sedoniaraqs

I appreciate the posts of those that support my right to state my views. However, I am very used to my view being shocking and repulsive and unacceptable to most people. Not just because my view is different, but because it threatens their own faith to hear what some rational part of their own brain already knows but can't accept. (Excuse me, for the record that is my opinion).

Everyone else gets to say "Jesus/Allah/God loves you" (not "it is my opinion that Jesus loves you"), or whatever, but hey, that's okay.

sedoniaraqs

Well, that depends on how you define god. I would argue that there is substantial evidence to suggest that the god of Abraham worshipped by 3 of the major world religions does not exist. But that would be continuing the religious debate that no one really wants to have because it never changes anyone's mind about things.

TribalDancer

For the record, I didn't have any moderator power until this was moved to the Debate forum. In fact, i am not sure I was even a moderator at the time this thread was started, it is so old. And I certainly wouldn't begin to moderate or to comment on posts from nearly a full year ago. So whether there were earlier posts to consider moderating or not is irrelevant. And even if there were, perhaps they were delivered with more sensitivity than the current ones. I can't rightly say, being as much 12 months ago. but I do know I was charged with keeping this, one of the most heated forums, civil and thoughtful and on topic. I rarely if ever issue any kind of warning or comment as a moderator, so I am hardly some kind of control-freak. And I felt that the warning was warranted. I meant no offense to anyone's particular view, just reminding us all that we need to be gentle with one another, particularly on hot topics like faith (or religion, which is not the same thing), agnosticism, or atheism...or any other possibly incendiary topic.

And I did not say that anything you had to say was shocking or repulsive, my dear forum friend! Just that maybe it was delivered with a little less sensitivity to differing views, and implications that people who felt otherwise were, essentially, unintelligent or misled. Which I don't feel has a place (tone-wise) on a board that is otherwise so open and respectful of differing views.

So please, return to the topic. I just wanted to remind everyone to be respectful and gentle, particularly when dealing with such incendiary subjects. Perhaps if I had delivered it as a more general caution than directed at any one person it would have been better understood. So for that, I am sorry.

Aisha Azar

Dear Sharon,
You DO have one of the more difficult moderating jobs, and, personally, I am glad I just moderate the Students/Instructors area of the forum, and not this one!
Regards,
A'isha

nicknack

What a runaway thread


Actually "Israelis" would just be another way of translating "Israelites", words used depend on the translator, and the time of translation (I have an article from translation class where it discusses translation as more of an art than science). Israel (which means "to wrestle/struggle") was the name given to Jacob, and the Jewish people (open any siddur and you'll see the words "your people Israel", "people of Israel"... basically people of Jacob (or Yacov as we sometimes say)), there was also the ancient Kingdom of Israel (which seceded from the Kingdom of Judah). Today people use the word Israel to refer to both ancient and modern, and sometimes use the word Israeli, in the place of the more archaic sounding Israelite (although saying it in Hebrew it would be Yisraili)... It's all a matter of semantics, and semantics are a matter of personal choice, like if I were having a discussion with various people on Abraham (a discussion in English); some people would say "Abraham", some would always use "Avram", some would say "Sarah" and others "Sarai"....

__________________
Cause I'm not here to let you down. But the costume makes the clown.

nicknack

Hey this isn't the real world, it's not easy to read intentions here, give people a little slack.

I'd say that religion is mans way of trying to make sense of something far beyond our own comprehension.

__________________
Cause I'm not here to let you down. But the costume makes the clown.

Aisha Azar

Dear Nicknack,
Thank you for clarifying.
Regards,
A'isha

Mosaic

Exactly! Excellent and right on target statement

Mosaic

Adding to belief/non belief chat. Last year I heard not once but several times an African American women who is part of a group of women talk show hosts, state that she didn't believe what science tells us, that the world /life was created from the "big bang" that life happened because of the coming together of elements from the stars etc. She sincerely believed that "god" created everything, that the god she believes in decided that one day he should create a few planets and on one of them he thought it was a good idea to create humans, animals and plants. She believes the garden of eden theory exactly as written. This woman could not see or understand any other creation theory, and this is someone who walks this Earth today, who sees plainly the world around her. I was stunned I honestly thought she was joking. But who am I to say she is bonkers/wrong, she is following her heart, and dancing to her own drummer

When others asked her questions and made relevant statements, she refused to listen and even concede any other possibility, even the possibility that a god could just as easily have caused the big bang to happen thereby bringing about various forms of life after a few mill years. So many (Sorry, have to say) so called 'Born again" Christians mainly Americans, are quite pig headed about their beliefs and refuse to concede to scientific knowledge/proof especially when they are confronted with the creation myth, they can't won't accept that the bible and various other stories were written in such a way for a reason, at the time the people didn't have the scientific knowledge of today, also they hang onto these old beliefs because they cannot accept change. Actually they can become as angry as any other religious fanatic and try very hard to cram their beliefs down the general populations throat. My apologies to all Americans, but unfortunately what I and many other countries of the world see, is how the Christian religion has a very strong hold on the government and education system. ( eek! don't jump down my throat, for I only state what I see/read/understand)

How do you combat beliefs such as this, you can't, you can talk and offer up all sorts of proof about anything and everything, but if one's mind is set in one direction nothing and no one will change that.

Take a look at the scientologists beliefs, to a good part of humanity they are just too ridiculous and weird, but if it brings the believer some sort of comfort weird or not as long as he /she doesn't ram his/ her belief or non beliefs down my throat or try to take over a country via its political route (politics and religious belief systems must be kept seperate), I say go for it!

What is my belief system... I haven't a clue! But I do believe in the right of the individual to believe or not believe in anything they chose whether it be religious or not! Follow your heart, that is all one can do and in doing so keep faith with oneself and that is the main thing at the end of the road!


So whatever you believe in - God/Goddesses/giants/fairies/aliens ... whatever it is your right to believe thus. If I personally am to have a supreme being watching over me I absolutely prefer that being to be female and if that is not to be then ...whatever that supreme being's gender, they definitely 100% must be a belly dancer .... or else they will have to deal with my tantrum!
~Mosaic

KuteNurse

Hi Mosaic,

My apologies to all Americans, but unfortunately what I and many other countries of the world see, is how the Christian religion has a very strong hold on the government and education system. ( eek! don't jump down my throat, for I only state what I see/read/understand)

I am telling you this gently I promise my intent is not to demean or to put you down. Your information on American's and religion is not correct however. Public schools in America are not allowed to let children pray or to teach religion in classes. The same is for the government. This is an example to help you understand...In the city where I live, the ten commandments were placed and have been standing in front of the court house and the government buildings for years and years. A couple of years ago, Atheists decided this was wrong for the ten commandments to be placed in front of the buildings because they are government buildings. It was brought to federal court and decided the statues had to be removed. (Against popular vote that most people wanted them to stay.) They were removed and a local church bought them and now they stand in front of the church. If it seems like we are crazy about religion in schools and government, we really aren't. We are actually fighting to keep them in schools and in our government. We want out children to grow up with good morals and continuing our religious traditions. Just as other countries would want for their children. I hope this info helps you to understand.