To Paul1405.

Which religion is the opium of the masses? To push them all as the same thing and the same beliefs belittles each of them to never being investigated or shown the merits they might hold. It is a fault I have with the pro-religion anti-religion arguments I hear too often. Each religion is different. The need people have for a spiritual belief through any of those religions sparks at something else. Not that all religions are the same (they aren't), but that there is more to the world then meets the eye. There are spiritual element and spiritual forces out there. Most religions come to different conclusions about this, but they at least all try to address it.

Which ones have it right? That should be the next question. Not to lump them all together as something for the masses, as if you are better then the large populations that are conviently lumped together as being the same thing,

mhaze, that is the Stalinist interpretation of Communism. If Marx was alive today would he have approved of the actions of Stalin, probably no more than he would approve of the actions of Hitler.
These people existed in radical time, and employed extreme radical methods, not appropriate, and not likely to take place in modern Australian society. You falsely use Stalin to snipe Communism.

Is the correct interpretation of Christianity today, to be found by investigating the past actions of the church. For example the only similarities I can find between today's Pope Francis and say Pope John XII, arguably the most debauched pope in history, they were both Pope and probably both believed in god. If I use John XII to claim that he typifies the papacy today I would be wrong.

"that is the Stalinist interpretation of Communism"

Yes Stalin...and Lenin, and Trotsky and Mao and Pot Pot and Ho and Kim and Castro and Ceausescu and Chavez and so on and so on.

Its fashionable among apologists for Marxism to say that it was diverted by Stalin and if only it was implemented as Marx intended it would have been all rainbows and lollipops. Stalin did nothing that Lenin wouldn't have done had he lived and indeed did do while he lived.

You claim that "The basis of Marx argument against religion is that humans should be led by reason" and that is true if you selectively read him, but the real problem for Marx was that the church interfered with his desire to overthrow capitalist society and that's the real reason he opposed it. Lenin likewise and then all the others followed suit.

And everywhere they did so, it turned out to be a disaster for those they claimed to be 'saving'.

Dear Not_Now.Soon,

«Which ones have it right? That should be the next question.»

The question should be, "Which religion is right for me?".

(1) They were born on or very near our Christmas Day. Not the case for Jesus but to make it acceptable to the pagan Roman World the date aligned with the winter solstice.
(2) They were born of a Virgin-Mother. This was a practise used to ensure the child was actually the child of the father, in some cases the vagina was sewn after implantation.
(3) And in a Cave or Underground Chamber. Just happened in Jesus case they were travelling to Bethlehem for Roman census, on the road.
(4) They led a life of toil for Mankind. Nothing wrong with that, every good man should be following that example.
(5) And were called by the names of Light-bringer, Healer, Mediator,
Savior, Deliverer. The fact is whose enlightenment of these gods are society following?
(6) They were however vanquished by the Powers of Darkness. As were hundreds of innocent people in those times who posed a threat to power.
(7) And descended into Hell or the Underworld. Christ Jesus never descended into Hell that is a 6th century Roman idea, Christ stated he would be in paradise. (8) They rose again from the dead, and became the pioneers of mankind to the Heavenly world. Compare item 6/
(9) They founded Communions of Saints, and Churches into which disciples were received by Baptism.
(10) And they were commemorated by Eucharistic meals."

Nothing startling in these claims to disprove Jesus and his claims are spurious. Just claims by association in atheists minds.

To Yuyutsu.

If there is more then one religion that is right, then we can approach the idea of there being a choice of which is right for each person. As it stands now, I do not see all religions as being right. I don't think even a signification number are right. If any are right it still means the vast majority of the others are not right. Just on the basis that most religions have a standard that if right make other religions wrong because of the standards of the first religion.