Fact: Humans aren't the only sentient beings in the universe. Jesus had to die a LOT more times if he were to save other worlds too.

Any god that we need to believe in because he sacrificed himself -but it technically wasn't him exactly- because of a rule which he made by himself...
....is a pretty stupid god.

Never mind the fact that the only "historical" evidence for Jesus is the Bible, and that a good chunk of it was written well beyond the time he should have acted. As a historical figure, Jesus is nonexistent in other contemporary reports.

Oh, and since crucifixion: since the dead rose from their graves and Golgotha sundered, wouldn't that be reported in contemporary historical annals or texts?
I mean it's only the dead that rose....

Fact remains: it's only written in the book and there is no actual prove of it. I could say, that Dragon's will come to the world because some book tells so, but...

Faith is about belief, in the absence of proof. You cannot fathom what you cannot measure. The Humans mistakenly feel they need something to look at, somthing tangible to hold. They look to false idols & icons of Angels & Saints, and epic religious artworks.

They'd rather pray to be saved by their hero, than to take a lesson from the written text that inspired it's creation. They feel the need to have their attention directed for them, than to make their own decisions.

As long as they pray for forgiveness, they don't have to observe God's laws. They pray to gain. They pray to decide the outcome of games.
They treat prayer like Jinni wishes. Demanding things from God.
God is not a tool to be used.



Ka-Tra

Completely agree. It's basically the same reason why some people prefer to live in country ruled by dictator, rather than have somewhat free choice. They need big brother to rely on, instead of using their own strengths, because it's much simplier.

I don't think you know what facts are.

Is religious zealotry exclusive to the United States? Obviously not.

Most American Christians aren't that way. There is a section that is more conservative, but for the most part American Christians are religious only in thought. They drink, have pre-marital sex, get jealous and spiteful, covet wealth and otherwise live in a manner diametrically opposed to the teachings of the bible. Yes, it's hypocritical, but mostly harmless.

Many have dubbed them the "Christian Atheists" because they honestly might as well be. Whether they believed in God or not, it wouldn't really change the way they live their lives. For them, faith is more of a comfort thing (where do we go after we die) rather than something that guides your actions and dictates how you live your life.

It's the few zealots you mention who are the religious people doing most of the harm. But look at it this way, at least religious zealots in the United States don't bomb buses and elementary schools. I'll take the distasteful cartoons Jack Chick draws any day.

Just because it does not directly threaten lives it does not mean it is no less dangerous. There is no choice to be made, I do not take EITHER. Both are an insult to humanity.

There is no compromise.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say Jack Chick is for sure less dangerous than Osama bin Laden was.

I mean, sure, I'm not happy about him or the repugnant Phelps family -- they bring the rest of humanity down.

But are they a threat to me personally? No. I and everyone I've ever known is just as put off by them.

I don't think their version of faith based on hate and exclusion really attracts anyone new besides complete nut jobs. They mostly just brain wash their children in order to continue their church. And all of them, at one time, were brainwashed when they were younger as well.

So their message actually repels people, add to that they physically never harm anyone -- and the whole thing is pretty inert. The mostly just piss people off and remind us all how horrible religion can be if taken to the extreme.

Interesting discussion. All I can really add is my personal feelings. Religion is not for me. I don't believe in anything. Anybody can and has every right to, though. It doesn't effect me if somebody in Delaware is sitting in front of a Cross, Star, Crescent, Inverted Cross, whatever, praying right now. And me not believing in anything doesn't effect them.

I go to work to provide, practice/tour with my instrument as my passion, and feed stray cats with my fiance every night for hours. I would hope that if there's anything out there, they look at that stuff more than what I thought was real or not. Because I never ask myself that question and am far too occupied with all of the other activities.