<p>You guys are debating for solely for the fun of debating, right? Because we all know you can never change someone else's political/religious beliefs unless they were wishywashy to being with...</p>
<p>which is why I only will get into serious relationships with democrats who are not into religion (by serious I mean long-term boyfriends, not friends, I don't care about my friends' political/religious views)</p>
<p>I don't believe in God, and I won't explain why. It doesn't (and never had and never will) fit in with what I believe at all.</p>
<p>My dad's in a cool religion, fabrizio. It's called "Caodaism." It's like religious version of Marx's utopia, except there's no class struggle, etc. etc.</p>
<p>It's equality between the religions. It's almost cultish, but incredibly interesting. Caodaism calls for the belief in Muhammed, Buddha, Jesus, God, Allah, etc. etc.</p>
<p>It seems a bit presumptuous to believe that the creator of the Universe cares about any individual human being, or, for that matter, that humanity as a whole constitutes a significant part of the cosmos. The personal God of the Judeo-Christian religions fit a worldview where the Earth was the Universe and man could be seen as the pinnacle of creaton. Now we have to compete with the Andromeda Galaxy, and I think that we don't have much chance.</p>
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Because we all know you can never change someone else's political/religious beliefs unless they were wishywashy to being with...
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<p>Arguments are to be avoided: they are always vulgar and often convincing. -Oscar Wilde</p>
<p>Arguments are indeed very convincing. For instance, if you're an evolutionist, go pick up and read some creationist propaganda (or vice versa), and you probably have to admit that you were swayed at least a little bit. I have been to a Christian school all my life, and I thought I was a Christian for quite a while (even though I am brought up in a traditional Taiwanese Buddhist/Taoist family). Even though I'm a strong evolutionist, I would have to say that the creationist video our teacher showed in our AP Biology class was convincing (though I knew better than to believe everything that was said).</p>
<p>Your environment and what your personal experiences have a huge influence on your beliefs, and debates on the internet are a kind of personal experience that has influence over you. (Obviously, though, it doesn't affect overly dogmatic and bigoted people.)</p>
<p>The issue of religion will never reach a satisfactory conclusion. Afterall, we are all independent individuals with separate thought patterns. Why try to impose what you believe on others? Let every man believes in what he wants to believe. Life is too short for such trivial arguments that will never have an "answer".</p>
<p>Quite rightly said oasis........But is anyone even listening??</p>
<p>I do; not only do I believe in Him, I believe He's in charge. And I wonder why religion is one of the msot inflammatory topics there is.</p>
<p>Because not everyone believes its a Him to start with, and some people don't like being told unless we are saved we are going to (&*&^ and just aren't good people, that is why</p>
<p>It is true what Oasis said. But religion is slowly creaping into government and public policy. And education- creation vs evolution. It is all well and good to say live and let live. I agree with that. But certain sects and groups don't appreciate that others have different beliefs or non beliefs. That is when it gets downright scary</p>
<p>Religion is not slowly creeping into government and public policy. Religion is slowly being pushed out, but it's trying desperately to hold on to its last vestiges in government, and it will certainly go out with a bang.</p>
<p>I'm agnostic. I believe that christianity and the bible were the two greatest tools to control humanity. Thankfully people are becoming more and more aware of themselves and their surroundings and are coming to their senses.</p>
<p>I won't say I hate christianity though, because I don't. A lot of the values in there are pretty decent. With the exception of christian science (which is coincidentally the biggest oxymoron of all time) - christian science should be illegal.</p>
<p>Oh, and the people trying to disprove evolution make me laugh.</p>
<p>Evolution at least has SOME scientific evidence, whereas the idea of creation has absolutely NO scientific evidence. Unless, of course, if you consider that it was written about in a brief paragraph in some book two thousand years ago.</p>
<p>Do not even DARE to assume that creationism is scientifically based, supported, or proven. As an aspiring scientist, I take personal offense to ANY assumption that creationism has ANYTHING to do with science.</p>
<p>I would just like to say that...have all you agnostic and atheist people ever considered how you came to be you? How the certain things in your life came to be the way they came to be? I mean...what? You were a fetus and now you're thinking complex thoughts and everything? I mean, when did you become a creature that can think for one's self?</p>
<p>Maybe the teachings in the Bible aren't always true...but don't you ever think there could be a higher power?</p>
<p>For a while I was atheist too...but I realized that I am extremely lucky to come from a wealthy family...extremely lucky to attend a top private school...extremely lucky to have gained so many life long lessons through my family problems....</p>
<p>I mean, you didn't have to be YOU....you could've been born in Bosnia to goat farmer or something...</p>
<p>I didn't used to believe in God....</p>
<p>...then I got into RSI.</p>
<p>^I have considered that, and that's one of the reasons I'm agnostic/weak atheist.</p>
<p>humans had little knowledge of how the world worked and why it did. To answer those questions they made "God"</p>
<p>so, x__fatuation, are you saying that the poor, the sick , the hurting, the disabled re ignored by your God? Or just the average person living an everage life, your God ignores them as well? And that goat farmer in Bosnia, who are you to judge their life? That is arogance to the max. </p>
<p>And, so your God gives blessings of money, interesting. Now I get it.</p>
<p>I'm delightfully agnostic. :)</p>
<p>I'm not trying to be arrogant...
Anyway, citygirlsmom, I just meant that there's a purpose for everything...and my God doesn't give me blessings of money. Or at least, if he did...he's given me an abusive father and a mother who's never at home and doesn't even know how old her daughter is as well. Perhaps the fact that my father beats me everyday and my mom thinks giving me her credit card will solve everything will make me less arrogant?
Look, my 5 years old sister has almost been choked to death by my dad... she almost died and the fact that she's such a quick rebounder makes me believe in God more. She didn't have to be such an optimistic person and such a cheerful and smiley young girl...she could have been extremely depressed and problematic, especially with the abuse she gets. I really do believe that God made her so strong and cheerful for a reason...or else, it's a really big coincidence.
I'm saying to be THANKFUL for what you have...and because of your blessings you should be even more willing to help the rest of the world.</p>
<p>Anyway, I didn't want to get on your wrong side, citygirlsmom....I think you're really cool but you obviously have something against me :-/...sorry.</p>
<p>How bout this. You are very very ill, and will most likely die. You prey as hard as you possibly can to get better. Or you can take an antibiotic that is statistically shown to cure most cases of the illness you have. </p>
<p>Which will you take? You can only take 1.</p>
<p>Religion is about god helping you. It is about submitting to some superior force.</p>
<p>Science is about man helping man. Period. Science asks you to stand tall and face the truth without flinching. </p>
<p>Furthermore, ask yourself this. God tells you certain things you should and shouldn't do. The consequences are heaven and hell. Yet why do you need to be encouraged by heaven, or fear hell? It seems to make you a selfish person, since the only reason you help people is to get into heaven, and avoid hell.</p>