[Mr 5 0]

Originally posted by mean81GT

Unfortunately, the bible was crammed down my throat by my grandmother, and it turned me against religion at an early age.

Sorry to hear that; it's a mistake many zealous but overbearing parents and relatives often make. I suggest that instead of simply dismissing 'religion', you study it and decide for yourself what is true and what isn't, instead of letting an unpleasant childhood exposure to 'religion' determine what you believe for the rest of your life.

I believe in evolution. and between my own reading, and listening to religious people talk, i believe strongly that there is not one all powerful being that created the universe.

A common assumption; you have much company (but not mine) on this one.

I believe that there is a faith, that people need to believe in an all powerful being that can correct all the wrongs in their life. People need to feel that when they die, something is going to happen.

Patronizing as well as a totally skewed view of what Christianity, at least, teaches. This kind of comment simply demonstrates an ignorance of the very faith it rejects. I find it sad that so many think this way.

I also feel people should be entitled to believe whatever they want to believe.

Of course, and so do I.

But along those lines, people should not be able to push their beliefs on others, trying to change everyone's beliefs to match their own.

Parents have every right and expectation that their children be exposed to and brought up in their family faith. As an adult, the child can always reject it, as you've done.

Those who attempt to share their faith are not 'pushing it' on anyone. You can say: "Not interested" and walk away. What are they going to do, wrestle you to the ground? C'mon.

That's a complaint I often hear and it's mostly invalid. No one can force you to believe anything and if you're firm and convinced in your unbelief you won't be moved or persuaded otherwise no matter how convincing or emotional the argument made, will you?

I've had my faith challenged many, many times by many very intelligent and articulate people. I've heard (and debated) all the standard atheist/agnostic arguments against God (and religion in general) that are usually based on false premises, anyway. My faith hasn't wavered one iota in all that time.

Most of the atheist arguments distill down to a refusal to submit to a higher authority (God) in any way. In effect, being your own 'god' and doing exactly as you please with no moral constrictions or responsibility, except to secular laws (if then). A humanist argument for atheisism is usually offered, but since Christianity is spiritually based, it's difficult to find any common ground and we end up quibbling over evolution and how the universe was made. Interesting but not very productive, in my opinion.

I don't fear the non-believer's challenge, it's the arrogant, sneering, dismissive 'You-must-be-an-idiot-to-believe-that' attitude coming from the agnostics/atheists that annoys me. They can't cure the common cold or find peace between warring nations with their intellectualism but they claim to have the origin as well as the meaning of life all figured out. They are as ridiculous as those they mock for believing something without thinking. It's the mirror of the over-zealous religious person screaming at you that you're 'Going to Hell' if you don't repent and adopt his/her religion immediately. Two sides of the same coin but the atheists never get it.

I don't wish to flip this into a religion discussion either but I couldn't let some of your remarks stand without comment or rebuttal. You're free to express your opinion of course but we all must expect that on a public messageboard, once you make sweeping accusations about and patronize those who don't share your atheism, you must expect to hear from those folks. Now you have.