We had a saying when I was a Nasho and it still applies on matters of religion.
"BS baffles brains."

David

I have so much to say about this topic, but for shortage of time I'll only say this for now:

1. One can live without dogmas, but one cannot live without religion.
2. The author is proposing to "unite" Australia under presumably "shared" secular and humanitarian values. As myself and others do not share those values, I wonder what the author has in store for us: non-voluntary euthanasia perhaps?
3. Thank you for your contribution, Asho, much appreciated!
4. Thank you for you courage, Runner: though I do not agree with every word you wrote, I appreciate the way you came forward.

Dear david f,

I largely acknowledge much of what you have said. However, there is also the increased communications that we have today that Augustine didn’t have in his time. Perhaps I’m too optimistic, but at the rate that we see religions lose their numbers in the Western world (200 per week in Australia, last I was aware), it is not hard for me to imagine a time where it (at least) reaches a point of “ecological extinction” (so to speak).

I absolutely can understand what you say regarding “an unreasonable sense of guilt”. An immediate family member of mine is currently religious due to the ultimate forgiveness that modern Christianity provides them for a horrible act that they committed.

That being said, I think there will always be a level of superstition in society; I just think that it’s unlikely to be religion at some point in the future, and that - whatever it is - it probably won’t contain ideas as absurd as comforting and tyrannical celestial father figures.

Yuyitsu, "...one cannot live without religion."

Is that right?
You may not be able to live without religion, but many others can and do, very successfully.

I imagine our human race would not have survived in it's early stages if you were correct in your assertions,, because religion wasn't thought up by humans until long after man started walking the earth.

All those other superstitions like witches, fairies, goblins etc were thought up before any actual gods or religions.

Dear Suse,

The only purpose we have in life is to re-unite with God. We are all on this road, whether we are aware of it or not.

Every rock, every elementary particle, even black holes and dark matter, all exist for this sole purpose, thus religion is everywhere.

However, you may be correct that only humans tread this path consciously and that it was a while until humans came upon the idea of pursuing religion consciously.

Those who wish for the end of religion are trying to cut the branch they're sitting on. Fortunately, it is impossible.

Today is a sad day and my heart aches for my Christian brothers and sisters, dark clouds hovering over them. If indeed it is proven that Jesus did not exist, then they will be deeply wounded. This Richard Carrier must be a cruel heartless person for publishing such a book rather than keeping this callous information to himself.

Myself, I am not a Christian and would not be personally affected by such findings. In fact, my own faith does not depend on anyone's or anything's existence, but those Christians would suffer. Some would commit suicide, others would turn to crime and wantonness, some may even end up as Jihadi terrorists, "thanks" to this man, Richard Carrier and the author who so gleefully advertises this book.

Nobody can stop religion: in the end, Truth, Religion and Righteousness always win, but yes, bad people can temporarily make the life of the religious much harder.

To those beloved Christian brothers and sisters, I send this song, translated (from German):

"Christians must be
true disciples of Christ on earth.
They wait for Him at all times,
until they happily undergo
martyrdom, exile, and bitter pain."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NsWscJiiNE

AJ Phillips,

".....I think there will always be a level of superstition in society; I just think that it’s unlikely to be religion at some point in the future, and that - whatever it is - it probably won’t contain ideas as absurd as comforting and tyrannical celestial father figures"

Alive and well in 'The Stars' columns/sections of newspapers and magazines!!