I watched 'The Doomsday Code' on Ch4 with Tony Robinson earlier tonight. It is rather disturbing how 'endtimers' are obsessed with the apocalypse to the extent that wars, natural disasters and environmental issues are not discouraged. They are signs that the end of the world is drawing nearer and so judgement day, the 2nd coming of the messiah and the rising up of the faithful to heaven are near to hand. They want their beliefs to be vindicated and themselves to be elivated to God's side, while the rest of us are apparently damned??!!! It is a self-fulfilling prophecy. They are doing nothing to improve the condition of the world, just praying and waiting for it to end. Even the UN, a peace-seeking organisation trying to improve world relations was demonised whereas George Bush is still supported whilst he continues to inflicts war and terror. Where is the logic? 
Common sense tells me that even if God does exist, he or she is not the vengeful kind professed by Christian fundamentalists. IMHO, you don't have to believe or worship God, to receive his or her unconditional love. For example if you disappoint your parents, they don't turn their back on their children. And everyone has the potential to experience utopian peace after they die. Hell only exists to my mind if you remain trapped re-living the same lifestyle over and over again ie: if you are suffering or commit suicide. And even then, I believe human beings have the power to overcome any adversity in life and death. These are just my beliefs and they are subject to change but taking the book of revelations as gospel truth is dangerous. It keeps people living in fear, unwilling to further their lives, careers, hopes and dreams and allows crimes against humanity to permeate.
For example in Uganda, the growth of the endtimers philosophy encourages children to stay up late excessively praying instead of concentrating in school, it makes adults recklessly sleep around (without condoms) and contract aids as they become apathetic about improving their 3rd world conditions because 'the world is going to end anyway.' Keep supporting Oxfam and Amnesty International etc as these are the organisations that encourage peace, harmony and humanitarianism in the world.
In summary: If there is a God, IMHO there's no way he or she would support such fanatical religious attitudes. He or she would want us to effect positive change in the world, to discourage war, prevent natural disasters and aid environmental issues, not just to accept these as signs that the apocalypse is coming, that the chosen few will be saved, while the rest of us damned. He or she has unconditional love for all human beings and wants us to live in peace and harmony IMHO. If the world does end, it will be man-made, not God's will.
“Have enjoyed Tony’s various programmes related to belief – most recently the Doomsday code. As a committed Christian I found his ‘debunking’ of the ‘da vinci code’ uplifting.
In Islam we find that, for instance, there are extremist clerics that stir up trouble both here and in Pakistan between faith groups – causing violence. It’s not limited to Muslims vs Christians it can be Shias vs Sunni. It’s not surprising that we find extremist Christianity out there. These extremist groups fail to follow fundamental and oft repeated instructions/themes in their own scriptures, for example the instruction not to proselytize, without offering access to basic needs – food, water, education, justice, etc – very clearly stated in the bible – yet Tony (somewhat blithely) sought to represent missionaries ignoring this. My own church sponsors missionary activities in Tanzania, Kenya and elsewhere in the world and I can tell you quite categorically that these are linked to aid, fair-trade, justice etc in a very responsible and effective way. Of course such good news stories as numerous and successful as they might be, just aren’t as newsworthy. Having said that I could see the point Tony is trying to make and I have sympathy for his viewpoint and some common ground. I am completely ‘turned off’ by certain groups prevalent in the US and here which sponsor these extremist spiritual outcomes. Some of these are cultic, whilst others border on the cultic. At the same time I am just as deeply sickened by some neo liberal political/social/religious viewpoints which corrupt and dilute very valuable and inspiring beliefs.
I would so love to sit down over a few pints and debate with Tony – along with any others – perhaps Channel 4 might consider hosting such a debate? “Are deeply held spiritual beliefs useful in changing the world for the better?” OR
“Have British people now lost the ability to have a spiritual life that inspires them to take action in favour of the greater good?”
Andy Harper
“Are deeply held spiritual beliefs useful in changing the world for the better?”
No.
Perhaps something to think about is whether the world can change for the better in spite of spiritual belief.
About the best we can do is fully honour the UNDHR.”
Tim Channon
The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights
All Human beings are free and equal in dignity and rights
All people are entitled to rights without distinction based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, opinion, origin, property, birth or residency.
Right to life liberty and security of person.
Freedom from slavery
Freedom from torture
Right to be treated equally by the law
Right to equal protection by the law
Right for all to effective remedy by competent tribunal
Freedom from arbitrary arrest.
Right to a fair public hearing by independent tribunal
Right to presumption of innocence until proven guilty at public trial with all guarantees necessary for defence
Right to privacy in home, family and correspondence
Freedom of movement in your own country and the right to leave and return to any countries
Right to political asylum in other countries
Right to nationality
Right to marriage and family and to equal right of men and women during and after marriage
Right to own property
Freedom of thought and conscience and religion
Freedom of opinion and expression and to seek, receive and impart information
Freedom of Association and assembly
Right to take part in and select government
Right to social security and realisation of economic, social and cultural rights
Right to work, to equal pay for equal work and to form and join trade unions
Right to reasonable hours of work and paid holidays
Right to adequate living standard for self and family, including food, housing, clothing, medical are and social security
Right to education
Right to participate in cultural life and to protect intellectual property rights
Right to social and international order permitting these freedoms to be realised
Each person has responsibilities to the community and others as essential for a democratic society
Repression in the name of rights is unacceptable
“I would answer yes to the first and no to the second. The problem comes when people hijack spiritual beliefs and use them for their own purposes. As for missionary and outreach work, it really depends on how it is done. If it is done through inspiring others to accept your beliefs, that is great. If it is through inducements using food, medicines, education etc, then it is abhorrent. I leave you with this quote from Terry Pratchett’s novel Witches Abroad,
“You can’t build a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Anything else is a cage”
David Chan
“From the way you are speaking Jen, the program had material which matters here and I haven’t seen the program…..”
Tim Channon
The president wasn’t actually mentioned to my knowledge but I just found it incredibly ironic that out of all the corrupt political leaders they could have chosen, they decided that the UN were in league with the devil. I don’t understand these God-fearing beliefs. An American client who always ended her emails with the phrase ‘Be Blessed,’ once informed me that the hurricanes in Florida were down to God punishing them for legalising gay days! How can rational human beings think in this extremist and intolerant manner?
The sad thing about the program was that the ‘domesday’ followers were seemingly apathetic to changing the world ie: they weren’t interested in aiding the environment but instead reveled with any destructive signs that the apocalypse was near. These beliefs appeared particularly dangerous in Uganda, where children are staying up late praying instead of concentrating at school and adults are increasingly contracting aids, accepting the view that the end of the world is coming anyway. It showed one preacher saying something like, ‘We need not focus on education and this and that, we need to get back to the bible!’ Pure madness.
i think that spiritual life is much more important compared to our earthly life.–*
spiritual life is really more important than our earthly life”“
i think that we should always strike a balance between spiritual life and our physical life here on earth:~’