not intervene in any of these 9million cases because a) he can't (suggesting non-existance, or at the very least, not being all he's cracked up to be) or b) he can, but chooses not to (suggesting he's a bit of an evil sod and is too busy dealing with prayers from people wanting his help to pass their driving test)

All 3 Saints subs were Irish. First time ever we've fielded 3 Irish players I'd imagine.