Well...
We'll 'never know' anything to an absolute certainty, but that's the burden you accept when you adopt a scientific, evidence-based view (which is why, incidentally, the accusation that you can discount science because in the people who look to science for answers think it is '100% SCIENTIFIC FACT' is bunkum)

It is not an ad hominem attack to suggest that someone who thinks that the bible and a mass of scientific evidence should have equal weight is talking bollocks. It's just a fair point.
(SnowyTheWereRabbit the Leporid from Hell, Fri 20 Feb 2009, 23:52, 1 reply)

But...
not every Christian believes every word of the Bible is literally true and doesn't give equal weight to it and science. For example I don't believe, I know there is a God but I'm perfectly happy to allow others their beliefs and knowledge. Just like Loon said, how do I know I'm right?

I don't, really. I could be facing Cthulu after I die. (Oh shit, will I be surprised!)I believe God created the universe. However, He has to work within His own rules. It wasn't made in 6 days; He started just like scientists posit: the Big Bang, the sun coalesced and the earth formed in orbit:"The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; ...And God said, 'Let there be light';...there was evening and there was morning"
Continents and DNA formed and vegetation grew (altho do scientists know where plants came from?)"God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas....And God said, "Let the earth put forth vegetation,...And it was so".
Genesis is a bit off, because they have the sun and moon forming next and that's not how it works. Meh.
Life began in the sea and developed into extraaqua life-birds i.e. reptiles/dinosaurs: "So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good."

and so on.
I think 99.99bar% of what are called "miracles " aren't. If angels or whoever save someone in a car accident, does that mean the one who died wasn't worthy of saving? Of course not. These people who delude themselves they won't ever be harmed because they pray are in essence shoving their accidents onto the rest of us. God doesn't go around willy-nilly performing miracles, he has other things to do than listen to whingers. Sheesh!

I don't mind atheists, agnostics, members of other faiths-they have their own just-as-compelling-as-mine reasons. The point is as tootired's gran said, "Do a good one" whatever you believe. I hold bad Christians in contempt and like ethical atheists.
I agree militants of any stripe are annoying, scary and sometimes dangerous (Crusaders, jihadists, people who burn widows, anyone?). Someone who is secure in their beliefs is concerned with their own behaviour and can't be arsed to bully others about theirs.

On being a cunt: I think it depends on the person and their interpretation rather than the religion.
Except for Scientologists. They are all going to the Devil.
(TDub Nunc id vides, nunc ne vides on, Sat 21 Feb 2009, 21:00, closed)

hmmm
"For example I don't believe, I know there is a God [...] how do I know I'm right? I don't, really."

So, you do believe in god and you don't know he exists.
(MrChimp previously Monsieur, Sun 22 Feb 2009, 14:25, closed)

Er...
...yes. Because belief and knowledge are two different things.

For example, one may believe that Madelein McCann was murdered by her parents. But one does not necessarily know it.
( Undercovercarrot got done for gross misconduct on..., Sun 22 Feb 2009, 21:12, closed)

I say
I know He exists the same way I know what I want for supper. I just do. I can't imagine not believing in God. It would be like not believing in my butt. I can't see it, but I know it's there.


Not the world's most elegant argument. Sorry.
(TDub Nunc id vides, nunc ne vides on, Mon 23 Feb 2009, 9:48, closed)

Use a mirror.
Then you'll be able to see your cute bum.
( flake has nothing against your right leg, Mon 23 Feb 2009, 23:59, closed)

Mwah!
Perfect answer!
(TDub Nunc id vides, nunc ne vides on, Tue 24 Feb 2009, 18:18, closed)

In other words
you don't know it at all, it's just faith.

Which is fine.
(An Alien sneezed on Bill Oddies binoculars, Thu 26 Feb 2009, 13:18, closed)