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Yes you heard right, I'm gonna go buy myself a good news bible and read it cover to cover and I think it would be a hoot if some of you joined me so we can have a kind of bible group where we discuss just how fucking bizarre this whole religion thing is. Yes I've been reading Dawkins and I'm appalled at my own childhood indoctrination (I can remember singing about the walls of Jerico as an adult!!. I want to read the bible first because its the tradition I'm bought up in but I have this irrational fear that I'll become indoctrinated so if some of you would like to hold my hand through this that would be cool. In any case, once I've finished Dawkins I'll be posting my impressions here each week as I trawl through "the good book" so you can see how I get on and dispatch help if need be. I've always been of the opinion that one should respect other people's religions but now am not so sure (we don't respect the beliefs of people who believe in UFO sightings or who think they are Napoleon). However, I need to read something like the Bible at first hand to make sure I'm not being indoctrinated by Dawkins. Just wanted to share but if anyone wants to join me that would be great.

you're heading full speed into born again christianity and you know it. It's no good asking us to slow you down. One day, so help me dawkins, i will find myself sitting in a room with you, being bombarded with 5 syllable vocab in support of a single creator. I will carry a gun with me from this day forward in anticipation of this inevitable occasion.

duiscuss how bizarre?....OK How about we start with the Romainian Orthodox Church, into which you are to be baptised: The Leader

• "His Eminence Daniel Ciobotea Archbishop of Bucharest, Metropolitan of Ungro-Vlachia (Muntenia or Wallachia and Dobrogea or Dobrudja) and Patriarch of All of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Locum Tenens of Caesarea in Cappadocia"

Repentance (always a good one):

• "The Orthodox require a fairly high level of purity in order to commune, therefore certain sins make it necessary for the individual to refrain from communing for a period. Because confession and repentance are required in order to raise the individual to a level capable of communing (though no one is truly worthy)."
• "Because full participatory membership is granted to infants, it is not unusual for even small children to confess; though the scope of their culpability is far less than an older child, still their opportunity for spiritual growth remains the same."

Also looking forward to the fasting you will be doing as an Orthodox Christian:

• "All Orthodox Christians are expected to fast following a prescribed set of guidelines. They do not view fasting as a hardship, but rather as a privilege and joy."
• "Married couples also abstain from sexual relations on fast days, that they may devote themselves to prayer (I Corinthians 7:5)."
• "The number of fast days varies from year to year, but in general the Orthodox Christian can expect to spend a little over half the year fasting at some level of strictness. In the Fall from Paradise mankind became possessed by a carnal nature; that is to say, he became inclined towards the passions. Through fasting, Orthodox Christians attempt to return to the relationship of love and obedience to God enjoyed by Adam and Eve in Paradise in their own lives, by refraining from carnal practices, by bridling the tongue (James 3:5-6), confession of sins, prayer and almsgiving."

i smell shite

I like the sound of Aethism - is that the church or making sure your tie matches your socks?

Religion uses indoctrination - it requires belief without proof Science uses observation and rational argument Dawkins is a scientist - he does not indoctrinate he argues - you cannot be indoctrinated by Dawkins

Yeah I really suspect that I have better things to read although I wouldn't mind a King James version in the house just for checking the quotations myself. You're arguing with me as if I was arguing for religion when in fact my post was prompted by outrage and indignation at the extent of my own childhood indoctrination - especially by my primary-school headmistress FYI Dawkins says that it is no bad thing to go to church for weddings and funerals etc to enjoy our "treasured cultural heritage" (page 344) Belief (or faith) is hard to come by. Once its gone its gone and there is no going back. You can't pretend or decide to believe in God once you realise its all nonsense. Thats why I would tell anyone who "has faith" not to read Dawkins book.

Hi All I have just started this book so may be a bitty premature to comment but (no this is not a God Delusion BUT) I think anyone you know who has faith should be implored or at least strongly encouraged to read a cop[y - the more atheists are up-fornt the better.... currently on page 41.

totally - if god is allowed to test your faith with disease and disaster, why not let Dawkins with his book, after all, sticks and stones and all that I'll buy it for all the christians I know this xmas