Yes.

1 hour ago, wil iam not said:

What is MATH the abbreviation for please?

mathematics

3 hours ago, Hummin said:

Consensus is not the opposite of science. Blind consensus is. Scientific consensus is simply what forms when many people test, question, and challenge the same subject and still end up landing near the same conclusion. That is not anti-science, that is usually science working as intended

Nothing has ever been discovered by consensus!

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Nothing has ever been discovered by consensus!

That was not my claim either. But consensus is still part of real science, as long as it is the result of evidence, challenge, and repeated testing rather than authority alone.

5 hours ago, save the frogs said:

mathematics

Maths In the plural, yes. Needs an S.

On 4/14/2026 at 12:01 PM, dinsdale said:

and it threatens an eternity of torture if you don't comply and believe in the unbelievable.

well, some believe in "forgiveness". So, no threat.

I prefer not to discuss believes. If so it ends (history) with fights and wars

I think, like the GOP, religion relies on two extremes...........low IQ for followers/swallowers/believers and high(er) IQs to manipulate.

M&Ms

10 minutes ago, MIke B Bad said:

I think, like the GOP, religion relies on two extremes...........low IQ for followers/swallowers/believers and high(er) IQs to manipulate.

M&Ms

We should have a conversation about how the left has replaced religion with politics.

10 minutes ago, TedG said:

We should have a conversation about how the left has replaced religion with politics.

Anyone who replaces religion with anything has my vote.

Religions are Satan's masterstroke.

There is good reason why it's said not to argue religion. No one can really prove there is a God, besides looking all around and understanding all the different species, how they interact, how the earth is exactly the right distance from the sun to sustain life, along with everything needed on earth to do same, and how the brain works, along with many other realities, and how this couldn't have happened by chance and needed a creator with a plan. And no one can prove there isn't a God and think this again, all happened by a big bang, matter coming from nothing.

It's best to let everyone choose their own path, as we will all see the truth when we pass.

Arguing creates distance between friends, and no one can get you into heaven anyway besides yourself. Praying for those already dead doesn't work for that reason.

No one is going to convince another adult of their beliefs being wrong, so the words mean nothing. Live your life, and know that if there wasn't any God, there would be millions hurting others a lot more every day than there already is, because those who hurt others intentionally, are not only disturbed, but have no God in their hearts.

Having no hope leave little but this earth, with all it's evil, and it would be very depressing thinking this is all there is, and we as believers see all the beautiful things that are here, and believe it's by design and not happenstance, that it's a prelude to something even more wonderful, as this life is already too short.

On 4/16/2026 at 9:18 AM, save the frogs said:

From AI:

In my post I was referring to anyone who believed in an almighty and not any particular institution. For example, you will some scientist in the US remain Roman Catholic or in the UK, Church of England scientists.

I don't rely on wiki nor AI.

Depending on what biogaphy or book on Einstein one reads overall he did believe in an almighty. What he didn't believe in was the way religious institutions, particularly the Jewish doctrines, taught what faith and belief should be. It was too strict for him and at the age of 13 he did not attend the planned Bar Mitzvah. Einstein wanted to be free to think for himself and how an almighty might view the human conditions of his time. The almighty had created the universe and it was up to us to find out how it worked.

Newton noted anywhere as one of the greatest scientists whose work and theories we use today, was also a believer in an almighty. And there are many others. They were/are people who could hardly be said to have 'low I.Q.'

On 4/15/2026 at 11:04 PM, Fat is a type of crazy said:

You say something non existent is non existent. Correct. But saying you have knowledge that god is non existent is a belief. It is one thing to say that there is no evidence that I am aware of that there is a god and something else to say I know that there is no god.

The softer expression of saying I believe there is no god - rather than I know there is no god - is a step too far too in my opinion - as the word belief indicates some sort of certainty that is simply not appropriate.

In fact even saying there is no evidence is potentially an issue because there may be some evidence that has not come to your attention.

One can simply say there is no evidence of a god that I am aware of and leave it there.

Surely this shows that it's largely a matter of semantics., both logical and lexical?

Your last sentence might well fall into line with what I'm saying and might perhaps might be modified to say "........ there is no evidence of a god that I am aware of and I really don't care ....anyway." That expresses my feelings and, IMO defines an Agnostic.

1 hour ago, VBF said:

Surely this shows that it's largely a matter of semantics., both logical and lexical?

Your last sentence might well fall into line with what I'm saying and might perhaps might be modified to say "........ there is no evidence of a god that I am aware of and I really don't care ....anyway." That expresses my feelings and, IMO defines an Agnostic.

It may be obvious but the poster who responded to you seemed to take you to task when you were correct - if you are a hard line atheist who says god simply does not exist then you have the same issue as believers in god - being that you are going beyond what you know into beliefs - even if the likelihood your beliefs are correct, based on known science, is significantly higher.

21 minutes ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

It may be obvious but the poster who responded to you seemed to take you to task when you were correct - if you are a hard line atheist who says god simply does not exist then you have the same issue as believers in god - being that you are going beyond what you know into beliefs - even if the likelihood your beliefs are correct, based on known science, is significantly higher.

Which almost proves my point!

The respondent (whom i cannot be bothered to look for and name) is entitled to his / her opinion - "I may not agree with you but I support your right to your opinion" comes to mind.

And yes, hard line atheists do have those very same issues - I agree. But to THEM they're not issues, merely their life beliefs - fine, if it makes them happy / contented.

