Jaitea said:

EDIT:too much alcohol taken

J

I wish I'd responded to this before you removed it. I did read it. It was almost like a 'testimony' of why you don't believe in God or religion ;)

Your comment did not offend. I do, however, feel this thread (as well as the Catholic thread) have become far more like "Reform the foolish believer" threads rather than engaging in understanding why we believe what we believe. I don't mind that sort of discussion, but it would probably be better in its own thread, where the OP doesn't feel compelled to defend religion on his own. You don't have to believe in God, but I assure you that 50 years down the road, people still will. Instead of dwelling on what damage this world may have seen from religion, look at the good it has provided. Most great discoveries have been performed by religious believers. The freedoms enjoyed by this world's greatest nations have been founded by believers. It can be used for ill, but so can the lack of religion. If you truly subscribe to the belief that religion is the reason for most suffering on earth, then I encourage you to think things through a little more, my friend.

I think I'll start a new thread soon.