To the know it all's in the comment's section

Do you really want to know if God exists or not? If the answer is yes, shouldn't you be searching for the answer to that question instead of assuming you already know it?

Are those that choose atheism without a journey that leads them there, at the height of human arrogance?

Are those mired in fundamentalist doctrine that don't read anything but a bible - if that - and spit out like a broken record all they think that has been laid out on that vinyl guilty of the same?

There is no physical tangible proof of God's existence, there is no worthy scientific explanation for a theory of everything. No one holds all the cards.

Seek and you shall find. Read, listen, look, ponder, do, think, try new experiences. I don't know what you'll find but I would hope that you'll find some humility and some appreciation for the variety of belief and absence of it. Better that than to be one of the judgemental hate filled ignorant.

Faith doesn't have to be blind and lack of it doesn't have to be without depth. Question everything and go with the answers that resonate as truth to you - and then continue your quest and your questioning. One more question... was this too arrogant and judgemental of me?

The Needless War

Does God exist? We've just had another tired old debate on the issue on Q&A between Richard Dawkins and Cardinal Pell. A debate that pits the one who does not believe against the one who does as if these are the only two possible positions a person can ascribe to. And with that ascribing comes scorn for the other and a full belief in the starkness of one worldview over the other. Why does it have to be so black and white?

In the breadth of human understanding is there not a place of grey, of doubt, of humility? Most people have their belief and a debate like this just pits one against the other in a futile struggle (how do you prove that God does or does not exist?) that brings out the trolls and the worst in people. It is destructive, not constructive, it is divisive and is typical of societies (media and politics especially) want to form a circle around the proponents and yell 'fight, fight, fight.' With a fight comes entertainment and with a fight comes a fallout where in the case of politics for example parties can pick up the pieces of those that are divided to go with their worldview.

I am not immune to these practices, I have taken sides but I still long to rise above those base tendencies and see people come together respectfully to share in knowledge and wisdom and values. I would like the debate to take on a different tone, one where those that believe are not ridiculed as being deluded fools that believe in an invisible friend. It is insulting to suggest that people of faith have not reasoned and researched and wrestled with concepts and interpretations and against indoctrination and prejudices to be where they are in their faith. Faith is not an unreasonable position or a sign of intellectual inferiority. It could be said that those who rely only on the evidence of their senses and that ignore exploring the evidence that their heart may present to them are not weighing up all the evidence available.

But this could meander once again into the territory of division and hate. We hate what we don't understand. I respect those that truly seek to understand those that are different to them and it's those people that I would like to see leading this public discussion.

People like Alain de Botton who has written a book called 'Religion for Atheists' who in his search for wisdom though being an atheist did not discount the world of faith as having value.

A renowned scientist and self confessed atheist Mr Alan Lightman said “it is possible to be atheist and still value faith, and that it is possible to be religious and still value thought.”

I find myself more prepared to listen to someone who can come with a humble approach as opposed to the shouty, disrespectful and closed minded views that can come from the extreme poles on this discussion.

Peter Rollins is a crazy Irishman that on the Christian side of the fence has demonstrated that he embraces doubt, that he seeks to break down the barriers and reads the great texts of atheism to listen and learn and be transformed by them. 5:10 onwards is the highlight for me.

There are are many more clips, and much longer ones from the likes of Alain and Peter, two of the great thinkers of our time. I chose these cos they're relatively short. Here is another clip of Peter Rollins talking about faith and atheism in a way that makes you think. And whether you agree with him or not, I like being made to think rather than watching two people debate something with tired old arguments.

To sum up I believe that to believe in a God is no more or less absurd in my reckoning than to not to. No one's beliefs deserve ridicule...except those who believe that they have a right to ridicule others. Being sceptical, doubting, these are noble pursuits. And if I was to leave with you anything I'd say 'Get Faith!'. Even if you choose not to believe it, understand why someone else does. If you don't wrestle with it and just dismiss it I think you're in danger of leaving yourself spiritually poor.

But instead of me having the final word here how about some more from one of these great thinkers, a parable from Peter Rollins...

To be an atheist you need God's help 

No Flying Spaghetti Monsters

The atheist movement are mounting a campaign at the moment cos of the census to make sure people list 'no religion' cos they want to take religion out of politics. I agree with them to a point but beyond that point I almost don't have the heart to tell them that they've already succeeded due to the fact that we already have the seperation of church and state so that neither one can have power over the other. How far do they want to go? If you believe in the great flying spaghetti monster (no one believes in the great flying spaghetti monster) then you cannot hold a position in government – that seems very extreme and controlling. Others might as well start a campaign to remove atheism from politics, if we all succeed then we'll have done away with government forever, hooray!

The other disturbing campaign is the one that screams at you in CAPITAL letters to make darn sure that even if you don't call yourself a Christian you better mark down that you are or we will be overun by millions of Muslims and you can kiss our Easter parades and Christmas carols goodbye. I reckon Muslims probably get sick and tired of being blamed for political correctness gone mad when they are on the whole totally fine with others celebrating whatever religiousy stuff they want to celebrate. So for God's sake, if you believe in God, say so, if you don't, then state that, don't be a census troll. It's just a frikken census, nothing to get hysterical about. 
 
And why isn't there a question about sexuality, is data not helpful? The census is hardly an invasion of privacy because they destroy all the records after the raw data has been gathered. They say one concern is that those collecting the form especially in small towns could read it and invade someone's privacy, which would be illegal. Surely we could fix that with sealing the forms in an envelope that explodes when meddled with or something. One other concern might be that there would be a campaign from certain elements to encourage people to inflate the gay and lesbian number in an attempt to move things like the gay marriage debate along quicker.

I'd like to know the statistics on all manner of things and I'd like to trust that those statistics would be used to help meet the Australian people where they are at. And I'd like to trust that people would answer it honestly. I'm fairly certain that the 64% that put down Christian in the last census will be significantly lower this time around but that's ok as it will be an accurate reflection of where we are at. I guess the danger is that some people will use the statistics to oppress others but if the statistics aren't there they'd probably just make them up anyway. 
 
I wish it wasn't a religion question as I don't consider myself as belonging to religion (depends on your definition) I wish it were a question about belief but I will be putting down Christian because that best represents what they want to know if I don't want to get all uppity about the wording. If you don't believe in a God and if you feel 'no religion' best represents that then I'd encourage you to put that down. Religion, spiritual beliefs and atheism etc. are all here to stay and cannot be gotten rid of so live with it. I'll say it again, It's just a frikken census, they happen every 5 years, it's not big brother out to get you, there is nothing to get hysterical about.