Vanyell - Were all those atheists who endorsed and embraced Communism/Marxism/Leninism/Stalinism/Maoism really atheists or opportunists? How many politicians really embrace the religion or set of convictions they claim to cherish? If the millions that supposedly chose these types of government were steadfast in their atheism, where did they all go when their states crumbled? How did religions suddenly pop up when they did? Apparently more than merely the atheist politicians are being opportunists, huh?
Low-Key Lysmith, my mothers, who are lesbians, are very religious women. One of them has just been ordained as minister of a major Christian religion (UFMCC) that embraces homosexuals into their fold. Their interpretation of the church and state issue is that the state cannot interfere with any person's religious convictions, whether they choose to exercise them privately or publicly, including in the political arena. Their denomination fights for the right to exercise not only freedom of convictions like atheism but for the freedom to worship God, a fight that as gay people they have to bring into the political arena. Are they, one of millions of gay religious people who are doing the same thing in connection with MCC churches around the world, wrong? Explain in detail please if they are, so they can read it and send it to their current moderator (who is also a lesbian, by the way).
You know what is stupid? That people let these booksellers sell them the idea of the "debate." These people are booksellers just like the Watchtower is (or was). Some might help a little here or there, a few might even be genuine, but the rest--they debate and like to have their debate published because it's a business.
Debates don't settle issues because by nature the debate forum is not about who brings the best evidence for full examination and test to prove something but who is the better debator. Do some study on forensic debate and you'll see. Debate is designed to make the better speaker the victor, not to settle issues.
Mankind is neither better off with religion nor is better with it. The truth is that even with all the good that religion and atheism can bring to the human race, we manage to screw things up with bloody inquisitors and religion-crushing Communists in the name of both. If neither set of convictions existed we would invent something else to take their place and then blame them for our shedding blood and crushing others. It's not religion that's bad, it's us.
You and I, we can and will do evil. It's part of our nature. We don't have the courage to blame ourselves, and anyone who does tell us the truth we stone or gas or murder.
We just want to be right, and we'll shed the blood of anyone we have to keep that illusion alive, whether it's in the name of a god or in the name of believing there's no god to do so.
