[Closed] Atheists/Agnostics/Sceptics - Religious questions you want answered

Was the lightning strike on York Minster and subsequent fire an act of god ?

Do you consider the personification of God to be useful and or positive.

Related to Q1.

How do you (personally) define God?

Don't really know what I'd ask in particular, but I live across from a large church, and I've never been in or said hello/introduced myself to the people who look after the place.

Would like to introduce myself and see what it's like inside, but not sure why. More out of interest in the building architecture to be honest.

How, as a person of religion, does one comfortably satisfy yourself that your faith has been come to in any meaningful way when for the vast majority of people of faith theirs has been predetermined by their family background? You believe what you believe essentially because your parents believed the same. The god transfer market is pretty slow.

I have had many debates with the religious. the one question I would like an answwer to is why is one sects god true and another's false? ie to the United free kirk all catholics will burn in hell but its the same god as far as I can see?

Sikhism I think answers this one by saying all ( monotheastic?) gods are the same just worshipped in different ways and I think some liberal protestant groups see it the same way but the wee frees, catholics, jews, muslims tend to see another sects god as false even tho they derive from the same thing.

Its always confused me this one.

When you see people in North Korea, who have been indoctrinated since birth in a system that threatens to punish you for your entire life for transgressions, stating things that are to the outside observer obviously incorrect, how do you reflect on the nature of your own faith ?

How many gods do you personally not believe in ?

Why can not one single religious person offer any concrete proof of the existence of a god...?

Why, when things go well, does god always get the credit, yet when bad things happen, its never god's fault or is he (and its funny that its always a 'he') in any way culpable..?

When will society break free of religious nonsense for good...?

Where was God during the atrocities of the 20th centuary? Used to up regularly a few thousand years ago.

Why did you let Dave Allen live to a ripe old age ?

How can an omnipotent god exist alongside free will?

How can we as humans be sure that god is malevolent, benevolent or benign when we cannot conceive of the complexity of their designs?

I know an old Archbish of Canterbury, we have talked about:

Crumpets vs muffins and how to poach an egg
Dogs
The weird noise coming from his car (fitted a 12" sub and amp, noise fixed)
Beanbag stuffing material
Yellowstone National Park
Volcanoes

I was at a dinner with the Rabbi Lionel Blue too, he gave a speech referencing East coast / west coast rap and the importance of perspective.

What is the modern Christian view on hell. Is it an actual place or somethig symbolic, perhaps just an existence removed from god ?

Give me 3 reasons why I should believe in God/follow a faith?

if god does exist, why is he such a bastard?

or put better by stephen fry:

If god created mankind, why was it so shit until Jesus came along to redeem us? Was god a shit designer? And if he was, why should we trust Jesus who he also created?

Is it turtles (or gods) all the way down?

Was god a shit designer?

Beta testing. Standard QA.

Who would win in a battle of the Gods? Which one is the best?

How can you believe such rubbish?

I'd ask them about Ezekiel 23:20–21 and Deuteronomy 25:11.

Well, that's what I usually do. By usually I mean always.

Rorschach - Member

Who would win in a battle of the Gods?

Odin is the real baddass of gods I think.

Why do you prioritise sins? No-one calls out the fat Christian (gluttony) but they do call out those who sodomise.

Can you explain how a loving, caring God gives aids to children?

Explain to me in rational terms how you think God exists when there is zero evidence to suggest she does?

Why is Jesus, a Jewish man born in the middle east, always pictured as having white, European skin?

How can you believe such rubbish?

Stw sinking to the lowest common denominator again 😥 plenty of scope for religious bashing on other threads. Some of us would genuinely like to hear saxonrider's views on these questions.

Why is Jesus, a Jewish man born in the middle east, always pictured as having white, European skin?

Why do you reject the idea of Polytheism and not Monotheism?

The Steven Fry question above (why is God a bit of a prick sometimes).

One especially for the Catholic Church - why do you build such riches in your churches when that wealth could be put to better use (perhaps following Jesus' example and feeding the poor)?

NB. I would really appreciate this thread not descending into any arguments or nastiness at all, as it will lose its purpose and just become a waste.

I'd ask if they'd like a cup of tea probably..
Maybe ask them if they have any top tips for quick and easy super tasty vegetarian recipes..

After that I might ask if we had a strictly religious government, what practical steps would they take to ameliorate capitalist greed and the associated symptomatic consumerism that is destroying humanity.

any top tips for quick and easy super tasty vegetarian recipes..

Why is Jesus, a Jewish man born in the middle east, always pictured as having white, European skin?

His father was a roman soldier. Should at least be slightly swarthy.

Why is the image of Jesus and his family localised, and how / when did that come about? Would Xtianity have been as popular in the West if we'd portrayed the virgin Mary et al as historically accurate figures from the Middle East?

Jesus as portrayed in China, for instance:
[img] [/img]

Did you find Father Ted as funny as i do?

On the flipside, please could you justify the mass graves and ethnic cleansing i witnessed in Kosovo in '99?

