To all my atheists friends I have to ask you if there is no God why are you so hot under the collar about a non-existent being. I do not believe in fairies and leprechauns or the spaghetti monster but I do not spend hours every day arguing with strangers about the non-existence of these things ... Why do you bother putting all this time and energy into something you do not even believe in .. I mean, what the fuss?

That's actually a good point and one I've been wondering about.
I like to debate all sorts of things about religion, including the social/cultural issues and/or benefits but I rarely get drawn into the debate around whether god exists or not.
It's sort of a pointless debate and it will never be proven either way.
I think people get drawn in because of other things that believers say/do, the evolution argument is an example, evolution has such an overwhelming amount of evidence that it really is ignorant to ignore it. If all religious people accepted evolution and yet retained their faith then I think there would be much less debate around the god existence issue.
To me, a belief in evolution and a belief in god are not mutually exclusive, in fact I respect the people that accept evolution and yet retain their faith as it shows that they are open to the facts when presented with them.

I do agree that for an atheist to spend a ridiculous amount of time arguing against gods existence is strange and for me it makes me wonder why they feel the need.

James,

'but you (atheists) do not want to listen you just want to keep arguing and arguing and arguing and arguing and arguing and arguing and never listening to anything presented'

I copied this from one of your earlier posts. It was one of your rants about atheists. The answer to the question you posed above has been answered so many times, and recently, on this site, yet you still don't seem to understand it. Can I suggest that you think about the answers that have already been given and consider why you are unable to listen and constantly argue, rather than posting another pointless question for which a perfectly sensible comprehensive answer has already been given many times over?

Groom
I have yet to see a reasonable, rational, logical, intelligent, scientific answer to the question of 'why bother if there is nothing out there' hence I started this discussion ... are you suggesting I do not have the same freedom of speech which you exert with all your hysterical anti-God rants which makes no sense if there is no God ... Psalms 37:12-13 Your day will come!

Has it not occurred to you mr James that the majority of people do not dismiss the posibility of (a) gods existance, while they do dismiss the teachings of the multitude of different religions that have sprung up over the years.

I am completely open minded as to whether there is or isn't a god of some form or another, even if that form is merely a moral code by which people should live their lives, however I am totally opposed to the manipulative religions, especially their heirarchy who over the years have caused more death and hardship than any other section of society, only royalty can get near to them on that score.

I fear that clergy are in my opinion little more than wolves in lambs clothing.

Kibbie
You need to check your facts ... If you will do a check of history you find that it is the atheist governments and communities who have murdered the most people and not the 'religious' ... over 125 million people have been murdered in just the last 200 years ... all of these by the atheist community ... no 'religion' even comes close to that figure ... As for your opinion, there are wolves in lambs clothing in the church ... yes for sure I can not argue with that ... but let me ask you ... are there bad plumbers, yes, are there cowboy electricians, yes, are there rip off mechanics, yes ... every trade has there bad apples ... does that mean there is not one good plumber, pastor, electrician, priest, mechanic, preacher ... the reason people feel so offended (rightly so) by the priest who is a wolf in sheep's clothing is because of the abuse of trust extended to them from people searching for real answers in God

James,

'I have yet to see a reasonable, rational, logical, intelligent, scientific answer to the question of 'why bother if there is nothing out there'

Then I suggest you re-read them and when you do you will find the answers straightforward and perfectly well measured. Certainly there is no point in re-stating them here again.

MJ's right. He's a happy moron, and you can't argue with that.

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S-L-O-W-L-Y, huh? Is that how you type them?

No ... Masky ... thats how you must read the posts because you are not getting the real message in the post and making things up much like you religion of atheism and be-careful how you answer or amazon will delete your reply like they have already done ...

Michael James says:
No ... Masky ... thats how you must read the posts because you are not getting the real message in the post and making things up much like you religion of atheism and be-careful how you answer or amazon will delete your reply like they have already done ...

This is a classic MJ post. First, "you are not getting the real message in the post". Not because of the appalling inadequacy of your means and methods of communication, obviously. Then, "much like you religion of atheism and be-careful" your favourite old saw, the Religion of Atheism (Damn I missed Atheist Mass this morning, I'll probably get ten Atheist Hail Mary's at Atheist Cofession, now.) followed by some bewildering punctuation. And, finally, beautifully, "or amazon will delete your reply like they have already done" MJ gets an actual hard-on from an actual unseen hand meting out cosmic justice.

Loser.

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Reference mr James, he comes accross to me as being a tad ignorant, I may not agree with his meanderings but I do at least have the courtesy to address him (as a stranger I might add) as mr.

Michael James says:
Mashy ...
Not sure why but whenever you are on I feel like a cat playing with a mouse ...

Oh, yeah. I'm really feeling that. Hurt me.

"you will respond with some fantastic comical quote you got from some book or web site about how to insult Christians online" This is really interesting and probably quite telling. You genuinely find original thought bewildering, don't you? Probably your appalling colonial education...

hey guys, none of you are a great example for either side if this debate. it would be better if you stop the petty childishness and went out into this world and let your life make a difference. how much time have you wasted right here thinkingof something smarter than what the last guy said...honestly-get a life!

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Hi Garth
welcome to the discussion ... don't worry about Masky ... he's harmless ... he is just venting some childhood frustrations with his catholic up bringing ... all said and done he's alright though

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wow you really need to chill!!

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MJ, your posts are no advertisement for a colonial education.

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