as I understand it, Snailsex is asking who can we believe in Religion which is constantly talked about but is rarely seen today. Miracles, that "happened" often anyways.

And yes, I have played whisper down the lane. Some people mess it up on purpose.

"I think religion is for the weak mind that has no oppinion of its own and doesn't beleave in moving forward. "

actually, religion is for those who want something to believe in or desire more of in life. A fanatical theist is more dangerous than a blithe atheist. Not to mention religion provides people with a way to, well, seek redemption for guilt.

"Not so long ago people would actually kill you if you told em the world was round.. or if you told em that we would one day get from France to New york in under 12 hours. Fact is that things change so rapidly becaulse alot of people are trying to beter understand life its self instead of beleaving in a god."

Not so long ago, people were frivolous, foppish, closed minded, and somewhat paranoid. But they were smart, clever, resourceful and creative. Counterpoint: People today would kill you for being born in America (American Citizen). You can't change that you were born in America, you make the best of it, but you die for it anyways? I suppose we're all gonna die, but would you rather die knowing a God was watching over you and waiting for you to come to him or would you rather die and just be left at that?

Counterpoint (for second sentence): Compare today from say, 400 years ago, 500. Lets compare music. Rap. Need I say more? Beethoven, Mozart, etc. Eltara, who listens to metal, and some other dark stuff, listens to Beethoven, Mozart. 500 years ago, 1, us 0. Lets examine art. "New art". WHAT THE HELL!? And the other side? Raphael, Van Gogh, etc. Yeah, right. Compare literature. Vampires? Magic? probably forbidden in their society, but have we fallen that far? Compared with Frost, Tennyson, Twain and Shakespeare. Yeah. Lets examine military. Guns, tanks, guided missiles, ICBM's, shit, that's scary. And back then? Swords, shields, bows and arrows...trebuchets! Hmm, I think we can see who won. 500 years ago. And 500 years ago, religion was a major player in society. Course, they did some terrible things and were corrupt, but look at what was accomplished. Look at us today. What can we say we accomplished that is as effective as them? We still read books and literature from back then, plus examine and use their art for inspiration. Man, maybe we should stop trying to understand life, and focus more on a religion?

And our human nature is to find solutions, not the truth. Some maybe, but our nature is curiosity and to find solutions. Oh and to "sin"

And I'm not going to acknowledge the last 2 statements as they are just cheap shots.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iMmvu9eMrg&feature=channel

Descartes was more intellectually challenged than Xeno, but I agree the others were brilliant.

I don't think this is a troll although I hear he is rather ugly...but I can't say anything myself...if KT is reading this IGNORE THE PREVIOUS STATEMENT

Aquinas was a little too into the theology imo when philosophizing. I prefer Kant or Aristotle, although I will say Kant was a bit heavy on the "nothing is important, everything we do is pointless" he had a point. Aristotle made more sense. But his ideals were VERY close to christianity. Not exact, but close enough that we can get away with it

"more intellectually challenged than Xeno" = You're intellectually challenged.

Religion is for those that have faith.  Nothing more, nothing less.

it seems like in most modern societies... the OP's view is common... so religious people are people that arent swayed by the negative views their society imposes on them and their religion... which would mean that the opposite of what the OP said is true...

If your sister is a mother and she just lost her 3 year old boy and is in deep grief then what else is there that would make her feel better except that "he will go to a better place"? In the past and still now religion is used to comfort the people.

This however, was not the only purpose of religion. You have try and imagine a world without order, a world without police, a lawless world. What would stop people commiting crime like murder and thievery, answer: religion. If you can make people believe that they will go to hell for murder, thievery and all those other things then they will surely be intimidated and not commit those crimes (in most cases).

Richer people gave money to the poor and there were some other things good too about religion. Forexample, let's take the islam. They forbid people to eat pork, reason: Pig meat rots very quickly and in the past when we had no salt/frigerators so this was very problamatic since many people got sick. Forbid pork=problem solved.

The islam also says that you have to pray 5 times a day, reason: In Saudi Arabia (where the islam basically started) the climate is hot, as we all know hot weather makes people lazy and the hot weather makes them barely go out anymore. Also that they ate a lot of sheep contributes to the fact that they were fat. They needed exsercise so this was a perfect solution.

Basically, religion had a good purpose but has none left - well maybe to comfort people but then I ask you, is that really worth it? Is it worth to have so many leaders who believe in a talking snake (which seriously worries me) and so many people that believe the world is 5000 year old?

Howmany wars have there not been because of religion, howmany people have been killed by religion? Taliban destroyed Afghanistan in the name of religion, the church abused their power in the name of religion and I am not even talking about Jerusalam or all the crusades. Sum these things up and really think if this little comfort is worth it all. It's not only war and death that is brought in the name of religion but people are holding us back in the name of religion. Again and again they don't want changes! Abortion, GM are only few of the many examples.

and for the record, Marx was an idiot academic without a clue.

lol no comments on what I wrote?

Thanks 4 the compliment & advice, I will surely keep it in mind:)

i think people that refuse to believe there is some 1 higher then them are weak minded like u said world has developed and changed so fast  but the world has developed due to history we build of history. religion isn't just about being 1 gods slave its about believing and committing yourself to something. if God appeared at your front door every day you would soon loose interest as shall we say the idea would wear off. the whole side to religion is the fact you never know whats true and whats not if we knew all the answers life would be a sad place and to be honest bit sad for simple minded people like some of you to try and force people not to have an a opinion and a right to believe in what they want. why should u decide there simple for believing that we didn't just appear out of no where and i think people that cant understand peoples religions are in fact the simple minded ones as you have to always be right and have to feel you know everything. so instead of trying to prove why religion is fake let people believe in what they want and u carry on thinking you know everything but surly by trying to force people religion is wrong you are doing the same thing u say religion is doing and following an idea and believing in it ie big bang theory may not involve 1 man ie god but is still a opinion believed .