imajulianutter writes "Errrr I thought religions teach all people that belief is a matter of faith and that they do have a free will. Isn't that true?"

Sure, they teach free will, but they get first crack at children's minds, day in, day out throughout their formative years, shaping, conditioning, brain-washing, readying them to do the same to their own kids. Baptism comes with the contract upon parents to continue the cycle, children receiving sacraments, religious education, all the trimmings.

Religion is an inter-generational virus.

In putting myself out there saying that, I have no issue with it until I have forced upon me that I must yield to "god", as relayed by those claiming knowledge of god's mind through interpreting a book supposedly written on his behalf.

The price of protecting secularism is eternal vigilance

Militant atheists annoy me just as much as Christian fundamentalists do.
It beats me why some so-called atheists feel the need to rid the world of religion, when in actual fact they are not supposed to recognize any God or religion as real at all.

Even though I myself no longer believe in fairytale Gods, I would never presume to tell others what they should or should not believe in (although I would reserve the right to question it), just as I would not welcome anyone 'preaching' to me about invisible beings.

I do welcome healthy debate about religions or Gods, but unless there was violence or coercion involved in a religion, I would not support the banning of any religion.

Many people in this world get comfort from believing in the various Gods that are supposed to be around us, and it would be unkind to deny them this comfort.

Atheists just don't understand what religion is all about. Atheism means that humanity must be the source of the ultimate answer to everything, a dismal prospect, I assure you.

"Militant atheists annoy me just as much as Christian fundamentalists do."

Well the important thing is you have found a way to feel superior to both.

Atman wrote: "Atheists just don't understand what religion is all about. Atheism means that humanity must be the source of the ultimate answer to everything, a dismal prospect, I assure you."

Atman doesn't know what atheism is all about. Atheists do not believe there is a God. That does not mean they believe there is a source of an ultimate answer to everything. Atman has incorporated three beliefs - a belief in God and a belief in a source of an ultimate answer to everything and a belief in an ultimate answer to everything.

Atman does know what religion is all about either. One can be religious without believing in God. Buddhism is a religion which does not incorporate a belief in God.

That does not mean all atheists are Buddhists. Buddhism incorporates other beliefs besides a belief in God.

Religion is a complex phenomenon. Religionists may see other religions in terms of their own. If their own religion has a belief in God they may see all religions as incorporating a belief in God.

I am an atheist. The belief that there is a source of the ultimate answer to everything is not a belief that I have. I think humanity is just one of many species and see no reason to think in terms of an ultimate answer to everything. Possibly we are only gathering pebbles at the edge of a vast sea of ignorance, but I don't know that such a metaphoor is anything more than a metaphor. I don't think humanity has any more purpose in being here than any other species and think humanity and all other species will eventually become extinct.

>> "Atheists just don't understand what religion is all about. Atheism means that humanity must be the source of the ultimate answer to everything, a dismal prospect, I assure you." <<
Posted by Atman, Tuesday, 3 April 2012 11:45:03 PM

The ultimate answer? To what? the "ultimate question"?

Religion certainly doesn't have any answers. None have. None do. None will.