Pete

I think it more like questioning things they cannot stand. So much of the average service is given over to affirming and asserting a set of beliefs. It could be the creed, the hymns, the prayers, the sermon etc etc. They are designed to inspire conformity, There is no room for questioning any of it.

I was brought up in a fundamental faith. The problem is once you start to think for yourself your whole world and those you know gets turned upside down. I want to think and they want to mould me. The whole thing is not open to free thought and I feel sorry for anyone who goes through what I went through, Sure if you join today and you know this is not what you think then I think your asking for problems. I was brought up and nurtured to trust it all and it tears to pull apart and the reception is not good. I do not care today but I remember what it felt like. Even today among my siblings it has caused problems with each pulling in different ways. Some for fundamentalism and some away. Try saying you do not agree when your getting preached at and I think you will know what it means to get out of the indoctrination. The bible says it will tear families apart and they walk away justified and I walk away bruised because I still love them despite my disagreement. I think you have to be in it to know what its like to live it.

I agree with Meredog. How does it affect anyone else if I believe in evolution, that the bible is flawed, or that Gay people have a right to be themselves. However, try saying that in most fundamental churches and out comes the inquisition.

Now we are on a different position from that of beheading. I know that there is persecution for anyone who differs with fanatics because I have received some hostile behaviour when I first said I felt the persecution of Gay people was wrong. It was horrible. .

It is very rare but there has been incidents in the UK when some African fundamentalists have tried to kill their offspring because they are a witch or processed by spirits etc. It can happen in the states too:- http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danthropology/2014/10/christian-community-remains-silent-as-christian-zealot-attempts-to-behead-a-witch/ It has to be said that these persons would be seen as quite mad by the mainstream Christian communities. I guess this conversation is more about those who justify the bible or word of God which asks for such actions rather than those who would actually do it. In truth despite the wording most religious groups do not condone or associate with such behaviours. However this is not true of history,. Mostly nowadays it is in isolated Muslim groups. Again these are not condoned by most of the religion.

Dan considering what has happened over the years it does not appear to me God preserved anyone. Tell me a time when all was wonderful and not suffering persecution. The term on witchcraft is not described in the bible. It just said kill them. I cannot imagine a Witch would want to enter the temple and neither would I.

I still think that it is barbaric to kill someone who is a witch just because you has chosen another religion. It is just sick and another example of lengths some will go to justify the unjustifiable of behaviours.

So I guess by that standard Dan you will not try convert people from one religion to yours or they will have the right not to suffer you to live. Or is it just evil to do such a thing

Very sadly this is true.

I have no problem with someone who believes something. The issue I have is with those who cannot think beyond their script to see the immoral depth of persecuting gay people, stoning people, persecuting women, persecuting other faiths, so called honour killing, sacrificing people or helpless animals, and the list goes on. This backed up with threats of hell and damnation. I kinda go with - be free to believe what you will as long as I have that same right to agree, disagree, differ, critique or not believe at all. Trouble is for some this is something they cannot do and so even from an interfaith community, sadly a line has to be drawn (imo). There have been a number of incidents where people have been killed or persecuted for straying from the mainstream of fanatics and it is sickening (imo). It has led me to believe not all belief is to be respected.

Another example. To me it is sickening and yes I would challenge him:- http://www.aol.co.uk/video/six-people-stabbed-at-a-gay-pride-parade-in-jerusalem-518980941

What if it involves animal cruelty or cannibalism. Luis I have the deepest respect for yòu but surely some do need challenging?

I am mostly with Dan on this. However I recall a woman who was to be stoned for being raped some while ago saying if it is right for this to happen as all is the will of Allah. Now I know most Muslims would not agree with the women but it shows to me the ability of fanatical societies to corrupt the think of all and not allow diversity. Now what I am going to say is, I believe it is right for others to challenge the thinking of others to allow them to be able to think more flexible. It is not a case of saying that I should just say this is their faith and not get involved. I also think of the intervention of Gladys Aylward in her protest against the culture of of breaking womens feet and binding them. Was she right to challenge the culture. I think so. It is not always a right in my opinion to never intervene in the ways and thoughts of another even if that does not directly affect you.

Yet on the other side of things I have witnessed bereavement in both dogs and cats. Someone I know of had two cats for years. When one died the other used to lie next to the grave of the other often. The feelings appear pretty genuine to me. I am sure both cats and dogs know what it is to grow old and to not be able to do the things they did when younger. Even human children are not born knowing about death. It is something they learn as they get older. . I think often we are closer to animals than what we think.

Is it for all of us. Genes, Chromosomes, & chemistry play a big role in our sentient being and it is not all for some of us. If an android was sentient then would it be all for all of them?

Would it be a religion where only androids would go to heaven

If Androids had a religion. What would it be?

Give a person a job at a store and you potentially provide many work for years. Build a mmachine to replace them and you provide only a few work for a short while. Getting machines to do all labour does not in my view mean greater leisure for all as not all own the profits of the work of machines to feed them whilst they leisure.

Totally agree. I refuse to use them. They keep treating me as if its to do with my age and thinking I am a technophobe but it is not. I probably know more about computer than they do. Yet, every time I see one of the machines I keep thinking that's someone's job and they need the work and refuse to use them and if they insist I make sure as many things go wrong as possible until someone assists. One place was so insistent I use the machine I just logged some of it in and left the rest on the counter. I then walked away and shopped elsewhere. The manager was not happy with me. I just said to them - it was them that insisted I use it. Not me. I know so many people who would be glad of the counter work. I know it's a bore but most of us do not go to work just for the fun of it. We go to earn a living. We need to to put clothes on our back and food in our bellies and a roof over our heads.

Its coming:- http://on.aol.co.uk/video/humanoid-robot-interacts-with-people-518784596?playlist=160757&icid=hpaolon

My thoughts:- There is that which evolution has created and I wonder if we will one day we can take the short and create that which is human equivalent. My thought is if it can be created then what we are talking about here is the means of its creation rather than the possibility of it ever happening.

Androids are robots but not all robots are androids. I still do not see how my post does not support Jonathan's position. Not being awkward but I just do not see it at present.

An android is a robot[1] or synthetic organism[2][3][4] designed to look and act like a human, especially one with a body having a flesh-like resemblance.[2] Until recently, androids have largely remained within the domain of science fiction, frequently seen in film and television. However, advancements in robot technology have allowed the design of functional and realistic humanoid robots.[5]http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(robot) Seems Jonathan is correct according to Wiki

Are we not programmed from childhood?

I am not able to say what a soul is but there is talk of producing thinking robots. My thought is towards will they be seen as having human status.