16 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Karma (you reap what you sow), might explain the suffering of those kids - they were 'bad' in their previous life, (as were disabled people), and therefore we should all help them in this life, so that their next rebirth leads to a more rewarding next life.

Ah so disabled people if they aren't feeling life is difficult enough should just blame themselves really, stupid idea

13 minutes ago, simon43 said:

As a scientist, and especially with my background in space, the universe etc, I cannot believe in any higher being. There are scientific explanations for the existance of the stars, planets, nebula etc. Additionally, I can't accept any higher being would allow the suffering of innocents, such as the many kids in Myanmar.

I'm not a 'registered' Buddhist, but I find it a whole lot easier to understand Buddhism, which is not a religion and has no god. Karma (you reap what you sow), might explain the suffering of those kids - they were 'bad' in their previous life, (as were disabled people), and therefore we should all help them in this life, so that their next rebirth leads to a more rewarding next life.

This is evidence of a Big bang but not that it happened without a creator. All in the universe, let alone with the earth the only provable life existing, all in one place, a definitive distance from the sun to sustain that life, with all the species and all they need in this one place, along with the intricasies of the human brain itself, show a definite plan.

Much of suffering on earth is from humans themselves. That God put diseases and mosquitoes (for one specie) on earth can be a learning tool for those involved to help others, with the fact no one lives forever anyway and this is plainly a test of faith.

4 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Its a fake philosophy.

Just as you cannot outdo a crappy junk food diet by going for a run, you cannot outdo your negative karma by just saying "I believe in Jeebus".

Belief without actions isn't enough. Karma comes to those who hurt others, although it doesn't always come fast, nor in the ways you would think. People by their own actions, ingrained ones, eventually destroy themselves. DNA and genetics happened because people had sex with others, and most of the time that history won't let you live to 100 or more, unless you adopt healthy living all your life. Nothing fake about belief, as it's part of our makeup, our mind and body connection.

9 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Ah so disabled people if they aren't feeling life is difficult enough should just blame themselves really, stupid idea

Not blame themselves - blame their previous life, (which of course they know nothing about).

I recall my dear Thai niece, dying in hospital a few years ago from TB. 2 days before her death (and she was weak but lucid), the nurse came to her and explained that 'this' life was almost over, and soon she would start her next life. No tears or sadness from my niece - she understand this concept completely as a Buddhist.

This belief makes Buddhist funerals a much happier event........

4 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I recall my dear Thai niece, dying in hospital a few years ago from TB. 2 days before her death (and she was weak but lucid), the nurse came to her and explained that 'this' life was almost over, and soon she would start her next life. No tears or sadness from my niece - she understand this concept completely as a Buddhist.

This belief makes Buddhist funerals a much happier event........

Does Thailand vaccinate for TB?

15 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I recall my dear Thai niece, dying in hospital a few years ago from TB. 2 days before her death (and she was weak but lucid), the nurse came to her and explained that 'this' life was almost over, and soon she would start her next life. No tears or sadness from my niece - she understand this concept completely as a Buddhist.

This belief makes Buddhist funerals a much happier event........

It isn't always hard to make others relaxed, but what happens with all the praying when it's not to God but an idol? My mom was passing and she said she didn't want to go, but what relaxed her was her own faith and my reminding her of she will soon be with Jesus in a pain free place with no more earthly worries. The what if is what enters many minds when they don't believe.

12 minutes ago, temuFarang said:

Does Thailand vaccinate for TB?

Yes, as Thailand is a high incidence country, so it's done as newborns, as my daughter was.

On 7/17/2026 at 11:53 AM, digger70 said:

There is no life after death. ones you're death that's it The End.

No one can prove anything else.

But you can't prove that either!

Here is an interesting concept

Issac Asimov's The Last Answer

4 hours ago, temuFarang said:

Does Thailand vaccinate for TB?

TB treatment is free in Thailand (30 baht scheme). Unfortunately, due to Covid isolation etc, she didn't know that she had TB until it was too late... She was never vaccinated against TB as a child, (and not a single child that I know in Thailand has had a TB vaccination, even though it's endemic - Wife had it, her brother had it etc...)

Edited Sunday at 04:54 AM3 days by simon43

11 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

Belief in God doesn't mean a religion but a personal belief. I don't need to prove my belief is right. It's up to the others to decide. Most people on earth believe in God. Those that don't have their reasons. A particular religion doesn't need to be used, as those are man made. God wasn't man made.

AI explains it...Belief in God: This is a personal thought or feeling. You can believe a higher power exists without joining a group or going to a place of worship.

Religion: This is an organized system. It includes holy books, leaders, specific rules for living, and group ceremonies..

