RIP: All who were killed at the Manchester Arena.

The T wrote: "PrayForManchester".... Too much praying is one of the roots of these problems...

I get the gist of what you're saying i.e. belief systems where too much value is placed upon a delusional 'afterlife' undermines the sanctity of human life, but militant activism is the antithesis of faith

The T wrote: ^Because faith should be an intensely personal experience?

Not sure what you mean. Prayer for me denotes a belief in transcendental agents that the believer petitions to change an unpalatable reality that transgresses holy scripture . Strapping explosives to your person and detonating same in a crowded arena in the heart of the perceived 'infidel' is the polar opposite of 'faith'

ExittheLemming wrote: The T wrote: ^Because faith should be an intensely personal experience?  Not sure what you mean. Prayer for me denotes a belief in transcendental agents that the believer petitions to change an unpalatable reality that transgresses holy scripture . Strapping explosives to your person and detonating same in a crowded arena in the heart of the perceived 'infidel' is the polar opposite of 'faith'

The T wrote: "PrayForManchester".... Too much praying is one of the roots of these problems...

Catcher10 wrote: The T wrote: "PrayForManchester".... Too much praying is one of the roots of these problems...  I don't understand this comment.......For many, many people in the world, in history, some type of prayer is at times the only self comfort a person can achieve...and give. As a person who believes, I from across the pond feel the only thing I can do to "help" is pray for those families who lost their young children, hope that one day they are able to smile again. As a parent this is beyond anything I could imagine happening to me. Don't get me wrong either, I also pray that these worthless pcs of sh*t who commit these crimes spend the rest of eternity in hell suffering acts of punishment that we cannot imagine.

Correct. It's self-comfort. It doesn't make any problem go away or any person actually feel better but the one doing the praying. Unless of course the receiver shares the same faith, but that can't be assumed. 

The T wrote: Catcher10 wrote: The T wrote: "PrayForManchester".... Too much praying is one of the roots of these problems...  I don't understand this comment.......For many, many people in the world, in history, some type of prayer is at times the only self comfort a person can achieve...and give. As a person who believes, I from across the pond feel the only thing I can do to "help" is pray for those families who lost their young children, hope that one day they are able to smile again. As a parent this is beyond anything I could imagine happening to me. Don't get me wrong either, I also pray that these worthless pcs of sh*t who commit these crimes spend the rest of eternity in hell suffering acts of punishment that we cannot imagine. Correct. It's self-comfort. It doesn't make any problem go away or any person actually feel better but the one doing the praying. Unless of course the receiver shares the same faith, but that can't be assumed.

Catcher10 wrote: SteveG wrote: There were many times in life, Jose, when I wish I had faith to help me through things. I sometimes envy people that do. Just send them good thoughts......It's the same thing.

Absolutely

Tom Ozric wrote: .......and people are demanding their money back from the cancelled concerts. Imagine how distraught Arianna G is from this event ? Refunds should be the last thing on people's minds right now.

I must say I'm growing weary of all the vapid platitudes of politicians over attacks like this. They actually reserve no right to grieve and they certainly reserve no right to talk tough, declaring "enough is enough" as we have heard from Theresa May over the weekend, and in response to yet another attack on Saturday night in London.

If this awful woman is serious about tackling extremism a good starting point would be to stop selling weapons to Saudi and Qatar; two of the world largest hotbeds of Wahabist terrorism, and oddly enough, two of the west greatest buddies in a seriously screwed up part of the world.

Just so folk know, prayer, nice thoughts, ribbons, wristbands and dialogue are actually not going to make this problem go away. Neither is a street war against Islam. There has to be a pragmatic cutting off of the snakes head.

M27Barney wrote: When the religious knobs realise that their feeble faith-based world-views belong back in the dark ages - perhaps then mankind can get on with enjoying life together!

You are asking one of the most impossible things ever asked for. It will never happen. Maybe in 300 years there will only be 1 billion religious people in the world but probably the entire planet's population will be one billion anyway after global warming kills us