On Sun, 20 Aug 2006 13:13:37 GMT, Jangchub wrote:
- Refer:
On Sun, 20 Aug 2006 11:53:52 +0930, Michael Gray
wrote:

On Sat, 19 Aug 2006 03:43:28 GMT, Jangchub wrote:
- Refer:
On Sat, 19 Aug 2006 11:36:03 +0930, Michael Gray
wrote:

1. You saw something awesome.
2. You cannot personally understand it.
3. Therefore there is an invisible old man in the sky.

Push to shove, whatever enriches someone's spirituality or kindness or
consciousness is a good thing. I don't believe in a creator, but I
have no problem with those who do. And orb spiders are indeed
awesome. I don't believe a god created them, but if someone else does
and it touches their heart making them a better person, it's great.
Don't you think?

Any form of self-delusion is a potentially damaging thing.
The real-world evidence for such a case is overwhelming.
Delusion is NOT benign, even if it does make the deludee 'feel
better'.

Yes, I get that and I'm with you on delusion being the cause of great
suffering. That said, I do not believe in bashing someone in the head
with my aethiesm, they wouldn't hear me. So, since I may or may not
be more informed than a believer it's not up to me to make that
correction. People have to come to their own conclusions, many go
along the god train. It's a lot easier for many people think
something is "doing" it for them. I don't get that, but I allow for
it. I couldn't change it if I tried.

Except that Theists steal my money, in the form of tax exemption.
They get preferential treatment in the law.
They can force me to choose between going to one of their wars, or
face punishment.
The direct an palpable effects are legion, and very real.
I do not have to lift a finger, nor even squeak about atheism to have
my taxes stolen from me and given to fund church officials and
directly enable them to sexually and mentally molest my children.