There is a saying: For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't, no proof is possible. However, I must add there were people like Edith Stein, an atheist who later became a canonized Saint. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Stein

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You can believe whatever you want, in your home, in your church, or with others of similar beliefs. But my point is that if a grown adult speaks to me about "god" or religion, I will treat them the same way I would as if a grown adult were speaking to me about flying superheroes, talking mice, or coyote & roadrunner antics being based in reality. I see no difference honestly.

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"I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints, the sinners are much more fun"

- Billy Joel

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Wow Capn, that almost sounds like Faux News War on Xmas stuff.

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Actually Capn I believe you have every right to your beliefs. But here yet again you are presuming that almost all atheists feel you don't. You are entitled to believe in your god, just as I am entitled to not believe. All I've and many other atheist have asked for is simply that your religious beliefs not be made part of the government that belongs to all of us. So again I'll ask "Please don't presume to know what you really don't know."

This is getting exhausting, but here I go again!

"But here yet again you are presuming that almost all atheists feel you don't."
- I am presuming nothing. As I said, based on the comments on this board, your statements make no inclination at tolerance.

"All I've and many other atheist have asked for is simply that your religious beliefs not be made part of the government that belongs to all of us."
- actually, no, what you've "asked for simply" on this board is little, what you've done more of, is throw insults at people who don't conform to whatever your way of thinking is.

"So again I'll ask "Please don't presume to know what you really don't know."'
- and once again, i have presumed to know nothing, and, if you read my comments again, you'll see i've said nothing to assume I know anything about core beliefs of Atheists - only what my experience has been in trying to find them out. Nor have I said anything nasty about anyone with different opinions.

And as for "your religious beliefs"...
- well, you know nothing of my religious beliefs, so you should probably stop assuming.

Have a nice day!

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Stein, Joel both raised on the same faith but eventually ignored it.

If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth - Spock

The rise of atheism in America

http://news.yahoo.com/rise-atheism-america-110700315.html

"a much larger share of the American public (19 percent) spurns organized religion in favor of a nondefined skepticism about faith. This group, sometimes collectively labeled the "Nones," is growing faster than any religious faith in the U.S."

An atheist will never be elected to an higher political office. I mean President, Senate, or Governor. The masses do not trust anyone who doesn't pray to God for guidance. I personally would not want a surgeon operating on me without faith in God.

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And I'm not sure I'd want someone operating on me who puts his faith in a myth, and not in the science that developed the knowledge and abilities to perform these procedures. I don't want a surgeon looking to a man who allegedly walked the earth 2000 years ago.

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Never? Never ever ever? Even though superstitionism is on the decline? lulz.

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George Bush: 'God told me to end the tyranny in Iraq'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/oct/07/iraq.usa

That certainly worked out well.

In the same article that Rorschach posted:

http://news.yahoo.com/rise-atheism-america-110700315.html

Dawkins has encouraged his followers to "ridicule" anyone who could believe in "an unforgiving control freak" and "a capriciously malevolent bully" like the God portrayed in the Old Testament. Dawkins's harsh approach, said Barbara J. King, an anthropologist at the College of William and Mary, has confirmed "some of the negative stereotypes associated with the nonreligious — intolerance of the faithful, first and foremost.

The above mentioned is very much on display in this thread. I would vote for anyone who would stick to the constitution about the separation of church and state. Someone who sticks up for civil liberties(not violate them or target one community muslims, blacks...etc....), cares about the environment. And yes, I am a registered Republican but i voted several times against my own party. Did not vote for Bush twice. So, i don't care what your religious beliefs are.

Also, Yvonne. You should care more about the experience of your surgeon....not his beliefs. A recent study came out last year that.....quantified the number of surgeries done by doctors. If the doctor was within a certain threshold(not over or under, meaning not too many or too little) the chances of it being successful was great.

I'm not a big fan of Hitchens, Dawkins or most other celebrity Atheists. Yes, I'm a fan of Carlin simply because he makes me laugh. But while I have my own opinion on the the reality of god, I really do understand why people need to believe. I understand that it helps them deal with issues on every level. If "god" helps you get through the day and it works for you, great. If god helps you be a better person, great. If god helps society, great.

I personally place my faith in humans, science, and technology. All do have their downsides, but to me, they're all real.

Yes, I guess I do feel the concept of god is a bit silly. On the other hand, people who care for me have told me they feel sad, pity or sorrow for me for my lack of belief. I'm okay with that tradeoff. I've got plenty of religious and spiritual friends who may joke with me about my atheism, but never condemn me for it. For those friends I'm grateful. Every human being is entitled to pull together their own experiences and form their own opinions.

All I've ever asked, as have most atheists that I'm aware of is simply don't force your religious traditions on us as individuals and on publicly owned institutions.

If by any chance I've personally offended someone, I apologize. However if you've told me I'm wrong for not believing or you've told me how you know I act and I've come back after you, well that's your problem.

I follow a group that espouses a "naturalistic worldview." In other words, a world without gods. They call themselves "The Brights." While I follow them, I can't promote them simply because I actually don't believe I'm brighter or smarter than someone who does believe in god, just of a differing opinion. I'm human, and quite frankly as a human, I know I can't know absolute truth, hence anything is possible. Some would argue that makes me an agnostic. Perhaps, but I really am sure that god doesn't exists, not undecided, which is the definition of "Agnostic."

Again, all of this is personal opinion, and till any of us can prove fact, that's all we are entitled to.

Mscottc I am starting to believe your problem isn't religion. I think you are either surrounded by dolts....or something about you attracts the dolts. It could be a bit of both. So, what you should do is either find some decent people who will appreciate all of you respectfully even if they don't agree....or dude....make like Thoreau and find your own Walden Pond. Sheeeh!

Asif, perhaps you are right. perhaps the accusation of "thin skinned" is right. Perhaps a combination of both. I just see and I am very scared of what's going on in this world today in the realm of politics. I'm scared of Presidents who go to war based on god's words to them. I'm also scared of the fact that one of our political parties, which used to stand for fiscal conservatism, something I believe in, has been taken over by the religious right, and wants to set back our social attitudes towards sex, sex education, birth control, and other women's rights back by decades. And I also don't like to be told what kind of person my being an atheist makes me.