30+?! in one neighborhood that is A LOT! 😀

Just take it out so they dont blow you up thats all.

Also you can’t say “ultimately, it does not matter what anyone chooses to believe in because once you're dead, you're dead” because you don’t know that and it cannot be proven. And most people of faith I know wouldn’t want to come back and say something like “say I told you so!”.

That's exactly my point. The fact that it cannot be proven is why it doesn't matter what anyone believes in! If I said I believed in Father Christmas or the tooth fairy I'd get some strange looks. If I said that I believed in god then I simply get asked: "Which one?"! How many world religions are there anyway? How do people know they are worshipping the 'right' god? There are an awful lot of people out there who apparently aren't worshipping the correct one. It's why I see religion as being pointless personally.

Yes it is...I'm in one of the larger.

You must love churches in your city! I had a quick look and we have about 60 in Bristol and population is about 550.000! Agree with Darren, how you know its a right god? :P

Stop already with all the religion bashing. You dont see me calling fools for not being religion frendly.

I wonder how many more people are going to die by people using this as an excuse for more terrorist acts.

Don't you run around and kill Catholic clergy and even the Pope in Assassin's Creed 2? Never heard any outrage over that.

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While I do not agree with your opinion I will respect it. I can’t speak for any other faiths but from a Christian point of view I see A LOT more good than negative from my faith. Every day millions of Christians make choices based off of what we believe to be true. In general we try to be decent people and a lot of that is based off of our faith. I think the world would be a MUCH worse place without a belief in God. How you can say “I don't believe religion has any place in an intelligent, highly developed modern culture” is beyond me considering all the amazing things that people of all faiths do to help people in need every single day. Now that said there are people of every faith that are ignorant, intolerant, judgmental and everything else you can think of. People will be people regardless of faith and some will become misguided. That’s just how the human race is and will always be. From my personal point of view I think it’s insanely closed minded to out the idea of creation. I like science but the fact is we know almost nothing when you look at life and existence. Because we do not know does not automatically mean there must be a God but if we don’t have all the answers we should try to keep our minds open to all possibilities. Also you can’t say “ultimately, it does not matter what anyone chooses to believe in because once you're dead, you're dead” because you don’t know that and it cannot be proven. And most people of faith I know wouldn’t want to come back and say something like “say I told you so!”. And then you talk about “some religions are not very tolerant of others' beliefs”. Well some people who don’t believe in any God are not very tolerant of people who do believe. Just read through this topic. In fact you agreed with the comment “All religions are equally stupid”…..is that your idea of being tolerant of others' beliefs? Just my opinion. I know being a Christian and not being afraid to say it on this board probably puts me in the minority here but I’m ok with that.

I'm a christian too in the biggest muslim country in the world..Most reverend says that religion doesn't save you.. It is Jesus Christ and your faith that will save you 🙂 So don't get fooled or tied to religion..

Yeah? Well I only have this to say.

I have as much authority as the Pope, I just don't have as many people who believe it.

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And their are millions of atheists doing good towards others too, many scientists curing illness pushing science forward and are understanding of the world not trying to hold this knowledge back in fear of it making their beliefs look even more absurd than they already do. They are doing good without the fear of hell or the fear of judgement from a imaginary entity, without the need of a book to tell them how to be good to others no matter who they are. They do good people they are good people without the need for religion.

Hehe yah I always end up at this paradox when thinking about religion aswell. Seems religion is a crutch for people who don't trust themselves to be decent human beeings without the punishment of eternal suffering at the hands of a higher entity. What muslims need to understand is that god does not need anyone defending him here on earth, he, she or it is a big "boy" and can take care of his own smiting need be.

My point was doing good to others because of the consequences your beliefs tell you they will have on YOU does not make you a good person. and we have agreed that both religious and non religious people do large amounts of good for others. So if we took away the fear of god from religious people would they stop doing good? would they stop donating money to charity? You say they donate a lot of money to churches but would not not be willing to donate to other non religious charity's? The bad that comes from religion far outweighs the good and the good parts like giving money to charity would still exist without religion if the people are as kind as they say.

