Latest British Social Survey finds 52% of the Country are non Religious

[Rjk]

You are not the sort who believes in miracles then?

Well I've just bought a lottery ticked for Friday, but as improbable as winning that will be I still think there is more chance of that happening than an actual snake talking with a person.

[jon1959]

Well I've just bought a lottery ticked for Friday, but as improbable as winning that will be I still think there is more chance of that happening than an actual snake talking with a person.

Still 'bullying' Truthpaste I see.

[Tuerto]

Still 'bullying' Truthpaste I see.

That's probably aimed at me. Truthpaste is a fanatic (if he isn't a wind up) people like him need countering. Other people who have posted on this thread and who tried what their faith means to them in a fair minded manner should be respected in my opinion, not told that what they think is bollocks. There's enough of that in the world and it doesn't make for a better place.

[jon1959]

That's probably aimed at me. Truthpaste is a fanatic (if he isn't a wind up) people like him need countering. Other people who have posted on this thread and who tried what their faith means to them in a fair minded manner should be respected in my opinion, not told that what they think is bollocks. There's enough of that in the world and it doesn't make for a better place.

Sorry - I couldn't resist.

Although I think most of the thread has been fairly engaged and respectful - if not a meeting of any minds.

Truthpaste is probably not a wind up, but he is an extremist. That came out more in the Israel-Palestine thread than this one. But anyone who believes in the literal truth of the Old Testament, magic and supernatural events, and some cloud based entity giving 'the chosen people' the title deeds to a swathe of the Middle East over 3000 years ago (and uses that to justify ethnic cleansing and state persecution) should certainly be challenged, and not just about the talking snake!

[Tuerto]

Sorry - I couldn't resist.

Although I think most of the thread has been fairly engaged and respectful - if not a meeting of any minds.

Truthpaste is probably not a wind up, but he is an extremist. That came out more in the Israel-Palestine thread than this one. But anyone who believes in the literal truth of the Old Testament, magic and supernatural events, and some cloud based entity giving 'the chosen people' the title deeds to a swathe of the Middle East over 3000 years ago, and uses that to justify ethnic cleansing and state persecution should certainly be challenged, and not just about the talking snake!

Absolutely Most people with faith are moderate, they use it as and when in my experience. It's great to talk about these constant attempts at belittling (as i see it) towards people with faith is bullying in my opinion. I'm no believer, but both sides of my family have faith, as does my wife, and my mother, who is an international socialist-work that one out

[truthpaste]

Still 'bullying' Truthpaste I see.

This board is almost the most well mannered I've encountered since the 1990's. Some like Yahoo Chat have been taken down because of the levels of abuse etc

As for the snake, what we have here is someone that can't see above the glass ceiling of science, which can vary from brilliant to completely barking up the wrong tree. If you doubt that then dig out some science books from your formative years and see how many corrections/ editions have been printed since.
So Satan used a snake and God used a donkey to pass on a message on one occasion, so what?....if life IS more than flesh and blood, and people can be possessed, what is the problem?

Look at City from the 60's to the 20's and you'll find your fair share of donkeys, mind you I'm not sure if they could also speak?

[Taunton Blue Genie]

This board is almost the most well mannered I've encountered since the 1990's. Some like Yahoo Chat have been taken down because of the levels of abuse etc

As for the snake, what we have here is someone that can't see above the glass ceiling of science, which can vary from brilliant to completely barking up the wrong tree. If you doubt that then dig out some science books from your formative years and see how many corrections/ editions have been printed since.
So Satan used a snake and God used a donkey to pass on a message on one occasion, so what?....if life IS more than flesh and blood, and people can be possessed, what is the problem?

Look at City from the 60's to the 20's and you'll find your fair share of donkeys, mind you I'm not sure if they could also speak?

