Do you know why this has come to be? Because Christianity and Catholism is the most popular religion in America. Most American's grow up around it, therefore they choose to believe in it. It takes more willpower and intelligence to look at the more logical way of life and the beliefs of the creation of Earth and the universe.

Where have I disrespected your beliefs? If you mean by my referance to the Flying Speghetti Monster, then no. I wasn't disrespecting your religion, it's a joke-analogy that Atheists use when faced with the concept of a God.
So I hardly see how that can be considered disrespect.

You've obviously been talking to the wrong Atheists.
And I'm going to say that's completely biased.

Where am I going with this?
My beliefs are atleast supported with scientific evidence, whereas your's are supported by nothing.

Science is not a fairy-tale.

No. Not if you've re-read the bible countless times. And actually sat down to study it. I know everything about the Bible


Wrong. I'm not asserting superiority in general.
In my beliefs it is superior. Which I was also including Ryan in that statement.

There's believing and there's knowing.

My beliefs are more logical than your's because they are supported with scientific evidence.
My beliefs lie upon the Big Bang.
I cannot choose a theory upon how life began unfortunately. I don't see how something can just all of the sudden pop up and begin living. Which is the same reason I have a problem believing in your imaginary friend.
And as for how the universe is today.
Other planets and solar systems and such have stayed the same, as for Earth... It has molded around us to where we do not know anything else, therefore we cannot imagine anything else.
Adaptation.

No.
Maybe not you, but almost every Christian and Catholic I have come across say they are afraid of there not being an afterlife, so they believe in said religion. Because they think the more they believe, the more it comes true.

Again, I haven't disrespected your beliefs, and if you believe I have... that's a problem you'll have to deal with yourself. Because saying "Religion exists to present a false sense of security" should definately not be considered offensive.
But, I'm sorry if I have I guess...

__________________

The followers of every religion will say that their religion is best. Quite naturally, Christians will say that Christianity is right above all other religions; Muslims will say that Islam is best; Jews will say that Judaism is best; Daoists will say Daoism; and so on. Perhaps what is most important is that, although based on different theology and, sometimes, different gods, all religions teach high moral values. The question may also be seeking to establish which of the many modern religions contains truth about the universe and its supreme being. Unfortunately, that is a matter of faith. There is no available evidence to prove objectively that any religion is true and that other religions are less so.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some claim that a specific religion is the right one and all the others are wrong. However they are in conflict with everyone that believes in any other religion. Another possibility is that perhaps parts of all or some religions are right or partially right and they are just different paths to the same place. Finally perhaps all religions are wrong as there is vary little hard evidence for any of them.

Jesus says "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me" Jesus says there is no other true religion except through him.





I had to quote myself =D

__________________
Life is to short to wake up in the morning with r e g r e t s, so LOVE the ones who treat you right and forget the ones that dont & believe that everything happens for a reason.

If you get a chance take it.
If it changes your life, let it

Nobody said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.

That's why I choose the belief that is supported by scientific reasoning.

__________________

I wasn't raised on it. I was raised Catholic in name only. I think it takes more faith because it's the more illogical way of looking at it. For elaboration, read a few posts back.

You are meaning to tell me that you aren't aware that mockery equals disrespect? Saying such comments as "Jesus is a mythological creature" is also not the most respectful thing.

No, it's not biased. It would be biased if I said all Atheists were arrogant and Christians had no problem with them. I noted the problems with Christians before I did Atheists. I've had my experiences with good and bad, but the majority tend to have the same temperament. Same issue with the average Christian.

Read back for why I used the term "fairy tale." It's late and I don't feel like repeating. There is about as much scientific evidence that supports your views as there are that supports mine.

Learn Hebrew and read the Bible in Hebrew -- the original translation. There's always something new to learn.

You should pay closer attention to what words you use in discussion. Maybe you aren't meaning it intentionally, but much of what you say can be taken as aggressive.

And yes, I'm glad we agree on that.

Again, as much evidence as is supported by your beliefs, there is the same that supports mine. There is proof of neither, but evidence of both.

One way or another, divine intervention is necessary. Whether it be for the gases that caused the Big Bang or life appearing on Earth.

Which is why I say the average Christian doesn't know what they're talking about. To claim otherwise would be ignorant of me. But I don't think a religion's validity should be based on the behavior of the majority of its adherents.

See, there was ways of saying things though. You could have just as easily said "I believe religion exists to present a false sense of security." The brashness and arrogance then fades.

And Ryan, if you post while I'm posting this, I'll respond tomorrow. I am so tired right now, that I can barely think straight.

__________________

Then, good man I do say.[/british accent]

Yep, sure do.

Yes it is, yeeeeessssssssss

Actually it was supposed to be a kinda subliminal thing for Njord if he was reading this, cause he posted after my last post without responding. haha

Yeah, just wish I could find that little bit of knowledge that changes my religous life around that i've heard so many people find. We need people from other religions in here to debate even though they sound more fake than Christianity, no offense anyone but who can believe in "Matrixism: The path of the one" which is a real sanctioned religon.

