[MK Chris]

Haha, you're an arty little fella.

Oh and the ice cream van that passed work made me laugh yesterday... mainly due to its inappropriate jingle. What was it? The Stripper.

[Zoot]

Just got tickets for a secret Eddie Izzard gig next Friday, Wooo Hooo!!!!!!!!!

[Yudster]

Well if I know about it it can't possibly be a secret.

[Munki Bhoy]

I just went to put something in the car and when I got to the car park, I realised I'd walked to work this morning.

Tit, I believe, is the word.

Making me smile today - this.

[S4B]

This is the result of me sitting in the pub at lunch time with a group of work mates and the conversation turning to football...

Zooty, I love you!

[catherine]

I'm going to be an Aunty

[Munki Bhoy]

Yay, congratulations!

I'm going to be an uncle in about 6 weeks, so I know how you feel!

[foot-loose]

Apparently I'm evil.

"He blamed atheism for war and destruction, and implied it was a greater evil even than sin itself."

Surely religion has been used as the excuse for war for thousands of years? Organised religion should be banned.

[Zoot]

And I'm going to be uncle in 5 weeks!

[Johnny 1989]

Congratulations to all you future Auntie & Uncles.

[catherine]

I'm going to be an Aunt in 21 weeks

[foot-loose]

I'm never going to be an aunt.

[TIAL]

Organised religion should be banned.

Organised religion shouldn't be banned - but imposing any type of religious belief upon others should be. Atheism included.

[foot-loose]

I'm really just saying that to get an argument going.

I cant understand why anyone would want to associate with something that has caused so much hurt and grief to so many people though.

[Munki Bhoy]

Probably because that's not what any of it actually preaches. The fact that almost all religion preaches tolerance, openness and basically being nice to each other, yet manages to be the cause of so much hatred, war and general death is probably the biggest irony in the world.

But on a smaller scale, it tends to make people feel better. It means they don't worry about death so much, it means they have someone else to blame when their lives turn out shit, or even makes them feel better about it being shit because they have faith that it will improve.

Some of the nicest people I know are strongly religious. I may not agree with them but I also get the feeling that it's their faith, and how they use that faith, that makes them so nice.

Of course, one other major difference is that none of them have ever tried to convert me to their thinking. Their faith is their own, as mine is my own. Compare that with the attitude that we are all "infidel" and maybe that's where problems begin. It's not so much that "my God is bigger than your God", but more "I'm right and you should be too".

[foot-loose]

I do wish that I had that faith / belief in my life which could answer some of the big questions and give me a sense of comfort. It's not gonna happen though.

Also, while I appreciate that none of them set out to cause hatred and war, that is what has happened. I would still not want to be associated with that. I have the same feeling about football.

[Munki Bhoy]

Football is different though. By it's nature it puts you in one of two opposing camps. Far too many take it beyond that.

[foot-loose]

They both cause too many problems. They should both be banned.

[foot-loose]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/nor ... 064428.stm

*.

[Console]

It means they don't worry about death so much

Don't religious beliefs actually cause/add to the fear of death, you know, with the whole burning in hell for eternity (or until Judgement Day) aspect.

[Bonanzoid]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8064428.stm

*.

I'm so proud of Aberdeen...

[Munki Bhoy]

It means they don't worry about death so much

Don't religious beliefs actually cause/add to the fear of death, you know, with the whole burning in hell for eternity (or until Judgement Day) aspect.

Only if you're evil. If you're good you get to go to heaven instead of just ceasing to exist like those non-believers.

[Console]

Only if you're evil.

Actually, 'only' if you're a sinner - you don't have to be anything like 'evil' to be a sinner. Let us not forget what are some of the deadly sins; greed, making more money than you absolutely need; envy, wanting to be someone who makes more money than they absolutely need; gluttony, being fat; pride, etc. (I can't actually recall the others, I'm trying to remember Se7en - I think lust is in the list, but that just feels stupid).

[foot-loose]

I'm screwed then.

[Console]

And not in a good way.