1. Nothing wrong with it being a group, as people can pray together. If less people believed there was a God, there would be more crime, as following God's laws keeps many from going wrong. A fear or just wanting to do right.

   Religion is no guarantee, as that's again man made, and some people use religion in evil ways, and not as they were designed. Any religion that believes in the one true God is following the right path. If there were more gods, which there aren't, there would be obvious competition. Praying to people or false idols doesn't help anyone.

I’m not going down this road again with you, where personal belief becomes hand-picking from the shelf to fit your own worldview. At that point it is no longer just belief, but your truth, expected to triumph over everyone else’s.

I see religion more as a community builder than anything else. But the moment it is presented as the only truth, I become defensive. Yes, there may be a creator, or even creators, out there somewhere, but none of us knows that with certainty. We simply believe.

OK, let's humour him.

Life after life.

And then what?

You're just kicking the can down the road without understanding why you're kicking the can 😄

9 hours ago, bunnydrops said:

But you can't prove that either!

Exactly.

We don't know what we don't know.

It's not meant to be known.

On 7/18/2026 at 11:44 AM, fredwiggy said:

Not religion as all that's needed is the belief.

Humans do what they want because God gave us free will, with choices we can make.

Most of us on earth choose God, and some believe the universe happened all by itself, which is ridiculous. Some hate God, because he took away a loved one, and some because religion was forced down a few's throats, which turned them away. I've only believed because it all makes more sense, that there is indeed a creator. This is obviously a plan.

People can change because they don't want to go to hell, which is a belief, or they can just follow a good lifestyle, and not intentionally hurt others, without a belief.

Did you mean Swadha? Yes, there are a lot of different religions and beliefs, but only one God, so it's up to those who believe to pick the right one. Only one can lead us to heaven, as the rest are all man made.

Yes also, that many who claim a religion don't act accordingly, which is why wars are fought and people are killed.

As an atheist, please help me to hop on the Religion Bandwagon. Witch God? In India alone there are over 30 thousand Gods.

- But please don't try to sell me the God of the Israelites. The old testament written by some tribal chiefs wanting to cement their power over some volatile underlings. Realising that the ultimate way to control a bunch of individualistic ruffians is to involve a devine "higher power". Them having a direct wire to God as the only ones. No other concept (was and is) as successful as this one when it comes to "controlling of the masses".

Besides, nowhere in the sciptures does it say that Jehova" is the God for everybody. It's strictly the God of the Isrealites only. Only Paul and his perfect PR department made it a God for "everybody".

So, clearly, us christians worship the God of the Isrealites.

You say that the God of the Israelites is the "only God" and all others are "man made".

Fine, that inevitably means that we should start another round of "crusades", eliminating everybody that does not belive in the God of the Isrealites. We did it before.

On 7/18/2026 at 11:44 AM, fredwiggy said:

Not religion as all that's needed is the belief.

Humans do what they want because God gave us free will, with choices we can make.

Most of us on earth choose God, and some believe the universe happened all by itself, which is ridiculous. Some hate God, because he took away a loved one, and some because religion was forced down a few's throats, which turned them away. I've only believed because it all makes more sense, that there is indeed a creator. This is obviously a plan.

People can change because they don't want to go to hell, which is a belief, or they can just follow a good lifestyle, and not intentionally hurt others, without a belief.

Did you mean Swadha? Yes, there are a lot of different religions and beliefs, but only one God, so it's up to those who believe to pick the right one. Only one can lead us to heaven, as the rest are all man made.

Yes also, that many who claim a religion don't act accordingly, which is why wars are fought and people are killed.

As an atheist, please help me to hop on the Religion Bandwagon. Witch God? In India alone there are over 30 thousand Gods.

- But please don't try to sell me the God of the Israelites. The old testament written by some tribal chiefs wanting to cement their power over some volatile underlings. Realising that the ultimate way to control a bunch of individualistic ruffians is to involve a devine "higher power". Them having a direct wire to God as the only ones. No other concept (was and is) as successful as this one when it comes to "controlling of the masses".

Besides, nowhere in the sciptures does it say that Jehova" is the God for everybody. It's strictly the God of the Isrealites only. Only Paul and his perfect PR department made it a God for "everybody".

So, clearly, us christians worship the God of the Isrealites.

You say that the God of the Israelites is the "only God" and all others are "man made".

Fine, that inevitably means that we should start another round of "crusades", eliminating everybody that does not belive in the God of the Isrealites. We did it before.

6 hours ago, swissie said:

As an atheist, please help me to hop on the Religion Bandwagon. Witch God? In India alone there are over 30 thousand Gods.