Step-dads also do that alot, oh ok... haha

Well I laughed, and was wondering how many people in my family would disown me if they saw it XD, they hardly talk about religon. Almost never(except now grandmother got religous boyfriend after a 30year old marriage, and he makes everyone pray at family holidays. Although I eat before we pray and don't close my eyes, but the last time I told my grandmother I don't believe in god she told me it's he "devil" messing with my mind. So now I pretend to believe in the shit, might make her live an extra 2 years.) talk about it, and quickly ends if brought up.

I was brought here by 747-looking motherships that came from galaxies of way, that were filled with exiles. HILARIOUS.

The burden is in more of Jehova's witness where only 400k or so people make it into heaven ever, when more people than that die in a day.

God if our teachers heard those specific "learning" quotes...

Sorry hear i'm going to disagree, because religons have books. That's it. Evidence today of how our solar system was formed, which is the same basic concept of the big bang, except on a smaller scale. Doesn't need to be divine intervention because religon you believe god has always been and always will be, well why couldn't matter always be existent? Continuously have "big bang" effects then the matter shoots out, over time everything comes to a halt, that's when all the larger masses continue to pull everything in untill all the matter is in one big ball again, and repeats the big bang process.

Hell no, I went to sleep way before this XD

I forget what it's called... started with an "E" lmao, I had a big book of religons but it's in storage now. Doesn't really matter though, basically means the person believes in nothing, but at the same time believes there may be a higher power.

I may try out "Magick" religon, although I doubt anything would happen, just If I see true magic, i'll shit myself and start a cult and take over some small countries and work my way from there.

Neo-Paganism is growing VERY rapidly btw, which involes norse mythology XD

Does Greek Mythology have a like set religon? I've studied Greek Mythology more than anything else and I've yet to see a religon other then a belief in this chain of stories. Wish Greek mythology was real, but the Titan Atlas holding the world on his shoulders is just too much for me to handle... "THE WORLD'S FLAT, STFU CRAZY EUROPEANS."

Bet Neo-paganism, which includes Greek Mythology, tries to support that one, they'd say something derived from God of War games, "After Kratos took over olympus he set the titans free, which allowed Earth to orbit in space but the titans and Kratos now live on Olympus watching over all.
"
-.-

XD

It's a good game btw.

__________________

Ah. Understood. :P

XD I actually have a friend who's religion is "The Force." He says he's a Jedi. And he's not joking either.

Eh, I get into that with my family too. I'm not Catholic and my whole family is, so it creates about as much animousity.

Yeah, predestination was an idea I was never comfortable with. And Calvinists and the like haven't given me adequate reasoning for believing such.

They'd club me over the head. I am usually doing one of two things in class.

1. Being lazy; which includes going to sleep and/or procrastinating.

2. Debating the teacher and making them look stupid.

I would accept "the universe always existed" before I'd accept "gases that exploded always existed."

And being that everything mentioned in the Bible, which was written hundreds and thousands of years ago has basis, I'd say it's about matched. First off, they've found evidence of the flood having occurred during the time frame where the Bible places it (if you require a source, I'll get it from the friend who sent it to me and get back to you.) The concept of dinosaurs in the Bible hundreds and thousands of years before we even knew they existed is more than coincidental. The fact that no "scientific" theory can be explained without divine intervention. The fact that I am able to have a complete and utter relationship with the Lord where I can communicate on a spiritual basis validates everything for me (I know, that's not universal, but it's worth mentioning.) Or the fact that the existence of David who began the empire of Jerusalem has left shadows upon the world that archaeologists have come acrossed. Or the research by Dr. Duncan MacDougall that points to the soul having a measurable mass (though, in my view, it's immaterial.) An investigator examining what may be the course Moses took during the Exodus found manmade objects including bronze pieces that likely belonged to Egyptian Warriors and the same objects that are described in the Bible as having been used to grind mana. The fact that certainevents in the Bible which were all at some point disputed have been validated over time as having occurred shows us something.

I believe all of the above have equal merit to the evidence supporting Evolution. But because it doesn't suit their views, Evolutionists typically shun it and try adamantly to find an excuse -- even if it sounds ridiculous -- why some of these happen to be. The fact that the scientific community shuns Bible believers and will even go as far as firing someone who believes in a higher power also makes the evidence one-sided.

Agnostic?

I have a few Pagan friends. Usually, they don't believe in Norse Mythology, but they're heavily interested in it.

__________________

Ripple, are you familiar with Raelienism?

__________________

Honestly, I've never heard of it. I just put it in Wikipedia though and it looks interesting. XD

__________________

Ok.
Well I've completely forgotten why I asked that in the first place. It was over an hour ago, so... >_>

__________________

No, it was just that I say Ripple's post after posting my own. I decided to follow his advice and not respond, because I had nothing further to add to the discussion.

A lot of pagan religions are returning.
Ancient Egyptian pantheons are being worshiped again, along with Greek and German (Norse including others).

__________________