All Comments (24)

It's a great achievement for Islamic leaders and scholars as well as Newsweek and the Washington post to present this imperative opportunity for inter cultural and global philosophical dialogue. What's important is that by exchanging our ideas and comments regarding inter religious relations and world events that affect our views of each other as fellow human beings. Since the advent of humanity, We strove to make sense of the world we live in and the lives we've experienced. Worldwide curiosities to learn the true nature of life and our universe is an exceptionally rare virtue upon life on Earth. In other words, we're the only known species on the planet who've pursued to unravel these great mysteries and developed written philosophies based upon our understanding of the world around us.
One such philosophy that lasted throughout the ages of humanity is commonly known as religion and spirituality. Ever since our early belief in the Sky God and the God Mother from ancient Pagan times, we vigorously pursued to unravel the truth about our most profound questions. As any educated person would know that religion and their core beliefs or faith have evolved over time. Paganism, Monotheism and Polytheism have been influenced by humanity as these great philosophies have influenced our perceptions and decisions in life over the ages. Over time humanity has embraced diverse religious faiths and spiritual convictions that continue to influence our behavior in our times and most likely beyond.
What's vital for humanity's progress and even survival is to know the true nature of faith itself. To understand the true origins of faith. But most of all, is to accept the truth for whatever it may be. Each one of us will learn the absolute truth once we die. But until that time comes for anyone of us to depart this world, we really don't know the answer to God's existence nor do we have the absolute truth in regards to the true nature of God. Besides if we did possess the truth, there would've been only one religion on Earth with no diversification of any way, shape of form. There would only be one holy scripture written throughout human history.
Considering one's religious faith to be absolute, while considering others to be false would be ethnocentric at best. While collectively searching to unravel the mysteries on nature, life and the universe through sincere reasoning and serious research would be enlightening at its worst. Most importantly, we must accept the fact is that none of us have conclusive evidence to confirm our core beliefs and there's always an immanent change that our most cherished beliefs could be wrong. Our greatest challenge would be to tolerate the truth no matter what it may ultimately be. With such an open mind, we would be able to overcome any future discovery that would contradict our faith regarding the true nature of life, spirituality and divinity.
Humanity does have the ability to achieve such a social achievement. However, it's solely up to humanity and not any other entity or groups of entities to decide our destinies. Each one of us has a choice to make; either hopelessly engaging into meaningless inter cultural conflicts or combine our scientific and cultural gifts to thrive into an enlightened global civilization that could ultimately expand beyond our solar system. The choice is yours, and the time to make it is now!

Unfortunately, doubt is not part of most persons' religious orientation. They are brought up to accept without question the dogmas of their religions. Persons who question are usually ostracized from their congregations. If questioning were encouraged, then religions would die because their bases would be undermined.

I think the reason for the divide was that the ruling entity at the time was Christianity.

garyD - isn't it enough that the whole world uses a calendar based on the birthdate of your lord and saviour? Is it necessary for a world of non-Christians to also have to refer to a date of "Year of the Lord?" In Latin yet?

Because sir the very reason for the Divide was one REligion namely Christianity. Oh and by the way it isn't Current Era Its Common Era Whjich is even sillier, since without Chrsitianity it wouldn't be very common at all.

Because sir the very reason for the Divide was one REligion namely Christianity.

Yeah, I have to agree with Candide and Alancon, I really don't get Dr. Edgar's comments. Religious beliefs, including Christianity, don't hold together very well if one questions them to any significant extent. How is it important, logical, or even ethical that a god would have to die in order for that same god to "forgive" _us_, for sins he obviously created us to commit? What's the point of "worshipping" anyone or anything, especially a God like that described in the Bible? What does it say about a being that needs others to "worship" him? The Bible is filled with atrocities. Has Dr. Edgar questioned why they would exist in the Word of God?

One would think that if Dr. Edgar "practiced what he preached," as they say, he would be an atheist today. I would be more impressed with Dr. Edgar - or any Christian - if he took a stand to denounce the atrocities and barbarities found in the Bible. The fact that they don't puts their own moral credibility into serious question.

Yeah, I have to agree with Candide and Alancon, I really don't get Dr. Edgar's comments. Religious beliefs, including Christianity, don't hold together very well if one questions them to any significant extent. How is it important, logical, or even ethical that a god would have to die in order for that same god to "forgive" _us_, for sins he obviously created us to commit? What's the point of "worshipping" anyone or anything, especially a God like that described in the Bible? What does it say about a being that needs others to "worship" him? The Bible is filled with atrocities. Has Dr. Edgar questioned why they would exist in the Word of God?

One would think that if Dr. Edgar "practiced what he preached," as they say, he would be an atheist today. I would be more impressed with Dr. Edgar - or any Christian - if he took a stand to denounce the atrocities and barbarities found in the Bible. The fact that they don't puts their own moral credibility into serious question.

Here's a question. http://www.hoax-buster.org/sellyoursoul is an in depth look at the most significant conversation of all time, Moses making a deal with a being living in a ball of fire. Was that really God or could it have been Devil?

Your essay prompts a look at the evidence that goes even deeper than the HB look. God is almighty thus God gets what God wants by simply willing it. Devil is significantly more limited. Jesus called upon His Father for relief and none came.

