thaibeachlovers

If you read the entire thing, I wasn't saying religion per se is not worth much. if we can't understand the meaning of what the founders of religions meant without needing scholars to tell us what they meant, the religion isn't worth much I fully understand what the Christ said when he referred to forgiveness and loving others without needing a scholar to tell me what he meant. I'm not a Christian because IMO his message was corrupted by the men that started the church, though I try to live by his teachings. Apparently they didn't even allow the followers to know what he said till the reformation ( services were in Latin ).

Perhaps the lower sum is the real value and the problem was what he paid for it?

While I can't support that, as we all know a POTUS that was a crook, I love for it happen just to see the opposition melting down in outrage.

PS I was there long before I became a believer, so I didn't see God in nature down there. I know that I would if I went back now. It's an amazingly spiritual place if one wishes to see it like that. As far as sunsets go, for much of the year there were none, but the first sunrise after 8 weeks of darkness was truly spectacular. I am forever privileged to have had the opportunity to live there.

In Riyadh there is a university dedicated to understanding what Muhammad was reported to have said ( and perhaps interpreting it is a way beneficial to some ), and I have no doubt the same exists for Christianity and other religions. IMO if we can't understand the meaning of what the founders of religions meant without needing scholars to tell us what they meant, the religion isn't worth much.

No one is telling anyone else ( at least not for a very long time ) what to do on here. The information has been given where one can research ideas about what we believe, or one can ignore the information. Up to you.

Probably not to your satisfaction, but yes. More to the point, has anything on here convinced a believer that God doesn't exist? NB. I didn't mention "religious person". IMO this thread has never been about religion "do-you-believe-in-god-and-why", despite the many attempts by non believers to make it so.

I was not a scientist- I was on the maintenance side and spent a lot of time outside. Eg all our water came from glacier ice and someone had to go get it, which much of the time was me. In the summer we went skiing a lot. It probably wasn't much colder where we were than parts of Canada, so as long as one dressed for it, going outside was no problem.

IMO you miss the point that so many in the US hate Washington so much that they are willing to vote for "the biggest liar in the USA". I doubt they "believe anything Trump says", but they are prepared to support him against the swamp as he's the only one doing so that has a chance of becoming the next president. Washington has done a brilliant job of deflecting attention from themselves to Trump, going by the media.

Thank you for that.

Good post. Perhaps all the posters that are raging against Russia should put their boots where their opinions are and go join the Ukrainians on the front line.

Islam was not started 2000 years ago. It's much younger than that.

I know a lot, having lived and worked in Saudi for years. I fail to understand why Pattaya Buddhists make a big deal about Ramadan when I don't recall them making a big deal about Easter.

They can eat if they "have" to and make it up some other time. Islam has a "get out" clause in the event of necessity. Don't ask me the actual edict, as I wasn't that interested, but I suffered through a few in Saudi. Non Muslims could eat normally, but not in front of Muslims.

LOL. Integrity in big business 5555555555555 I can't give a link as I don't remember the name of the documentary, but a while ago Al Jazeera did an expose about carbon offsetting and apparently it will make no difference to climate change. It is claimed that it is just a way for big business to pretend that it is doing something while carrying on polluting as usual.

I just remembered an example of dogs singing that didn't learn it from humans. When I was stationed in Antarctica I was on a base with huskies, and they "sang" in unison quite often at night. I really loved listening to them. They were even able to co ordinate their "song", as while one would start and the others join in, they would all stop at the same time. If one wants to see intelligent dogs, just observe huskies- amazing animals.

Soooo, is the contention that the universe will eventually be a vast collection of dead stars and dead planets just moving outwards forever? What about black holes? Do they have any thoughts about them? Anyway, as I believe in a creator that knew what it was doing, I believe that when the universe dies, all the matter is compressed to form the next big bang. The idea that the universe just carries on for ever as a collection of dead matter is rather sad. However, I accept that in the infinity of God it may not matter if the universe remains as a dead thing, as in infinity there is room enough for an infinite number of universes, is there not?

So true. They say we only use a part of our brain, so if we can equate it to a computer, which is getting smaller and able to process larger amounts of input, the capacity of our brain to learn must be exceedingly vast. Sadly, as we get older, the ability to utilize all that knowledge recedes, till we get to where I am and I can't remember so much of my life.

It's actually not unusual for dogs to be trained to sing. Pink Floyd when younger made a movie which includes a dog singing a song.

I always appreciate what you write, but to be honest that requires dedication and the will to "practice", which I lack, which is probably why I ended up where I am, rather than living the life of Riley in Thailand. I see myself as a visitor just passing through this life, so as long as I know the destination, I'm not that exercised as to how I get there. ????

They are trying to stop people illegally working in LOS. Visiting frequently raises a red flag. If one is staying 5 months at a time, one should get an appropriate visa.

President Zelensky often does this, compared to Putin who despite the overwhelming Russian numbers, has yet to set foot near the front lines. Errr, did you miss this the other day? https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/3/19/russia-ukraine-live-putin-makes-surprise-trip-to Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin makes surprise trip to Mariupol It's not like I care if either visits anywhere near the front line, but one should get one's facts right when making a statement, shouldn't one?

I remember it well. Wasn't exactly the FBI's best moment. Perhaps the ideal place to have a rally if one is standing up against the Washington swamp. I've changed my mind on Trump, and I hope he wins and wins big time. That'll rattle a few in Washington. He was elected IMO as a protest against the swamp, but since he lost, IMO the swamp has just been getting swampier.

You missed out some words in that. Please try again.

I've met many Americans and most were very nice to know, but the country seems to be having some sort of nervous breakdown, looking from the outside.