- But please don't try to sell me the God of the Israelites. The old testament written by some tribal chiefs wanting to cement their power over some volatile underlings. Realising that the ultimate way to control a bunch of individualistic ruffians is to involve a devine "higher power". Them having a direct wire to God as the only ones. No other concept (was and is) as successful as this one when it comes to "controlling of the masses".

Besides, nowhere in the sciptures does it say that Jehova" is the God for everybody. It's strictly the God of the Isrealites only. Only Paul and his perfect PR department made it a God for "everybody".

So, clearly, us christians worship the God of the Isrealites.

You say that the God of the Israelites is the "only God" and all others are "man made".

Fine, that inevitably means that we should start another round of "crusades", eliminating everybody that does not belive in the God of the Isrealites. We did it before.

As an atheist, please help me to hop on the Religion Bandwagon. Witch God? In India alone there are over 30 thousand Gods.

- But please don't try to sell me the God of the Israelites. The old testament written by some tribal chiefs wanting to cement their power over some volatile underlings. Realising that the ultimate way to control a bunch of individualistic ruffians is to involve a devine "higher power". Them having a direct wire to God as the only ones. No other concept (was and is) as successful as this one when it comes to "controlling of the masses".

Besides, nowhere in the sciptures does it say that Jehova" is the God for everybody. It's strictly the God of the Isrealites only. Only Paul and his perfect PR department made it a God for "everybody".

So, clearly, us christians worship the God of the Isrealites.

You say that the God of the Israelites is the "only God" and all others are "man made".

Fine, that inevitably means that we should start another round of "crusades", eliminating everybody that does not belive in the God of the Isrealites. We did it before.

As an atheist, you shouldn't believe in any gods, so saying there are thousands doesn't mean anything to anyone besides those that believe in those false gods. I'm not trying to sell you on anything. If you choose not to believe, then don't, so arguing with a believer won't help anyway, as you aren't going to change our minds. People don't believe for a variety of reasons, and that's their choice. We're not controlled. We've just made up our minds to believe in God.

4 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

If you choose not to believe, then don't, so arguing with a believer won't help anyway, as you aren't going to change our minds. People don't believe for a variety of reasons, and that's their choice. We're not controlled. We've just made up our minds to believe in God.

Yes, it's a one way street.

You will never change your mind, but everyone else is expected to.

3 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Yes, it's a one way street.

You will never change your mind, but everyone else is expected to.

Who said that? I said it's our choices, and no one will change a believers mind. If the non believers change their mind, that's good for them in my thinking. One thing that's for certain. We'll all see the truth when we pass.

1 minute ago, fredwiggy said:

Who said that? I said it's our choices, and no one will change a believers mind. If the non believers change their mind, that's good for them in my thinking. One thing that's for certain. We'll all see the truth when we pass.

But a lot of people think the God of the Bible is an a-hole.

And they don't want to follow that God.

Maybe they would be willing to follow a better God if one was presented.

On 7/16/2026 at 7:42 PM, swissie said:

Would you like to have a new life after your earhtly death? I for one find my 1 live as sufficient, not looking for any sort of "repetition" in any sort of way.

Looking back, 50% of my life I spent in "neutral mode". Floating thru life. 40% consisted of dealing with adverse events. Only 10% of my time I would consider as absolut and unconditional "happyness".

What about "paradise"? I can not imagine what any paradise would be like. But surely governed by some autocrat. I would not want to argue with any "gods". Being reborn as a cow in India or being reborn as a worm on some farmland in Nebraska? I'd rather not. OR WORST OF ALL: Being reborn to this world as a club swinging Viking? Repeating "earthly existence" once more? Rather not.

I personally prefer to drift away into eternal "nothingness" once my earthly final curtain falls. Basically returning to a state of "nothingness" before I was born. In some sort of way, the best time of my live.😉

A bid morbid the whole thing. We don't like to talk about death in general. The old Romans have seen death in a more relaxed way. After Julius Ceasar conquered Asterix and Obelix in France, while celebrating his victory on a chariot driving thru Rome, he had a slave nearby whispering in 2 minute intervals in his ear: "Memento Mory". Freely translated: "You too will die".

Think positive, in a new life you could be far more educated and significantly happier.

Not a believer that there is an afterlife, as that info, never comes from a trusted source.

Every religion that suggests it, has been full of lies, so I'm not ready to believe much of what they can't explain, when what they do try to state as fact, has already proven to be a lie.

3 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

Think positive, in a new life you could be far more educated and significantly happier.

Not sure I can get, or need to be, any more educated or happier.

Twice, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it, wake up the next morning, and that thought, before nodding off, didn't bother me at all. Quite content if that turned out to be ... 'the end'.

That's a pretty cool feeling, give's one an appreciation of all things, when you do awake the next day.

Edited Monday at 05:51 AM2 days by KhunLA

3 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Not sure I can get, or need to be, any more educated or happier.