BUT, we agnostics just shrug and say "Who cares...it's all irrelevant anyway until someone shows us proof either way"

Why, this whole thread is largely irrelevant other than it's a bit of fun to debate (politely).

Whatever is said on here will have zero influence on my lack of belief in, as I said earlier, any gods or deities until and unless someone proves their existence to me. But in 70 years, that hasn't happened so i'm not expecting it to happen in whatever time i have left!

And, here's the true agnostic response "I may be right, I may be wrong but I don't care one jot."

On 4/14/2026 at 11:11 AM, D Peter said:

Religion is a multi‑purpose human invention:

• It gives meaning

• It creates community

• It provides moral rules

• It offers comfort

• It connects people to something larger

• It organizes societies

{AI}

• It has been used to ferment war since the beginning of time.

• It make some people feel superior and therefore justify persecuted those that are "unbelievers".

• It is used to justify genocide, murder, and ethnic violence.

• It has been used to stifle curiosity, scientific discovery and questioning.

• It has been used to keep women, minorities and gay people down.

• Cult leaders use it to control and harm their followers to make themselves rich and powerful.

• Politicians use it to justify their immoral actions and keep thier people in line.

I could go on but,....

On 4/14/2026 at 11:11 AM, D Peter said:

Religion is a multi‑purpose human invention:

• It gives meaning

• It creates community

• It provides moral rules

• It offers comfort

• It connects people to something larger

• It organizes societies

{AI}

Please add:

It f$$ks altar boys.

If there is no god I have wasted a lot of money on red Fanta.

On 4/14/2026 at 3:57 PM, VocalNeal said:

During Ramadan in Indonesia more rice is consumed than at other times of the year.

It is supposed to be a time when ordinary people know what it is like to be hungry a condition which effects some poorer people.

Indonesians are not bad people it is just that an ancient tradition has not transitioned very well into the modern world.

I lived in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The same is true of Ramadan in both of those countries. It is like a huge feast all night long and then many sleep half the day. It is impossible to try and have university classes at this time of the year as half the students hardly bother to get up. Ramadan is a tradition with great intentions- to know what it is like to be hungry and to use that time in contemplation and to help those less fortunate; however, humans will be humans.

It reminds me a bit of Buddhism and Thais. While, I fully think that the original teachings of the Buddha are a wonderful guide to live one's life and strive to do so myself (obviously I am not always successful. ) In my opinion, most (not all) Thai Buddhist seem to have missed some of the most important points and think that merely giving money to a temple and bowing to a Buddha image makes merit and yet very few actually meditate regularly or live by Buddhist principles on a daily basis. I guess we can chalk it up to just being human.

On 4/16/2026 at 10:23 AM, wil iam not said:

What is MATH the abbreviation for please?

When I was at school, last century, we were taught Arithmetic, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pure and Applied, all lumped together and called MathematicS, shortened to MathS.

As I am sure you know, it isn't a case of when you studied but where.

Are you trying to be funny, or what?

9 hours ago, cdemundo said:

As I am sure you know, it isn't a case of when you studied but where.

Are you trying to be funny, or what?

Ashton under Lyne Grammar School. O and A levels in Pure & Applied MathS, as well as sciences, and most importantly MUSIC, in which field I made my living for over 50 years.

I am not being funny by asking about MathS, and tell about my academic achievements, unless you find it so.

7 hours ago, wil iam not said:

Ashton under Lyne Grammar School. O and A levels in Pure & Applied MathS, as well as sciences, and most importantly MUSIC, in which field I made my living for over 50 years.

I am not being funny by asking about MathS, and tell about my academic achievements, unless you find it so.

Whoever put the thumbs down please come on and tell us all where you learned whatever you did.

23 hours ago, Issan girl said:

• It has been used to ferment war since the beginning of time.

• It make some people feel superior and therefore justify persecuted those that are "unbelievers".

• It is used to justify genocide, murder, and ethnic violence.

• It has been used to stifle curiosity, scientific discovery and questioning.

• It has been used to keep women, minorities and gay people down.

• Cult leaders use it to control and harm their followers to make themselves rich and powerful.

• Politicians use it to justify their immoral actions and keep thier people in line.

I could go on but,....

Why are you living in a religious county?

27 minutes ago, TedG said:

Why are you living in a religious county?

There are countries free of the cancer of religion?

Does anyone here believe in .... MOSES?

Jesus gets all the hype, but this guy was a freak.

Do you think it's possible that he parted the Red Sea or is it just another fairy tale?

Do you think Ben Kingsley is a good actor at least?

18 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Does anyone here believe in .... MOSES?

Jesus gets all the hype, but this guy was a freak.

Do you think it's possible that he parted the Red Sea or is it just another fairy tale?

Do you think Ben Kingsley is a good actor at least?

Most likely, they crossed a shallow marshy area during unusual but explainable conditions, such as strong winds, possibly combined with low water levels, extreme low tide happens in combination with strong winds, and the event was later told in dramatic sacred language.

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Does anyone here believe in .... MOSES?

Jesus gets all the hype, but this guy was a freak.

Do you think it's possible that he parted the Red Sea or is it just another fairy tale?

Do you think Ben Kingsley is a good actor at least?

Yes I think Ben Kingsley is a good actor but feel some of his movie choices are poor. Sexy Beast is fun as a movie about expats if you haven't seen it. Last movie I saw him in was The Thursday Murder Club - I assumed based on Richard Osman being amusing on Pointless and all the hubbub about the movie that it would be good but it was totally twee and boring.