I'm just a non believer Joe, I have a genuine love of traditional song, particularly English folk song, does this not count as poetry ?

I have tried several times to engage devout christians in discussions, but eventually they always trot out the same responses, ie. we don't understand God, he doesn't tell us his reasons, God works in mysterious
ways, God gave us free will etc.
If I ask a christian if god is all powerful, kind and full of mercy, why did he let a Bradford mother starve her child to death and leave his body in his cot for several years, they trot out the same old answers.

I constantly read news stories about child abuse [ sore point there for catholics ] child trafficking, lots of recent child murders, I can't rationalise these things with there being a god who is powerful enough to prevent these evil things with a wave of his hand........but doesn't.

Dave H