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[blueberryhill]

It's the word "gollywog" that is offensive because it has been used as a term of racial abuse. You've also gotta admit the toy itself is a bit of a stereotype. A bit too close to the "blacking up" that the black and white minstrels used to do.
Language is important because it structures thought and also lays down indicators  about what is acceptable in society.
I'm not sure there are such clear markers about what your apparently condoning and racial abuse either.

[Littlebuddha]

The universe is always changing. New stars and planet are born and old ones die. Man is still learning about the universe, I am sure it made itself and has been here for millions of years. The Higgs Bosun experiment being carried out in Cerne is looking for the so called GOD particle I am sure they will succeed in time. I am sure there is not a god but the universe came to be with the Big Bang and continues to change and will continue to do so. We will, all long be dead when our sun goes supernova but I am sure the universe will continue to evolve.

[Aileen]

It's the word "gollywog" that is offensive because it has been used as a term of racial abuse. You've also gotta admit the toy itself is a bit of a stereotype. A bit too close to the "blacking up" that the black and white minstrels used to do.
Language is important because it structures thought and also lays down indicators  about what is acceptable in society.
I'm not sure there are such clear markers about what your apparently condoning and racial abuse either.

I accept your point about gollywogs, but isn't the suggested removal of the word "black"  from a nursery rhyme taking things a little too far?  Unlike gollywogs, black sheep do exist, and so the only reason I can see why anyone should object to it is because the expression "black sheep" refers to somebody who is an outcast, so given that interpretation, it could be seen as insulting.

Religion should not be taught in schools, it should be up to parents to teach their religious beliefs to their children. In some parts of Scotland this has caused a lot of Bigotry. When new schools were being built two entrances to the building had to be built, one for Catholics and one for Protestants I could not believe it what a waste of money. No wonder there are still problems concerning religion. It is time for this to stop. All orange walks and catholic walks should be stopped they are like red rags to a bull and cause nothing but trouble.
Religion has caused nothing but trouble and educators should have nothing to do with it. It is the parents who should take care of religious teaching.

This was at the instigation of the Catholic Church in Scotland - the same church which also tried (unsuccessfully as far as I know) to insist that Catholic teaching staff and pupils should have separate toilets, cloakrooms and eating facilities from the other staff and pupils, whether Protestants or of other faiths.  Of course this largely applied to the Glasgow area and its surrounds where religious bigotry is still alive and kicking.

Last December the Scottish government passed a Bill making sectarianism in football a punishable offence, so maybe it's time they also looked at sectarianism in schools because it's at this level that the fire of religious bigotry, which often starts in the home, is likely to be further fuelled.  And, yes - it's high time that Catholic and Orange parades anywhere in Scotland were also declared illegal.  

[Hazybear]

It's not just a view. It's an established scientific fact.

Yeah evolution (to some extent) is, but scientific fact cannot disprove that there is a God. It can be used to argue against the existence of God but can also be used to argue for the existence of God. Not all Christians after all shun science

And in comes the Roman Catholic church trying to impose it's morality on non-believers regarding gay marriage. Don't you just love it, not

My view is that I can't expect people who don't believe to follow a lifestyle that is pleasing to God- Christians don't manage to either I must add . If you don't believe then of course you're not going to care that God says you shouldn't Of course God is there and does want us to live a lifestyle that is pleasing to him (notice to God and not the RCC) and there will be a day of judgement, but if you choose not to believe then you don't believe this is coming and so don't factor it into decisions.

[Mark]

but can also be used to argue for the existence of God.

Can you give an example?

[blueberryhill]

Isn't it physicists who tend to believe in God and biologists who don't? I find that absolutely fascinating.

[Hazybear]

Can you give an example?

I was just about to post that.

Okay yeah this is a historical list as well but look at the guys alive today who are all scientists. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_thinkers_in_science

Also look at the Faraday Institute. A lot of extremely intelligent men and women, a lot who are scientists who also believe in God and evolution.

For me I believe in micro evolution. That God made us but with the ability to evolve to survive in our environment . The acceptance of the fact of evolution does not equal proof that God does not exist. There are arguments (and I'll have to search names and get back to you) that God made us with the ability to evolve.

I know that doesn't really answer what you've asked specifically but I need to look up names and examples. Here's the link for Faraday Institute, really interesting.

http://www.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/faraday/index.php