Originally Posted By: IAyoteHNTRTo be honest, yes, I like to stir the pot a little bit. Don't we all at times? Be honest in your response to the same question, ok? I don't have everyone on ignore, just a select few who I deem to be too stubborn to keep their minds open, at least partially, to others point of views.
"Stir the pot a little bit" is one thing, what you did was commit a blatant attack on the religious beliefs of the majority of the members here, on the holiest of days in their religion. That's not stirring the pot. That's just downright rude, and incorrigible.
Originally Posted By: IAyoteHNTRWant to know the real basis of my beliefs? Which I'm sure most of you could care less about, and I'm perfectly fine with that. Please watch this 10 minute video if you dare. It pretty much nails my stance/beliefs on religion and faith. I know most of you will dismiss it, but maybe, just maybe, a few of you will be open minded enough and try to understand an atheist's point of view for a change. I feel I completely understand the religious point of view, I just don't agree with it.
YouTube - Ricky Gervais/Religion and Faith
While the video does make a few points of logic, it doesn't assume there is any scientific basis in the teachings of the bible either. As far as the supposed not teaching anyone anything about religion until their 21st. birthday... The reason children are taught religion is because religion is steeped in morals. The same morals upon which the laws of our country are founded. The same morals upon which the laws of society in general are founded. We don't necessarily teach religion to make one's children believe in God, we teach religion to promote moral character and moral strength.
Could morals be taught without religion? Certainly... But, we all know children tend to do things when they aren't being watched, that they shouldn't do. And, entering an all seeing God into the picture, one that watches over us all of the time, helps teach children that the difference in right and wrong doesn't change just because your parents look the other way.
If we want to know whether that model would work in society, we need only to look at the problems in inner city America, caused by the decay of family values, and loss of religious conviction.
Yes, as both you and the video point out, there are a great many religions in this world, but most focus on one supreme being. Do they each differ in some way, yes... but most religions teach very similar lessons in morals. Do they all teach you that you're going to [beeep] for believing in a different a God?... To some extent, yes... But you're not supposed to be so narrow minded that you can't see many of those Gods as one in the same, when they all teach the same lesson.
You want science to back that answer... Why are there pyramids, temples of worship in South America that are extremely similar to those found in the middle east? If those temples were created by travelers that somehow managed to cross the oceans thousands of years before the first known crossing? Where is the evidence of such? Why do the temples worship different Gods? Sceintists don't know those answers, there are holes in science as well, it's not all black and white. Science in large part, tries to explain things through conjecture and theory. Both of which are simply beliefs...
Quote:
Definition of theory
plural - theories
1: the analysis of a set of facts in their relation to one another
2: abstract thought : speculation
3: the general or abstract principles of a body of fact, a science, or an art
4 a: a belief, policy, or procedure proposed or followed as the basis of action