[Dion]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I did not think that I trumpeted my own belief.

I would think that if someone is confident in thier view they shouldn't have to mock the other side. I guess I don't understand why you felt the need to state what you believe and then post your negivity towards religion.

I'm open to the origin of everything sprang from some god-like supreme force only in the sense that I can't disprove it.

It's good to hear you have an open mind. My faith in you has been restored

I don't think it's necessary to use a miracle as a placeholder for the questions that science hasn't answered yet and I'm sure that it's dangerous.

I would agree that's dangerous. I would also hope that people question the best guess science has on how the universe is created. We should always be opened minded and continuing our search for answers.

The problem with it is that it's not enough for most people to simply believe that a miracle set nature into motion. They feel it necessary to define that miracle and then pretend that they're made in it's image and it loves them and it roots for their country in wars and cares who they have sex with and in what position.

This is where I would seperate God from organised relgion. Churches throughout history have a done alot of bad things in the supposed name of God and have alot to apologise for. The extremists in any religion scare me as they feel no remorse for what they do and use thier God as a justification for thier actions.

I'm not arguing that you have to hate anyone for their beliefs. Just that you shouldn't feel the need to respect their beliefs just because it's what they believe. Mostly everyone I know is religious and I not only like but adore most of them. It's just that respecting their beliefs is a little too close to validating them. Irrationality is a dangerous thing in this world whether you're talking about God or not.

Don't put them down just accept they have faith and be happy for them. That's what I suspect they would ask from you.

If what they believe gives them peace and a sense of purpose i'm not going to invalidate what they believe. Who am I to argue what is right or wrong.

When you have something as powerful as religion that demands the suspension of reason, it leads to awful things happening to lots of people.

You assume that everyone doesn't question thier faith or beliefs which is not true. Membership in any church is not a constant as there will always be people leaving. I was once a member of an Evangelical church and left after 12 years. Let's just say I lost faith that the church and organised religion will always do the right thing. It's how they interperet the Bible, it's verses and how the resulting actions affect the world and it's members in a very negitive way.