Why can we trace all of our festivals and Holy days usually to pre-christian times and why did you feel the need to hijack them?

Always thought that religion was there to explain why science couldn't, i think a graph of scientific explanation and exploration would be inversely proportional to the number of people attending church.

I think it was Ricky Gervais that added up over the religions there is about 280 Gods, yet every religion says there's is the main man- therefore 279 are lying..

Nice work SaxonRider - likes

I'll tell you why I am asking later on in this thread

Always thought that religion was there to explain why science couldn't,

Saxon,have you found jesus?

Why is Jesus, a Jewish man born in the middle east, always pictured as having white, European skin?

My understanding is its to do with the holy Roman empire. They had lots of temples to Saturn pre Christianity ( along with a mid winter feast) - a tall white blond. When christianity came along they simply converted the temples to saturn to churches and reused the same image.

My Q: What is it that you believe in and why?

There's no point in trying to argue against the existence of God with someone that believes so the best I could hope for is to try and understand their interpretation of faith and what led them to that belief as that's the bit that puzzles me the most.

Taxii25, I know the use of the word "rubbish" is a bit judgemental, but I'm genuinely increduluos that people still believe in religions. In my youth I imagined, given the state of our current knowledge, that belief in religion would wither and die. I know there's lots of personal and cultural reasons why religion survives but would like to hear a religious person explain how they can maintain their faith

Incidentally,

Are you going to be providing answers or just soliciting questions?

I had a cracking question the other day - proper fundamental foundation-questioning one.

I've forgotten what it was though!

Would like to introduce myself and see what it's like inside, but not sure why. More out of interest in the building architecture to be honest.

In response to OP, as an atheist I have no questions I wish to ask.

When I was in sixth form we had a series of "informal meetings" with religious leaders from our area. Sadly it wasn't the success our school expected as the little sister of one of our best friends had recently been hit by a car and killed so there were a lot of questions around that.

When asked where God's place was in this tragedy, 1 of the 4 representatives of their religion gave us a "sometimes shit stuff happens". The rest doubled down on God having a plan for the family. I've not been super interested in most of their viewpoints from that time onwards.

If it was a Christian specifically, ask whether you have to believe in the Christian god to get into heaven. If so, that's a bit unfair to all the people who lived prior to 0AD or after that date people that lived outside the Roman Empire and its latter offshoots in Europe.
If god is so omnipotent and "loves us" why did he only make himself known to the Jews initially. Bit unfair to Celts; Frankish tribes; Norse; Native Americans; Native Australians; Asians; inhabitants of Africa?

I'd also like to know why he allowed my son to be starved of oxygen at birth so he's now got quadriplegic cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

I did have to bite my tongue when the hospital chaplain did her visits last week when my wife was having her first chemo session.

Cougar - Moderator
Why is the image of Jesus and his family localised, and how / when did that come about? Would Xtianity have been as popular in the West if we'd portrayed the virgin Mary et al as historically accurate figures from the Middle East?

Not just Jesus.
Robin Hood, King Arthur, Santa etc.
Communities seem to create the same myths and shared stories independently throughout history.
How and why they evolve independently and simultaneously is a topic you can lose yourself in very easily.

Nice thread op.
🙂

When you pray does god talk to you? If so, how does it differ from introspection in other people. If not, do you look for actions from god and how do you distinguish them from coincidence?

Does it make you personally happy and not harm anyone else? If so, crack on!

Another one on a similar vein to my first – if god sent Jesus to redeem us when the first shower he created went to shit, when is the next Jesus going to come along and rid us of the shower we (collectively worldwide) have in charge?

And following on from Murray - if god will answer personal prayers why doesn't he play the bigger hand and not let the bad shit happen in the first place?

I'm genuinely increduluos that people still believe in religions. In my youth I imagined, given the state of our current knowledge, that belief in religion would wither and die.

Fair enough, but can't you and others just save it for all the other threads. I suppose its naive to think this thread would be different but I did have hope even though I couldn't manage faith 😉

Do you believe in fairies too?

Was Jesus the first major weed dealer?

Why do you need faith? Does the possibility of no after life scare you?

Has dog ever spoken to you? In fact why do you need to have faith.

Does god stick to speed limits?

What tyres for BPW in February?

yunki - Member

I'd ask if they'd like a cup of tea probably..

[url=

they might not want a cup of tea[/url] nsfw sound on the link

Nah, you're good, I'm not particularly interested

taxi25 - Member

Fair enough, but can't you and others just save it for all the other threads. I suppose its naive to think this thread would be different but I did have hope even though I couldn't manage faith

I agree. answer the OP in the spirit intended

[b]Does god stick to speed limits?[/b] x infinity.

Not just Jesus.
Robin Hood, King Arthur, Santa etc.

I'm not seeing the connection - they were all (allegedly) born here? Are you saying that in the Middle East they have a brown Robin Hood?

Nah, you're good, I'm not particularly interested

But interested enough to read the post and reply saying you're not interested? Do you ring up radio phone-ins to say "no comment" too?

