Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

Soon I will be 95 That is if Im still alive.
I ask my friend who is 98, 'What do you think of our inevitable fate?'
He smiles and turns away.
'I think of life,' I hear him say.

From a poem by Kirk Douglas

It is good to see Cameron and Osborne are enjoying their holidays.

Pity they haven't earned it.

I think, they could show leadership by returning to their convenience housing and at the least recall the cabinet to consider any immediate, or future actions which they may have to take.

Stupid arrogant Bs.

I thought this "bunch", before they were elected were over crammed opportunistic, out of touch idiots. They are proving it.

At least Cable had the decency to stay.

Will the FTSE open down on Monday?

Today is the happiest day of the year at 6pm. So if your are not happy then it will not get any better. lol.

http://youtu.be/uNlfdlnc1Ag

Here's Paul Scholes' delightful screamer of a goal that put Manchester United 1-0 ahead in Scholes' Testimonial match against New York Cosmos yesterday. The end result was 6-0 and Scholes should earn a reputed 1.5m from the match (allegedly).



If you'd like to see the other goals go HERE

Back to the god debate http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/cgi-bin/vacdetails.cgi?selection=912699449 looks like it's important for some people to keep it going don't you think?

Nice little earner eh? Spending cuts, job cuts, "we're in this together"? Ho Ho.

CHAPLAINCY MANAGER
CHAPLAINCY
30,460 - 40,157 per annum (AfC band 7)
37.5 hours per week PERMANENT
NB: New starters to the NHS or those with over 12 months break in service at the date of appointment will commence on the minimum of the payscale

Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking to recruit a full time Church of England Chaplain into the post of Hospital Chaplain.

You will oversee and ensure delivery of a comprehensive chaplaincy service across the hospital, meeting spiritual and pastoral needs of patients and staff, as required.

Hmmm?

Didn't some nurse at one hospital get the chop, merely because she said to a patient, 'I will pray for you.'?

Didn't one at another hospital get the chop for wearing a cross and chain and refusing to take it off?

Also, aren't patients given the option to state their religion on a hospital entry form?

So it would be useful to equate this salary with the number of C of E hospital patients and see what the 'cost of the chaplain per C of E patient' actually is.

And what about patients who aren't C of E? ie, Muslims, Methodists, Catholics, Mormons, etc. Shouldn't the hospital be getting chaplains for them too?

How utterly ridiculous!

Oh my God

Perhaps, sometimes, the Chaplain can do more for some patients than the Doctors or the nurse.

Because, some are unable to see the value of having a religion for themselves, it is obvious many do gain from their "religious experiences".

A little like some like and enjoy Classical music others prefer counting their money.

For those who have a belied in a God it gives them a reason for "being" and and "explanation".

I think good luck to them.

Those without a "belief" often seem embittered by the pointlessness of their own existence.

----------------------------------

But our present chosen leaders are leading you to the promised land.

-------------------


Four more days for me and I will be in my promised land, France

Hope I can afford the boat back.

Fred

I do agree with you that it is not a good idea to take something away from soneone (ie. in this instance their 'belief in God') and put back nothing in its place.

Religion does provide 'hope' for lots of people, and particularly so for those who cannot be quite so self-reliant as lots of your so called 'non-believers' tend to be.

I disagree with you that 'those without belief are often embittered by the pointlessness of their own existence'. However, if that is your view, then you are quite entitled to have it. It just isn't mine.

I'm here to try and enjoy the 'pure being' of it all, whilst it lasts for me.

There is no problem with people having the freedom to believe in religion no matter how bad it is for them. What is iniquitous is giving religious organisations charitable status and subsidising religious schools as it just perpetuates the whole silly process. Religion should have no official status or special tax arrangements. Why should a group of people who have bizzare ideas be given state support to continue and propagate them.

But don't you think that those in power need religious leaders to teach morality to the masses and even have power over 'the masses' for what is morality?

That's why such leaders and organisations are given a bit of a hand with tax breaks and stuff.

The more wealth and power you enjoy for yourself, then the more you can create your own morality. This is not the case for the masses and those in power know full well, that religion gives them 'hope'.

Some church's expect you to give 10% of your gross income , the more your give the more blessing's you get, and if you don't give they say its like stealing from God .

I think the church sometimes takes advantage of people. I am sure I read they are one of the wealthiest land owners in the country.

"What is iniquitous is giving religious organizations charitable status and subsidizing religious schools as it just perpetuates the whole silly process. Religion should have no official status or special tax arrangements. Why should a group of people who have bizzare ideas be given state support to continue and propagate them.

Governments continue to subsidise Religion because religion provide much cheap labour compared to what it would cost governments to provide the same services, so it's purely an economic decision in the end.

Is this right. We have a new vicar. Its a lady from our village. You could argue that she has been to church for years and had to study to ordain. She is now in a very large vicarage. Her own property is let (with the funds going in the collection plate,YOU WISH . She is about 65yrs old.
The church pleads poverty here, collections for the roof, pews, walls, you name it.
You see the same individuals work non stop in fund raising events for the church.
Do not get me wrong, they may not want it any different.
I have not seen this vicar walk the village in 6 months.
I do not think these sorts of people will be around to help forever and there will be no volunteers. I was asked years ago to help with the grounds mowing,hedges etc. No equiptment supplied, their budget run out in two months. IS that taking advantage of people, when I think the church is wealthy. I may be wrong.

Exec,

I wrote often, not always.

But it often seems to me that some atheists scorn those who have a belief in a "god", with the same "venom" as those with a "god" scorn the atheism.
The fervour, to convert others to one's own position, often seems to be due to one's insecurity in with one's own stance. Perhaps the motivation is that the more one converts, or who at least join the "cause", the more validity the cause has..

----------------

As far as abuse by religions are concerned, I think, in general, they have probably been more responsible for the "advancement" and development of "civilised societies" than diminution of those societies.

I am not denying that horrendous crimes have been committed in the name of a God. (Stalin committed such "crimes" or "sacrifices" in the name of the revolution, or sometimes in the name of Lenin.)

(What the true beliefs, or reasons for those actions carried out are debatable. But many still believe Stalin was a "good man".)


Blind adherence, to "beliefs" whether, they are political, or religious, should I think be challenged and not inflicted on any group by an individual, or a group, simply by right of previous authority, or unchallenged "belief" in ones own wisdom .

I am using "authority" loosely, to mean institutional power (religious), hereditary power, political power (Peerage by rights of birth). All slightly different, but nevertheless insidious in our society.

I agree with all that you have said, Fred.

My God! Is that a first for you?

;-)

Morality can easily be taught in school without religion. Morality is only what is convenient for society.

Cheap labour, or rather free labour (which is now being pushed) is what it's all about.. what next? pay to work?