Twice, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it, wake up the next morning, and that thought, before nodding off, didn't bother me at all. Quite content if that turned out to be ... 'the end'.

That's a pretty cool feeling, give's one an appreciation of all things, when you do awake the next day.

We can all be more educated for sure but enjoying every day is a gift. Enjoy it.

6 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

But a lot of people think the God of the Bible is an a-hole.

And they don't want to follow that God.

Maybe they would be willing to follow a better God if one was presented.

Many don't believe because a loved one died and they blame God. Some see children dying of cancer at 5, and too many diseases to count and why would a God do this. I question him myself but still see this life as a part time test.

We only live 100 years or less, and that's nothing compared to forever, so if you look at a God that can make a universe from his mind, surely can make things as beautiful as some things we see daily, like a sunset on an island beach, a beautiful woman, mountains shrouded in fog, sunrise on a lake, a butterfly or flamboyant bird, Leopard, Tiger or Elk, mountain stream, Fall foliage in the Northeast US, Rainbow Trout, Rainbow after a storm, a woman's voice, he can surely make things even better and without any of earth's pain and worries.

Most everyone takes for granted what we have, and want more, forgetting that many people on earth have nothing, but if you believe, paradise just might be in store for you after this life.

Edited Monday at 05:55 AM2 days by fredwiggy

On 7/17/2026 at 6:53 AM, HappyExpat57 said:

Remember what it was like before you were born? It's exactly the same after you pass. You won't know and you won't care.

Some people are able to recall past lives with great detail. They accurately describe places they've never been, people who lived in those places, and so on. So, maybe we do live time and again.

Whatever is going on, it's not as though I have anything to say about it, so I don't worry about it.

On 7/17/2026 at 12:59 PM, Rockyroad said:

They have viagra for that.

Thank you for the advice.

How is it working or for you then? It must be working well for you to recommended no?

On 7/16/2026 at 7:39 PM, save the frogs said:

There is a small group of people who live very old, but avoid any chronic illness.

And they die peacefully and suddenly.

According to one doctor I came across who is studying longevity in humans.

So they must have a clean diet, daily movement, ... it is possible but rare.

If you can go from riding your bike to being scattered in the wind in the space of three months, you've been lucky, and so have your family and friends.

22 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

Many don't believe because a loved one died and they blame God. Some see children dying of cancer at 5, and too many diseases to count and why would a God do this. I question him myself but still see this life as a part time test.

We only live 100 years or less, and that's nothing compared to forever, so if you look at a God that can make a universe from his mind, surely can make things as beautiful as some things we see daily, like a sunset on an island beach, a beautiful woman, mountains shrouded in fog, sunrise on a lake, a butterfly or flamboyant bird, Leopard, Tiger or Elk, mountain stream, Fall foliage in the Northeast US, Rainbow Trout, Rainbow after a storm, a woman's voice, he can surely make things even better and without any of earth's pain and worries.

Most everyone takes for granted what we have, and want more, forgetting that many people on earth have nothing, but if you believe, paradise just might be in store for you after this life.

Religion& Belief

If you can believe that, then paradise is now.

You can think of life as Hell, Purgatory or Heaven. Whichever, it doesn't change life, but it might change the way that you live it.

4 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

If you can believe that, then paradise is now.

You can think of life as Hell, Purgatory or Heaven. Whichever, it doesn't change life, but it might change the way that you live it.

Paradise will be nothing like living on earth. Most everyone has problems here, and some have nothing but problems, and many not caused by their own choices but of their birth environment, diseases, genetics and family history. Yes, it can be hell or purgatory, with spurts of heaven, but how many have heaven on earth for a long time? You can do your best and still not come up ahead. which is why we as believers see some thing better in the afterlife. I have friends who have had money, good partners, children who succeeded and still have daily troubles, especially physical ones, so it is a combination of all those, but doesn't last forever.

2 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Paradise will be nothing like living on earth. Most everyone has problems here, and some have nothing but problems, and many not caused by their own choices but of their birth environment, diseases, genetics and family history. Yes, it can be hell or purgatory, with spurts of heaven, but how many have heaven on earth for a long time? You can do your best and still not come up ahead. which is why we as believers see some thing better in the afterlife. I have friends who have had money, good partners, children who succeeded and still have daily troubles, especially physical ones, so it is a combination of all those, but doesn't last forever.

Speak for yourself. I lived in Paradise, but because of my sins it was taken from me (not directly and causatively), but the evidence is clear that you can be happy with what you have, or unhappy with what you have not, and the quantum is irrelevant. Everyone has daily troubles, and some are happy to face them, and some are unhappy about being unable to face them; the troubles may be the same - only the happiness, the fortitude is different.