Is there a god?

[Cliche Guevara]

Any discussion of the effect that religion has on the actions of individuals is irrelevant to the question of whether or not there is a god and is purely red-herring.

[tttoon]

Summing up for me:

I don't think there is a god. I think religion should be actively discouraged and hope that we can see a marked decline in it this century. Main reason is because the only thing religion does is giving people excuses:

It started with an excuse because people didn't know where lightning came from.
Then came an excuse to elevate yourself to a higher position of power.
Now we've got: an excuse to have a bigoted view on things that only effect you in that they make you uncomfortable,
An excuse to not be responsible for the actions in your life,
An excuse not to think but to assume the most retarded shit, and to obstruct science and progress,
An excuse to see other people as less "good",
An excuse to make millions of dollars on the bad shit that happens in other peoples lives,
An excuse to kill and go to war,
An excuse to feel "discriminated against",
An excuse to discriminate (against race, gender,...),
....

[Cliche Guevara]

Just found out that there are seven states that have provisions in their constitutions that bar atheists from holding elected office. Arkansas, Maryland, North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Shouldn't be surprised that they're almost exclusively southern states. Go 'merica!

[herbivor]

Just found out that there are seven states that have provisions in their constitutions that bar atheists from holding elected office. Arkansas, Maryland, North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Shouldn't be surprised that they're almost exclusively southern states. Go 'merica!

That's news to me. Isn't that unconstitutional under the US constitution?

[frankenbeemer]

Just found out that there are seven states that have provisions in their constitutions that bar atheists from holding elected office. Arkansas, Maryland, North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Shouldn't be surprised that they're almost exclusively southern states. Go 'merica!

I think it only applies to the office of Governor in SC. Article 4 section 2. Shameful. I am told it also applies to Notary Public.

That's news to me. Isn't that unconstitutional under the US constitution?

Yes it is. The South Carolina Supreme Court said so in 1997. It remains in the state constitution, however.

[Cliche Guevara]

That's news to me. Isn't that unconstitutional under the US constitution?

Yep, Article 6 states that there cannot be a test of faith required for any public office.

[evandael]

the gods of men are man-made.

[be34st]

Summing up for me:

I don't think there is a god. I think religion should be actively discouraged and hope that we can see a marked decline in it this century. Main reason is because the only thing religion does is giving people excuses:

It started with an excuse because people didn't know where lightning came from.
Then came an excuse to elevate yourself to a higher position of power.
Now we've got: an excuse to have a bigoted view on things that only effect you in that they make you uncomfortable,
An excuse to not be responsible for the actions in your life,
An excuse not to think but to assume the most retarded shit, and to obstruct science and progress,
An excuse to see other people as less "good",
An excuse to make millions of dollars on the bad shit that happens in other peoples lives,
An excuse to kill and go to war,
An excuse to feel "discriminated against",
An excuse to discriminate (against race, gender,...),
....

An excuse to not be responsible for the actions in your life,
An excuse not to think but to assume the most retarded shit, and to obstruct science and progress,

If only more people thought like this.

[DatUtahGuy]

Why was this discussion even started? But alas, the way I see it is I do think there is an alien form out there that created everything (God, Allah, Buddah... etc) and he chooses to remain hidden and tells us to be nice to each other and not be complete douch nozzles. Whatever his plan is, I do think he is more powerful/technologically advanced and if he found a way to keep humans alive after death(souls into heaven or hell) then I just want to be on his good side.

I'm not religious, but saying we evolved from fucking tadpoles is an insult to the complexity of the human brain/body.

Treat others as you want to be treated.

/fin

[z31maniac]

I'm not religious, but saying we evolved from fucking tadpoles is an insult to the complexity of the human brain/body.

Nope, ID is stupid.

[cale]

You being offended in no way makes evolution any less true, you need to come to terms with that. If you want to intelligently approach the debate that's one thing, however you seem to want to argue it based on what you think seems right and not what the facts tell us.

[Kershaw]

I'm not religious, but saying we evolved from fucking tadpoles is an insult to the complexity of the human brain/body.

you realize that evolution is not even up for discussion, right?

it's a fact. that's it. end of discussion.

[u3b3rg33k]

Naw, brosephim, it's totally a theory. yes, I can see your sig. /sarcasm

[streetwaves]

Yeah, no god. Glad to see I'm not in a very small minority here.

[pantelones]

This is a representation of our way of understanding life. Just like the way we associate 1, 2, and 3 as being numbers of "value", instead of bus, turkey and carrot...

bus+turkey=string-bean Right?




"God" is for people who are simple minded. If you can't be bothered to design your mind for the time in which you live, then "god bless you".

Choice, chance, and the actions of others are the determining factors in life.

This IS your eternity, and experiencing the "here and now" is the function of life. If you don't get it here, then you not going to get it any were, this is it.