I don't agree but well said Brett. I believe there is no limit to the tool we call science. Not matter what the issue is science will reveal it someday.

One of the great difficulties with this subject is that one has to think about one’s own thinking. How did the idea of God get into your mind?

To illustrate the problem: When we were very young many of us believed in Father Christmas. Adult authorities told us that he existed and we had evidence in the shape of the toys which mysteriously appeared in pillow slips or socks. The idea and image was implanted in our minds. Now, as adults, we have abandoned that belief because further evidence convinced us that we had been mistaken in our interpretation.

Just so with the idea of God and ghosts; the belief was put into our young minds by the grown-ups whom we trusted and so on back through generations.

The value of Frazer’s study in “The Golden Bough” is that it showed that earlier forms of society did not have the image of God which modern day Christians have. They had multiple gods and the very earliest had belief in magic rather than gods. Just as with Father Christmas that’s new evidence. The idea evolved over hundreds of thousands of years.

It would be interesting if those commentators who do not accept the argument in my original article would now put their own interpretation of how the fairly recent idea of a single God got into their mind. After all 2000 years is not long in the time of existence of Homo sapiens.

Excellent article, John, couldn't agree more.
However, I am prepared to accept and respect the fact that others believe differently.
One thing annoys me a little, Brett's assumption that all Christians feel content because their belief in God nurtures and sustains them.
If all Christians are so content, why are some of them so vitriolic when it comes to those who see the world differently? Particularly feminists, gays and supporters of evolution?
Contentment, it seems to me, can shrug off points of view it doesn't agree with, and sees no need to regulate others beliefs and morals.

Brett, it certainly is a problem for me also that so many Christians insist that others need to believe in their God.

My parents were very anti-religion and Tom Paine was my ‘bible’ and I find the idea of the Christian God ludicrous. Is this evidence for John Warren’s thesis?

However, I have to disagree with Kenny that science will eventually reveal all. If randomness or chaos is the underlying cause of life, the universe and everything then there cannot be an explanation and the tool that we are using to understand ‘things’ is cleverly creating (or evolving?) the evidence that ‘explains’ our reality

atheists,agnostics(which means ignorant in latin-I think?)unbelievers, disbelievers,and those of you who have monkeys for first cousins:Stop rubbishing that which you know nothing about-Christianity.Also would you stop knocking and trying to explain why we believe what you don't and at present can't understand or accept!-Christianity! You say all the proof is in the THEORY-that's spelled T-H-E-O-R-Y of evolution this idea HASN'T nor can it be proved, if you say it can be you would be telling lies and you all KNOW IT. The faith of an evolutionist is a lot stronger than the faith of a Christian. John W why does a cretin and dribbling idiot like me believe in a God that I can't see, taste or feel,and never have. One way and there are many others, is I look at the heavens which is endless. These same heavens are so well run, so absolutely & totally precise that we, man, can rely completely on it and we can send spaceships into space and know, unless they break down, that they will-ASSUREDLY- arrive at a certain location. ALL orbits are completely accurate and precise and REMAIN so. So please stop denegrating us Believers and cease saying that we are all denegrating you PLEASE! Regards, numbat
PS. Many of us know more and have read & studied more about the THEORY! that's THEORY!of evolution than many of you evolutionists

Numbat
Internet Etiquette 101
1. Typing in full capitals is considered the written equivalent to shouting and is actually banned from some internet forums. I know you are not the only one but would appreciate the courtesy of lower case.
2. We monkey cousins are free to discuss religion if we choose - note that I said 'discuss' not 'denigrate' which is simply your interpretation.
3. If you believe in a god - that's fine just don't get so upset when others don't believe as you do.
4. This article is a well reasoned consideration of why human beings developed religion.
5. Many non religious people have studied religion and come from intensely religious back grounds, that is they are very well versed in religion.
6. Physical evidence exists for evolution - there is no evidence at all for the idea of creation.