Bizarre behaviour.

How do you balance the history of religion being so heavily linked to atrocities in both ancient and modern times to your faith?

Edit - oh and while you are at it can you ask God why my dad was a priest, as I haven't spotted a religious bone in his body

If you could talk to a religious (specifically Christian) know-it-all, and ask anything at all about faith generally, or Christianity in particular, what sorts of things would you ask?

I'd ask them how to identify a witch

Do you believe God intervenes in the universe, or does he sit back and let it all play out?

Many of these questions have been answered on the many religion threads and the askers seem to have ignored the answers. I wonder why?

I wonder why?

Catholic Atheist here.
🙂

Still find it all endlessly fascinating, love poking round old places of worship.

Visit all the places of worship you can - everyone's the same, fundamentally, although I think the Muslims just shade the Quakers when it comes to putting a spread on.
Manchester Synagogue is a really good visit if you like local history and there's an excellent Jewish Museum up the road in Cheetham Hill.

The more you meet people face to face, the more you realise, if you need to, that we're pretty much all the same.

How does picking and choising from a religious text work.

Its either the one true text and you believe all of it or you don't agree with some of it and therefore you must admit it could all be nonsense.

Or you are a hipocrit.

Thats my question its genuine although i recognise it a question of religion rather than faith i think it would produce some interesting answers.

Many of these questions have been answered on the many religion threads and the askers seem to have ignored the answers. I wonder why?

1 Most of the world’s population, billions of innocent people, are suffering in hunger and poverty, now and throughout history.
2 Evil is allowed to exist, run rampant, go unpunished, and attain positions of power more often than not. The world is unjust and life is unfair. Good people suffer and die young. And animals have to kill each other for food.
God is all-powerful and all-good, yet allows #1 and #2 to exist, both now and throughout history.

All three of the above CANNOT logically co-exist at the same time. The only logical possibilities are:

a) God/the Creator is not all powerful and cannot stop evil and suffering. (if so, then how did he create the whole universe?)
b) God/the Creator is evil, or not good, or doesn't care. Or he has an evil side as well as a good side, like we do.
c) God doesn't exist.
d) God/the Creator is nothing like what you think he is, or is something beyond your comprehension.
e) God/the Creator lets suffering and evil exist for reasons beyond your comprehension, and/or does not have the same morals that you do.

from http://www.debunkingskeptics.com/Christian_Problems.htm

I'd ask why I need god/religion when I'm happy enough without it?

The question raised to the catholic church about distributing it's wealth more fairly is a good one btw.

Most of the world’s population, billions of innocent people, are suffering in hunger and poverty, now and throughout history.

This thread needs a graph.

[img] [/img]

Not that religion can take any credit obviously. That would be capitalism. Quite possibly a deadly sin.

Any question?

How to break the speed of light? How to marry quantum mechanics and classical physics? Any question at all, truly anything and you will answer?

OK, here's my question: Would you like some toast?

Cougar - Moderator

I'm not seeing the connection - they were all (allegedly) born here? Are you saying that in the Middle East they have a brown Robin Hood?

Not born here, sorry.

Pretty much everywhere has their own Robin Hood story.

Most cultures historically portrayed things they wished to encourage in their own image, but things they saw as negative in the image of someone outside the community.
Reinforcing the positive on one hand and the fear of the outsider on the other.

@Cougar (and anyone else wondering):

Right now, I am just soliciting questions. But my intention is to "answer" them as best I can in short order.

Keep 'em coming.

Piers Morgan?

OK, here's my question: Would you like some toast?

No thanks, I'm a waffle man.

Oh, very well. Here's my second question: Would you like a crumpet?

Hey Saxon Rider

As an unread layman who likes a bit of church action... Can I join the God Squad ?

Hoping not to muddy your waters, I'll just give my personal experience ??

Not a question from me for those who believe in a deity, but one for the deity itself.

Does he/she/it still believe in us, after all the promise we showed and squandered? As we sit here, planet falling apart, squabbling among ourselves over money, land, status, putting our trust in princes to lead us into further mayhem, killing each other over nothing, was it worth the effort of creating us?

Does he/she/it still think we have a chance, and are worth saving?

Why is Jesus, a Jewish man born in the middle east, always pictured as having white, European skin?

His father was from Yorkshire.

He was, then, truly blessed 🙂

Sorry, as you were.

If Jesus was a Yorkshireman, he wouldn't have been giving those fish away.

😉

So just saw SR last post... I'll keep quiet until [b]He[/b] has spoken 🙂

Not born here, sorry.

Pretty much everywhere has their own Robin Hood story.

The point he was making was that every culture's 'variant' of Jesus comes from Bethlehem and hung out in that part of the world but is an aesthetic mirror of the people who are being told the story. The fact that every culture has their own version of the Robin Hood story of a local (to them) taking on the local rulers is really quite different.

I honestly don't know what you mean, Ro5ey.

As an unread layman who likes a bit of church action... Can I join the God Squad ?

What does this mean, and why are you asking me?