[WillowTheWhisp]

Originally Posted by Neil

I can see why people want to believe but can't understand why they do when you look at the world around us.

I do believe in God. I also believe that the state of the world is down to humanity and not to God. The world was created and left in our hands. Look at it as if you bought a house for a child of yours and then gave it to them to live in. What they then do with the house is up to them. They can look after it, keep it in good repair and treat it with respect, or trash it and let it fall to bits. It isn't the fault of the house or the person who bought the house.

OK, that's a bit too simplified but I'm not setting out here to preach.

I do think it's totally unacceptable for C of E vicars to choose to be vicars just for the pay and the pension when they don't believe in what they are preaching. Maybe that's partly to do with the fact the the church I belong to has no paid clergy and that we all muck in and do our bit.