God would be an atheist... A rational look at religion, morality, politics and daily life

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April 2008: This site is being renovated - apologies if some links do not work. To return to the active website, click here Basics: Definitions What are we talking about? Atheism God Faith Religion Other terms will be added later Atheism GWBAA says: "what you see is what you get" Atheism is recognition both that the universe we live in is subject to unchangeable laws of physics and that nothing exists which is superior to those laws. Others say "the doctrine or belief that there is no God" "a lack of belief in the existence of God or gods" WordNet Faith GWBAA says: "belief in the impossible" Faith is the belief that one or more supernatural intelligence(s) exist(s) beyond the laws of physics and occasionally or frequently disrupt(s) those laws to intervene in human affairs. Faith is often confused with religion. GWBAA distinguishes them as follows: Faith is internal - it is what individuals believe. Religion is external - it is the formal structure in which faith is expressed. People can have faith without belonging to a religion. People can also have a religion without having faith; they attend a place of worship but have little or no belief that God / gods exist. Others say "a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny" WordNet Return to Top God GWBAA says: "an imaginary being" A god is a supernatural being who influences human life. Gods can be male, female or animal. The characteristics of a god change according to the religion which created him or her. Gods are usually immortal may have limited or unlimited powers may have created the world and the universe may judge human beings on their actions may be able to grant human beings immortality involve themselves in human affairs by disrupting the laws of physics (performing miracles) In Judaism-Christianity-Islam, there is one God who  exists alone is immortal has unlimited powers created the world and the universe judges human beings on their actions involves himself in human affairs by disrupting the laws of physics (performing miracles) Others say "the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions" "any supernatural being worshipped as controlling some part of the world or some aspect of life or who is the personification of a force" WordNet More about god(s): The evolution of religion Return to Top Religion GWBAA definition: "commonly agreed beliefs and practices to please an imaginary being" A religion is an organization which brings people of the same or similar faiths together to worship. Religion applies on many levels, from the broadest (Buddhist / Christian / Hindu / Jewish / Muslim) through narrower streams (Mahayana / Roman Catholic / Orthodox / Sunni) to the narrowest sects (Church of the Living God etc). Religion is often confused with faith. GWBAA usually distinguishes them as follows: Religion is external - it is the formal structure in which faith is expressed. Faith is internal - it is what individuals believe. People can have faith without belonging to a religion. People can also have a religion without having faith; they attend a place of worship but have little or no belief that God / gods exist. For a brief analysis of religion click here. Others say "institution to express belief in a divine power" WordNet "a belief in a deity and practice of worship, action, and/or thought related to that deity" Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry Return to Top April 2008: This site is being renovated - apologies if some links do not work. To return to the active website, click here

click for THIS WEEK'S COLUMN FOOD FOR THOUGHT "Today belief in God is crazy, pointless and sometimes downright harmful, but that wasn't always the case. Religion helped us evolve from primates dominated by short-term instinct into human beings capable of forming sophisticated societies." The evolution of religion "The United States prides itself on championing freedom and in enshrining the pursuit of happiness in its constitution. It is ironic that so many Americans espouse a moral code whose impact is to restrict both freedom and happiness. America needs moral values, but values that respect and honor every citizen." What moral values? "Maybe Noah had some help building the Ark; he may have contracted some of the men on God’s death list. 'No, no… there isn’t going to be a Flood. I just want to give the wife something to look at while she’s washing dishes.' " How did the koala get to Australia? "In 2002, seven women were ordained priests. Wasn’t that great, especially since the Church has a problem recruiting young men to the priesthood? So what was the Pope’s response to these people who wanted to serve God? He threw up his hands in horror at the fact that the seven had the spiritual, but not the physical, balls to be priests and excommunicated them." Men only "Forcing, allowing or encouraging any child to participate in any religious practice, such as baptism, prayer, the hymn-singing, wearing of religious symbols or declaration of faith, should be considered a crime as serious as physical or sexual abuse. Parents who repeatedly expose their offspring to religious practices should lose custody of those children." Protect the children

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