Was that because His Father did not have the power to relieve? The being in the ball of fire wanted the Israelites out of Egypt and to Canan, the land of the Hittites and Amorites. If that was Almighty God then should they not be there? If Jews are the Israelites they still haven't made it to the 'promised land', Judah not listed as being a part thereof.

Anything can be explained with enough faith,, in the explainer. Saying God sacrificed His only begotten son is perhaps the ultimate in wild explanations. Seems the God in question is sorely lacking in horsepower, a more reasonable explanation. Low power Gods are called Devils.

Calling Devil God does not make Devil God but does make Him happy.

Garyd:

Nonsense?? Contrived?? What is contrived about taking religion out of a dating system that is used world wide? Calendars are all inventions, not divine inspirations. What think you of Julian Days or Reduced Julian Days? All calendars are arbitrary in their choice of starting points.

As for the basic question of this thread - faith implies belief without objective evidence. How many faiths are there and have there been? All have/had believers where are/were fervent in their faith. Somebody is/was wrong,since many are flatly contradictory and even ignore objective evidence. How to decide??

Yes yoyo I know that is one of the resons I don't use it. The others being that it is nonsensical and contrived.

That was me above with the Luther quotes.

Att: Yo Yo, et al at 5:25, 34;

Eclati-On(s) refer to the "Common Man Made & Zero G-D Eclat, as the Era/Epoch(s), of the H.E.

means "HOLOCAUST ERA" of hassling over a name for ECLAT, SOUECE-ONE, a/k/a H.E. Ya Ya YO Yo, Ying and Yang.

CE was probably invented by Jews. The common era sounds better than AD, in the year of the Lord. No problem. It is totally an artificial way of calling time. Jesus did not get born in the year 0.

Roman documents might have helped us but under the Christian Roman emperors records with unfavorable views of Christianity and Jesus were burned and destroyed. See Robert Eisler's book Jesus the Messiah and John the Baptist.

Im curious - how can questioning be the foundation of faith, when the definition of faith is: belief that is not based on proof? How can anyone reconcile these two opposing things? Sorry, the answer of the bible says so, is completly meaningless; unless you have (blind) faith in the first place. Which brings me back to my original question... If we leave out basic logic, then sure, all of this makes sense. If you put a tiny amount of logic in place, such as who wrote the bible, exactly?, and there is no real answer (god is not the answer), because no one really knows. Hundreds of years later, it is presented and taken as fact. Ever hear of the facts of bloodletting? You are a witch if you float? those sorts of things also came from (blind) faith. It is really sad to me that adults (ADULTS!!!) feel the need to have an imaginary friend that has all the answers, all the time, BUT, will not share them, cannot offer any real proof of any sort, and then use the imginary friend as an excuse to hurt, kill, and ostracize others who do not believe the same way as they do. Please people, use your brain - even if you think god made it for you.

re above..
C.E.replaced A.D.for Anno Domini which meant the Year of Our Lord.
C.E.takes religion out of the picture,as is more fitting in these modern times.

By the way guys
CE refers to the Common Era.Certainly NOT the Christian Era.

Alencon wrote: "I'm sorry, but it seems to me that the greatest crime in Christianity, or any other religion for that matter, is thinking. What was it Paul said in Corinthians? Ah yes, that's right, he said '...the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight.'"

And Luther carried on that tradition in fine form.

"Faith must trample under foot all reason, sense, and understanding." *

"Reason is the enemy of faith." *

* Whether he actually uttered these words or not, I do not know. They are widely attributed to him though.

Mel: when the Roman Emperor adopted the Christian superstition the dates suddenly were reckoned from the alleged birth of Jesus, the wrong date in any case. The Romans formerly dated everything from 758BC, the founding of the city of Rome (I may have the date wrong by a few years. It is a long time since I last read Livy. Have you read Livy? Or anything other than the damned Gospels which are nothing more than historic romances?)

Mel: when the Roman Emperor adopted the Christian superstition the dates suddenly were reckoned from the alleged birth of Jesus, the wrong date in any case. The Romans formerly dated everything from 758BC, the founding of the city of Rome (I may have the date wrong by a few years. It is a long time since I last read Livy. Have you read Livy? Or anything other than the damned Gospels which are nothing more than historic romances?)

"There are countless stories of some very serious questioning in the life of faith of many of the saints who have gone before us. St."

Perhaps, but isn't it amazing that they all end up with the so-called "saints" realizing that the religious dogma was right all the time?

I'm sorry, but it seems to me that the greatest crime in Christianity, or any other religion for that matter, is thinking. What was it Paul said in Corinthians? Ah yes, that's right, he said "...the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight."

According to religion it's ok to think as long as you come to the "right" conclusion. Come to the wrong conclusion and you get burned as a heretic.

Place any religion up against the mirror of reason and it collapses into the absurdity that it is.

By the way Mel, CE stands for "CURRENT ERA" and not "Christ Era."

To Candide:

Do you believe that today is June 14, 2007 CE?
CE being Christ Era? How did they get that date?

"It is one thing to show a Man he ie in error, and another to put him in the possession of Truth.".

Our panelist wrote: "As a human creation of God, using reason based on experience is one of the best ways to deepen the life of faith."

It's also the best way to deprogram yourself from the disease of faith. Funny how that works.

Since faith is wishful thinking doubt is the only corrective.

Sure, we would all like to live forever, perhaps. But that's no reason for believing nonsense like Christianity.