Anoushik

My dear friends, those of you who voted that Kocharyan should be removed, who do you think should replace him? You surely have someone in mind, otherwise you wouldn't just blindly vote for Kocharyan's replacement just because you don't like him. Please speak up and let the rest of us know who you think should replace president Kocharyan.

Domino, I've never read so much lately as I've done this couple of days in this thread. I have to admit it is very interesting reading your posts. I guess I'll stop posting and just read from now on.

Thanks for sharing. My parents have similar experiences from the Soviet. Edit: I meant similar experiences with being forced to deny God's existence.

I voted and my answer is no.

How do you know what a good atheist believes in? As for me, I don't hate the belief in God; I hate what people do to each other for the belief in God.

You used to be an atheist? And yet from your writings you seem to be very, very spiritual. I thought once a person realized that he was an atheist he would remain an atheist for the rest of his life. I feel that being an atheist for me (and everyone else, I thought) is the end of coming to a realization that there is no God.

Sasun, I just remembered how the police turned up at our door last year. It was past midnight and our guests had just left. Well, you know how Armenians start talking really loud when they are excited and have had a couple of drinks? Even when the guests had left my dad was talking excitedly about politics, Armenia, etc. (he was just talking but to a foreigner it might've seemed that he was yelling) when suddenly the police knocked on the door. My dad opened and we all went to see who it was. I'll never forget the look on the two policemen as they asked us worriedly if we were OK. Back to topic, Sasun do you really think that the people didn't attack the police? Another question - we are talking about a rally in which people were demanding the government to turn over the power to the opposition. People wanted a revolution. Do you honestly believe that if such a highly advertised event was organized in Washington DC Bush and the government would just let people "rally"?

True, losers come in all nationalities. Besides, I love our "pigs" despite all their faults.

I'm not ARR, but I do want to say that if the opposition wanted to avoid being arrested then maybe they shouldn't have attacked the police in the first place. And also, what about the innocent civilians who were trying to get some sleep at 2 a.m.? Surely having the "rally" participants sing and dance in the middle of the night must have disturbed people who were just trying to sleep.

I also just watched the "Hyelur" on the Armenian channel. They dedicated almost the entire news to the riots that took place last night. The head of the police was also present in the studio and explained why actions had to be taken by the police. I know that Hyelur is government controlled, and they did show little footage of the riots, but it was very convincing to see why people were arrested. Someone hit the police from the back, crushing a glass bottle on his head. What, the police should just stand there without fighting back? The opposition claims that the meeting was peaceful, but the police were clearly being attacked by the angry mob. The opposititon took advantage of some poor, elderly people and turned them into violent mobs. They created an angry crowd in which old people were beating the police with rocks, bottles, anything they could find. For what! Just so some idiots can have the power of the chair?

On a more serious note, thank you Domino. I just need the time to read all that you've posted today.

Sasun, that was hilarious! I’d just gotten home from work and was going through this thread with utmost curiosity, already absorbed in the mystery of the multiple universes, (and thinking what did I get myself into, since now I’ve got a lot of reading to do) when suddenly, out of the blue, I saw your message. What a laugh!

Ok, here goes... I cannot resist and have to ask what you really believe in Domino. Why are you being so cruel and leaving members like me in the dark by not making clear what your true beliefs concerning God are? I want to know what Domino of our present universe feels about the existence of God - stating that one is both an atheist and a theist, or neither an atheist nor a theist in not enough!

I was trying to say something very similar in my above, lengthy post.

Yes, Armat, I did question the meaning of life, and I can honestly say that I took the search of my existence a bit more seriously than the majority of the people in my age group. And at first it was a shock for me to realize that I was an atheist, because I thought everything had become purposeless without the feeling of the safety and comfort of a God. But in a short amount of time I realized that my life is very rich - even richer than before when I was "searching" for a meaning in life. I don't need God to find my life meaningful. I find plenty of meaning in my life as a piano teacher. Currently I'm teaching beginners, but I'm looking forward to be teaching college level students in the future. Therefore I'm looking forward to continuing my studies in the art of piano performance. I'm not playing the piano and playing Bach's pieces because of the believe in God and the feeling that I'm serving God - no, I'm playing the piano and teaching that art because I believe that my existence on this planet is to be a part of the next generation Classical musicians and through my contributions (no matter how small) keep the art of Classical music alive. What's beyond this material world doesn't concern me anymore. It doesn't terrify me, neither does it fascinate me. True, I have to admit I sometimes miss fantasizing about the unknown, but I've come to realize that all of that wondering, and dreaming, and searching for meaning in life is not a necessity anymore, for I’ve found my place in this world.

What are the attributes of God? What differentiates God from the rest of us?

Well, it goes back to my argument that a being not perfect does not deserve to be called God in the first place.

I completely agree. No government should dictate what people should do privately with their own bodies.

When Gevo posted the two arguments (April 2) - first, an atheist's, and the second, a conservative Christian's - I wanted to write about how obvious it was to see who was being all hateful and insulting and who was just trying to make others understand his views. I didn't write at that time because I thought that it wouldn't be fair to make a general statement about Christians who dislike atheists with that one example. But I have to say I'm so saddened to see that the "religious" forumers here have the same approach to atheists as did that supposed "Christian". You want atheists to believe in God, to have faith, to believe exactly like you do, yet instead of making arguments you resolve to insulting the “non-believers”. I learned a long time ago that people who claim to be Christians and believe in God are the most hateful people in this world. Every person who claimed to be religious proved to be very intolerant, ignorant, and seriously lacking respect towards people with different views. Well, if you think about it, religion was “created” exactly for the kind of people stated above, for through religion they could somehow be controlled. Through the fear of God they could somehow act within the morals of the time. Nothing has changed.

That's pretty interesting Armat. But your definition of God is so general that, like you said, it applies to everything. Thinking from this point of view I think that it could also apply to the human soul. So in other words, I think one could say that God is in every one of us. (Actually Sasun says this, if I'm not mistaken.) I cannot deny this existence of a higher being, but why do you call it God? Why does it deserve to be called God? I think the only time a being deserves to be called God is when that being is all-good and all-powerful.

Hyebruin, I really don't get you. You state your opinion about atheists and I, being an atheist, cannot make a comment or ask you why you think that way? Then why do you post in the first place? If you choose to post then you have to be able to accept the fact that your writings will be interpreted differently by diffenent members. If you want to make a clear statement so that all members understand exactly what you want us to understand, then please, write clearer posts! Otherwise, why do you get offended when I make a comment regarding you post? PS. I planned to PM you but since you choose to post it here I'll just do the same.

OK, Kocharyan wasn't elected. Who was? Demirjian? The one who couldn't put two simple sentences together? I believe that the majority of the voters made a right choice.

You wrote: "i can only imagine the guilt and the sorrow and the shame they will have to endure..." Again, why would I feel shame and guilt and sorrow? Yes, you didn't use the word "punishment" but if somehow I was made to feel guilty when my time came, then it would be similar to a punishment. This is something that you don't do very well.

Based on what evidence do you say this?

Isk aidpisi mard ka @ndhanrapes Sasun?