Cyprus-Forum.com

[Get Real!]

Big bang is a well tested theory (search CERN) which if you are able to understand high-school physics and what quantum physics are, then you are able to have an idea of what it is and how it works. Apparently you were not really good at school, weren't you?

No, I failed school 6 times. I went out in a bang!

Stephen Hawking's cure for his disease is not from his field and I believe at this phase, it's too late for someone to find a cure for him. Stephen Hawking is a physician not a biologist/doctor.

What a shame the poor little thing must continue “explaining” the universe in a mangled body while leaving the really hard mystery of a primitive earthly disease to doctors and nurses!

[Get Real!]

Gods and religion are both man made. Gods first appeared as an anthropomorphic personification of natural phenomena that early man (I will not use the phrase primitive) could not understand, so we had eg weather gods and fertility gods, etc. Now we know more, through science,
Religion was the codification of belief, frequently to the benefit of power holders who claimed a relationship with the gods or god, and who promoted themselves as the representatives of the gods on Earth, which gave them authority to rule: an offence against them was an offence against god. See eg what happens in Iran today.

There might be some creator, who one might call a god, but I very much doubt that if it exists, it, whatever characteristics it might have, will be anything like that described in any religious books, like the Bible or Koran as the god of those books is a human invention.

You have drowned in your contradictions and manufactured baloney.

[miltiades]

Gods and religion are both man made. Gods first appeared as an anthropomorphic personification of natural phenomena that early man (I will not use the phrase primitive) could not understand, so we had eg weather gods and fertility gods, etc. Now we know more, through science,
Religion was the codification of belief, frequently to the benefit of power holders who claimed a relationship with the gods or god, and who promoted themselves as the representatives of the gods on Earth, which gave them authority to rule: an offence against them was an offence against god. See eg what happens in Iran today.

There might be some creator, who one might call a god, but I very much doubt that if it exists, it, whatever characteristics it might have, will be anything like that described in any religious books, like the Bible or Koran as the god of those books is a human invention.

I agree entirely.

Religion may have offered to those in need comfort and hope and I fully understand this "need".
Some years back whilst visiting a Temple in Sri Lanka with my then Doctor and friend who knew my views on religion, he pointed at the numerous devotees dressed mostly in rugs and obviously very poor and asked me.
John he said, take away religion from these people and what would they be left with ?

Having faced my own hour of need that lasted 8 years I'm content that neither I nor my late wife pursued refuge, hope and comfort from a man made fantasy, BOTH OF US HAD SEEN THE LIGHT.

Can I also mention that millions of children derive extreme pleasure anticipating Father Christmas arrival.Therefore I would not take away FC from these children anymore that I would attempt to take God away from those in need.

May their ...peaceful God be with them.

[Oceanside50]

I challenge any religious person to name but one benefit, one only, that MAN derived from either his false god or religion.

I’ll give you two… hope and comfort.

Why do you need God to give you, hope and comfort?...

[miltiades]

I challenge any religious person to name but one benefit, one only, that MAN derived from either his false god or religion.

I’ll give you two… hope and comfort.

Why do you need God to give you, hope and comfort?...

Millions upon millions of people the world over need Hope and Comfort, if they can achieve this through their religious beliefs, false as they might be, let it be.

We all have our own individual way of dealing with life's sadness and happiness, decease and health, just take a look at the most brilliant physicist of modern times, Hawkins, if anyone ever needed to attach hopes and inspiration to religion this should have been the man, but his genius will not allow his logic to deviate from the truth.

[Oceanside50]

I challenge any religious person to name but one benefit, one only, that MAN derived from either his false god or religion.

I’ll give you two… hope and comfort.

Why do you need God to give you, hope and comfort?...

Millions upon millions of people the world over need Hope and Comfort, if they can achieve this through their religious beliefs, false as they might be, let it be.

We all have our own individual way of dealing with life's sadness and happiness, decease and health, just take a look at the most brilliant physicist of modern times, Hawkins, if anyone ever needed to attach hopes and inspiration to religion this should have been the man, but his genius will not allow his logic to deviate from the truth.

The poor need religion for one reason or another, nevertheless, its the illusion that gives them hope and comfort...ever notice walking into an Orthodox Church on Easter with a billion candles lit, how people react in a room deprived of oxygen..I think they mistake the delirium of an oxygen deprived room with a spiritual experience. Going back to GR's statement of Needing God for hope and comfort. My answer would be don't expect anything and try not to ask for anything.

Find hope in yourself and comfort when you rest your head on a well bosomed lady's chest..for instance..

[GreekIslandGirl]

The way the Church of England proposes to give comfort and hope is by giving the poor and needy some "Pay-Day Loans" through their investment in sharks like Wonga.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23461686

(Shame about this revelation ... )

[supporttheunderdog]

The way the Church of England proposes to give comfort and hope is by giving the poor and needy some "Pay-Day Loans" through their investment in sharks like Wonga.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23461686

(Shame about this revelation ... )

I agree that if the CoE were to practice what it preaches it should keep tighter control over its investments and the investment advisors. It is not just Wonga that it indirectly invests in but the arms and porn industry.

That said the AB of C has said that the church will work to devolop low cost alternatives, such as credit unions, and, now news of the indirect investment in Wonga has come to light, to divest the Wonga interest.

[Get Real!]

I challenge any religious person to name but one benefit, one only, that MAN derived from either his false god or religion.

I’ll give you two… hope and comfort.

Why do you need God to give you, hope and comfort?...

Ask those who have lost a loved one or have hit rock bottom etc.

[Paphitis]

I challenge any religious person to name but one benefit, one only, that MAN derived from either his false god or religion.

I’ll give you two… hope and comfort.

Why do you need God to give you, hope and comfort?...

Ask those who have lost a loved one or have hit rock bottom etc.

Never been one to deny the comfort or security blanket of the less fortunate. In fact, it is always polite to play along and go with the flow.

But, it doesn't change the fact that it is a false sense of security and the hope people need is the fact they are alive and life will have its ups and downs. We will always lose loved ones and one day it will be us. I think the world would be a better place if people understand there will never be an eternal life, and that they better get their priorities right in the here and now, and always ensure that they treat their loved ones well and with respect and lead good, clean lives always embracing good values and let their loved ones know how important they are. When it is time for one to go, there will never be any regret and their life should be celebrated not mourned.

These things are in constant evolution. We all know that religion can be responsible for a lot of evil and bloodshed. It is the opiate of the poor. If humanity can somehow eliminate poverty, and as literacy and education levels increase, religion and other spiritual belief sistems wane.

You see it in Cyprus. In the old days, everyone was deeply religious and would attend Church. Cyprus has a bigger Monarch than the one in the UK.

Poverty is the big issue.