The glass ceiling of science???? How is that description consistent with the fact that science books are indeed re-written and modified once we learn more about subject matter with our improving understanding of science (i.e. increased knowledge)? A ceiling that rises perhaps . All the greatest scientific minds work on that basis. Richard Feynman used the anaology of only being able to see part of a chess board and observing only certain pieces - and as the game goes on we see not only pieces that we hadn't seen previously but we also see that some pieces move in ways that were previously not evident. Knowledge is never perfect but science has enabled people to have heart transplants, to send spacecraft into the far reaches of the universe and for us to be protected against viruses and disease. There is no shame in intelligent people knowing that they don't know everything.

However, I will ask you yet again: do you believe that the talking snake existed or is it symbolic/a parable of sorts/allegorical?
Why are you so reticent to answer that very specific question?

[truthpaste]

The glass ceiling of science???? How is that description consistent with the fact that science books are indeed re-written and modified once we learn more about subject matter with our improving understanding of science (i.e. increased knowledge)? A ceiling that rises perhaps . All the greatest scientific minds work on that basis. Richard Feynman used the anaology of only being able to see part of a chess board and observing only certain pieces - and as the game goes on we see not only pieces that we hadn't seen previously but we also see that some pieces move in ways that were previously not evident. Knowledge is never perfect but science has enabled people to have heart transplants, to send spacecraft into the far reaches of the universe and for us to be protected against viruses and disease. There is no shame in intelligent people knowing that they don't know everything.

However, I will ask you yet again: do you believe that the talking snake existed or is it symbolic/a parable of sorts/allegorical?
Why are you so reticent to answer that very specific question?

I did answer the question re creatures and voices, and I mentioned (obviously not clearly enough - apologies) that spiritual possession could make any object (like a radio or tv) or any creature speak and do many other things?
Have you never heard of people messing with ouija boards and having objects flying across the room, hearing voices or sudden chills etc etc.....because I have on many occasions.

As for science, sure the ceiling rises, the problem is mankinds arrogance, thinking that he is almost at the point of total knowledge. Remember that in 1969 when man used limited knowledge and technology to get to the moon, it is now said that the computing power available to them was only at the level of a pocket calculator!
And that was only 52 years ago. So consider what we would be using at the high end of NASA and innovation in another 50 years?? Man is way off the levels of knowledge and ability of Almighty God, even if he does own an i-Phone 13 and Sky Glass.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

I did answer the question re creatures and voices, and I mentioned (obviously not clearly enough - apologies) that spiritual possession could make any object (like a radio or tv) or any creature speak and do many other things?
Have you never heard of people messing with ouija boards and having objects flying across the room, hearing voices or sudden chills etc etc.....because I have on many occasions.

As for science, sure the ceiling rises, the problem is mankinds arrogance, thinking that he is almost at the point of total knowledge. Remember that in 1969 when man used limited knowledge and technology to get to the moon, it is now said that the computing power available to them was only at the level of a pocket calculator!
And that was only 52 years ago. So consider what we would be using at the high end of NASA and innovation in another 50 years?? Man is way off the levels of knowledge and ability of Almighty God, even if he does own an i-Phone 13 and Sky Glass.

I don't know why you keep banging on about us understanding more about science as time passes. I have already agreed that it is the case. No intelligent person claims that we are anywhere near having total knowledge.

On the other hand, and please correct me if I'm wrong, you are 100% convinced that a talking snake appeared in the Garden of Eden.

[lisvaneblue]

I don't know why you keep banging on about us understanding more about science as time passes. I have already agreed that it is the case. No intelligent person claims that we are anywhere near having total knowledge.

On the other hand, and please correct me if I'm wrong, you are 100% convinced that a talking snake appeared in the Garden of Eden.

If nothing else you are tenacious.
Let's go back to Genesis 3 and The Fall. The original Hebrew text says Eve was tempted by 'nachash'..a serpent. English editions of the bible called this a snake, but in literal translation it is a serpent.
A serpent, as you know, can be a sly, treacherous person who exploits a position of trust in order to betray it....Satan

However, it may be that a 'snake' did speak and deceive Eve, and you nor I do not understand how because our 'science' has yet to work it out. Don't dismiss it because you don't understand it.