[Thor]

Originally Posted by terminator

Man, you guys sure are trying hard though.

Some are, most aren't, sweeping generalizations don't help. My conflict with religion is its ideas in practice, gay marriage, women's rights, etc.. That's when I speak out.

Again you, as all atheists I have met, have defaulted to the abrahamic definition of god. God does not exist to fill holes in many non-western religions, the concept of god in many religions trancsends earth.

I did ask which God in my comments to you, but yes in North America where over 90% of people who believe in a God follow the Abrahamic one you will tend to find most people religious or not assume that is the one you are talking about, not just Atheists. Careful with the sweeping generalizations

For example, there are plenty of religions out there that do not think Earth is the centre of the universe, or that we are the only capable life forms. As a Sikh we are taught the concept of the big bang not only as a physical phenomena that created our universe but also one that spread the soul. All things are elastic in nature (gravity), hence the Universe expanding and then contracting similarly all metaphysical life was spread and must return to singularity.

Yep there are lots of fascinating religions that have come and gone and still exist today, with lots of ideas on our existence, where we come from, etc. To someone who finds all of them interesting I view them like any good folk story or fairy tale, neat but nothing to dictate my life or direct me in my own life.

I am in no way trying to prove to you god exists, except that you need to realize there are many more gods then the western excepted god that has a beard and physical form.

I think you'll find most atheists are the first ones to be aware of this, as its a common argument given to religious, when an Atheist will say

"You (religious person) are an atheist like me, you are an atheist to Thor, Zeus, Odin, and all the 100's of other Gods that have been worshiped throughout the ages, yet we just take it one more God further than you."

Its one of the most powerful arguments for not accepting the word of holy books as unquestionable truths, since to suggest one religion got it right and the others are wrong is just as silly as it sounds when you consider how many Gods have come and gone and how many Holy books have come and gone.

The idea, My religion, my specific sect of this religion is right, and you are all wrong is so ridiculous. But I digress