Searcher

Welcome.

Firstly, we should all remember that if a given Religion is pure, simple water, then we Humans are the rusty vessels in which it must travel. Inevitably some of those vessels taint the water. Meaning, I don't think we should let the acts and ways of others in the name of their religion affect our opinion on that religion itself - rather it should reflect on the human vessels. Of course if you investigated the religion itself, and decided your investigation shows is that it is not to be believed, or some other good reason not to follow it, then and only then would I discount it. But to each their own.

Secondly, an Anti-neutron is a form of anti-matter. The opposite of a neutron, if a neutron and anti-neutran ever meet each other then both annihilate and a photon (light wave/particle) is given out. Some current theories on the origin of the universe suggest that originally there was no matter as we know it (how could there be if matter is made of atoms and all the universe was crushed to the size of an atom or even smaller?), and that the chemical and physical reactions eventually resulted in lots od both, which then annihilated each other, but resulted in slightly more matter than anti-matter, therefore we have a universe rather than nothing.

Whether this is factually true or not, if I have regurgitated it correctly it seems to be the most accepted current scientific theory about the Big Bang. It is possible to accept and harmonise such scientific theories (there is some very good evidence for them, as with the Theory of Evolution, but there are also persuasive arguments for the existence of God) without discounting God and religion. For many this might be a major hurdle when trying to work out what you believe. From my own experiences so far there is also some big ignorance on both sides of the science/religion divide. Most 'atheists' I speak to say they don't believe in God, they believe in science instead. Under further conversation they seem to have very limited views on such things, because they assume science can explain everything so religion must be false.

I am hoping coming here and working through these things might help me decide what I really believe on the matter. Maybe some of my ideas can also help others, although at present, its more likely to confuse! hehe

Welcome again, and peace to you.

Vinterland

Hi Polly, I hope you find peace in understanding agnosticism and I'm glad you have managed to tell your loved ones of your beliefs. I have done the same quite recently - I, like most others here cannot adhere to religions which require we infringe on the liberties of others, nor are "saved" by religious affiliation.

__________________
And on we walked. Suddenly we heard a voice crying, "This is the sea. This is the deep sea. This is the vast and mighty sea." And when we reached the voice it was a man whose back was turned to the sea, and at his ear he held a shell, listening to its murmur.
And my soul said, "Let us pass on. He is the realist, who turns his back on the whole he cannot grasp, and busies himself with a fragment."
—Gibran Khalil Gibran, “The Greater Sea.”

Skepticologist

Would you be so kind as to cite a few? If all you've got is the unmoved mover and the one about a man finding a watch in the desert, please save your time and mine. If, on the other hand, you have something that hasn't been postulated and shot down for decades, please enlighten me. I'm an agnostic, not an atheist, so there's always a chance.

__________________
"I am an agnostic; I do not pretend to know what many ignorant men are sure of."

Clarence Darrow