My issue with the evolution theory is that you cannot really get an unbiased answer. The scientist would credit everything to evolution if given the opportunity regardless if it were true or not. I have seen some pretty absurd things from them so I’m a little reluctant to just jump on the wagon. I look at some science websites regularly and find it really interesting how some of the claims they have made in the years past as “fact” or “proven” have now been shown to not be correct. Yet I’m supposed to jump in and believe everything they say as fact? Another example would be the whole global warming stuff. Not saying that climate change isn’t happening but a lot of scientist say this is completely normal for the earth and it’s part of a natural cycle. While politicians would have you believe it’s our large vehicles and the absurd amount of vehicles that’s causing the problem. Then you have groups like the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit destroying data because it does not support what they are trying to prove. So yeah I am a little reluctant to just jump on that trust wagon. On the other side you have faith based organizations who fight everything science related no matter what information is shown to them. So yeah you have extremes on both sides. I'm goingto have to take a break in a few...I'm at work and been on here way too much 🙂

You really have to beware of scientists that have been bought and paid for when it comes to Climate Change. There are lots of "scientists" with zero credentials or experience that are just being paid to say that Climate Change isn't occurring. As for evolution, I'm curious as to what holes are left? Keep in mind we're excluding the theory of abiogenesis, because that's not the same thing as evolution. If you don't know what that is, it's the idea that all life came from a chemical pool from random chance. It's easier to consider evolution as a mechanism. It's not a theory that disproves god in any way. It disproves a lot of things in the bible, but not god. No scientific theory disproves god. Also, in regards to the "Christians only do things for self gain" thing, I'll take your word for it that it isn't true on average. HOWEVER, now we have to ask the question, why is faith necessary at all? Why is faith an important component in getting people to help each other? Or is it important at all? These are things worth considering. Also, before you judge me, I'm not an atheist. I'm agnostic. I find it absurd to blindly take a side given the true fact. And that fact is, we have simply no idea what came before the big bang or why the ball of matter that created it came to exist. It's just as foolish to say there is no god as saying one exists for sure. However, believing that one of these holy books is indeed the word of the god is simply archaic and absurd to me personally. They're so full of holes and nonsense that it's a wonder they still have the hold they do. Also, simple question for you and the other guy who "has faith in jesus". Why do you have faith in a man who has never even been proven to exist, let alone have any magical powers that would indicate he's the son of god? Why do you have faith that the people who wrote the bible weren't just telling a story? Where's the logic in that? And the biggest question of all. Why would simply believing in his existence and life as told in the Bible grant you a pass to heaven? Why is that the only way in assuming it exists? I don't understand how someone who leads the exact same life yet doesn't believe in Jesus is somehow at a disadvantage? This is very philosophical but I think it's a good question. I simply cannot from my point of view see how someone can believe this.

I have read the majority of the Bible and find so much truth and wisdom in it that I can directly relate to my own life. The only way to know is to read and decide what you believe.

I never understood this. Have you ever played that telephone game? Where one person whispers something in your ear and then you say it to the next person and it keeps going down the line of a bunch of people. The word/phrase that the last person hears is always different from what the first person said. Now apply that same logic to the bible. How many different versions are there of it and how many times has it been rewritten over the years? Just a quick google search came up with a ridiculous amount of versions. The God in the original version could have been a goat for all we know and someone changed it in one of the versions.

I never understood this. Have you ever played that telephone game? Where one person whispers something in your ear and then you say it to the next person and it keeps going down the line of a bunch of people. The word/phrase that the last person hears is always different from what the first person said. Now apply that same logic to the bible. How many different versions are there of it and how many times has it been rewritten over the years? Just a quick google search came up with a ridiculous amount of versions. The God in the original version could have been a goat for all we know and someone changed it in one of the versions.

I completely agree with this. It seems to be one thing that the religious just gloss over. I guess it's covered under the whole "faith" thing. But at that point it's just being naive imo.

It's funny that I always get the same answers from people about this. There is scientific evidence to back the theory of evolution. Yet when I ask for proof/evidence about Jesus and God I'm told that the proof is in the Bible. Big difference there people.

Infinity Ward should update every bathroom in their games with a shrine of Muhammad and Allah. What? Are you scared they'll plot another terrorist attack? "Oh you made fun of our imaginary sky daddy! now we shall kill you as that is what our SKY DADDY likes to see....MURDER!"

Evolution stil has its own "black holes" but it has more facts than god.. Anyway surprised thread is not closed yet 😀

Evolution stil has its own "black holes" but it has more facts than god.. Anyway surprised thread is not closed yet 😀

Yes but that's why its called the "Theory" of Evolution.

and yet again just like every person who has "faith" you gloss over facts and answer peoples points with " No you are wrong. you have to have faith. Jesus loves you ect ect" You say I'm "incorrect on every level" yet go on to point out yes one of the reasons Christians do good is because they think it will make god happy and that without the fear of religion some would not be as charitable. You disbelieve science and the evolution theory saying its not 100% proven, yet believe in a old book of story's written by primitive men about a man in the sky which has no scientific bearings at all and comes down to "have faith, jesus loves you" Its laughable.