What about the growing evidence against evolution coming from non-christian scientists.

Cite your sources. My first degree was Genetics with a heavy amount of evolutionary/population genetics (my Honors)! I’ve yet to hear of any scientist who has a problem with the process of Evolution by Natural Selection so I’m genuinely interested in hearing about them.

What if for two thousand or more years people haven’t been ignorant and that why we still have the book?

Aha, but the book itself hasn’t been around for two thousand years but pieced together and then they sat in a council and decided which bits fit with ‘doctrine’.

I have no problems with personal convictions – as long as they are personal. You can’t expect me to listen to rhetoric from someone who you describe as a feminist any more than I should pay attention to anyone who favours a subgroup over another – racist, sectarian, sexist, feminist, male chauvenist. Any thinking human must consider the agenda of any speaker and rate it accordingly.

The cause of a war is of more relevance to who started (Dubya excluded) in no order WW1, WW2, Vietnam, Korea, Falklands, French Revolution etc Land and power are why wars are fought, even the crusades were due to the greed of corrupt officials

The difference, Andrew, being that evolution has evidence – evidence that is growing all the time whereas creationism has a post-dated book. That makes the Bible about as authoritative as “The Lord of the Rings” or “The Elves and the Showmaker”.

My third form RE teacher was very specific about it. Genesis is a story told to ignorant people in order to help them understand the creation of the world. It is not meant to be taken literally. Pretty progressive for a nun. Two thousand years later we have digital watches and facebook and we still have people climging to the fairytale?

I’m all for you having your own beliefs, Andrew, the problem is when they get shoved down others throats or, as in the case of Iris Robinson, there is an elected representative of the people spouting hate propaganda. Jesus, whether or not he actually existed, would be proud.

It’s only in recent years that Atheists have been standing up and not allowing themselves to be marginalised and the response from the right wing Church has been pretty damning – with claims of religious people being victimised. Seems the pot does indeed call the kettle black.

Are there many wars that were started by Atheists?

a local feminist with a degree in politics with womens studies.

Great. Another biased view. I’m not interested in the feminist viewpoint any more than I’m interested in any self-promotion group. I’m interested in equality and choice for humans nomatter their sex, colour, creed or position in life.

I think its about time people stopped believing they evolved from monkeys, I mean that’s fairytale stuff right there. How do the monkeys change, kiss from a princess?

I don’t think there is an anti-God conspiracy, and I know the historical “church” has a lot to apologise for but but I do think atheists should perhaps treat others as they would want treated themselves.

Way off topic sorry MJ, I have an update on the actual issue of abortion coming later from a local feminist with a degree in politics with womens studies.

my final word on the matter is that, we all have options BUT if I as a Scouter/Youth Worker have to be careful about what I say to the people I have in my care. Then politicians should have to do the same, We are all in their care!

A bit like when Mister Paisley was removed from the European Parliament (cf Wikipedia)

In 1988, when Pope John Paul II delivered a speech to the European Parliament, Paisley shouted “I Denounce you as the AntiChrist!” and held up a red poster reading “Pope John Paul II ANTICHRIST” in black letters. John Paul continued with his address after Paisley was ejected from the auditorium by fellow MEPs

Our leaders have made us the laughing stock of Europe. I’m not even going to wonder why Mister Paisley chose that colour scheme.

Don’t even bring Bush into the argument. I don’t think we should be proud that it’s easy to equate the leadership of Northern Ireland to ‘Dubya’.

These are the people we choose to lead us.

On the other point of Church’s I totally agree that they should not get involved with politics, look at the mess Iris Robinson has caused, Would Gordon Browns wife have been let away with these comments, I think not!

Or the fact that George Bush’s answer to the aids fight in Africa is, Don’t sleep together before marriage – because thats what the bible says!