Justinian: I refuse to entertain the thought...

This is your first mistake.

That's the main problem I have with religion as a structure for society. You cannot question it out of fear that you just might come to a conclusion that doesn't fit. This implies two things. First, that it is not a search for knowledge in that a search for knowledge requires the asking of questions. Second, would you truly lose the entire structure behind your morality if you were to call metaphysics into question or the legitimacy of traditional paths? If so, that is dangerous. There must be a more stable anchor for morality and happiness.
Backwards. Human nature is the backbone of religion, which is an element of culture... itself composed of other cultural elements. While people do not create whatever the true metaphysical reality is, they undoubtedly create religion... and religion changes to suit them.
It's not that simple. But over time and with changes in culture and reality, this slowly occurs. To the believer of any age, the accepted elements of the religion are timeless. They would be shocked to travel through time and see what their religion is. They'd often be shocked just to travel across the world and see how the "same" religion is used.
Exactly. That is the other thing that irritates me about religion. I think I'll start a new thread to avoid a huge tangent.
True. But religion is the only one that seems to work on a large scale and have an effect deep within the psyche. Religion puts the soul at stake and thus works well as a tool of fear.
I'm not saying that is religion's purpose, but that it is an effect that religion has, especially when it makes blanket statements that are never to be questioned.

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"Man lives in the sunlit world of that which he believes to be reality. But unseen by most is an underworld, a place that is just as real... but not as brightly lit... A DARK SIDE!"
-opening from Tales From the Darkside

Just look at what Nancy Pelosi and her communist thug buddies are trying to do in Congress.

Being from England I need a little more info about what your talking about.

1 I have no idea who Nancy Pelosi is.
2 I was unaware you had any communists in government positions.
3 What has the lack of believing in God got to do with this?

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http://www.arts-fine.co.uk

Being from America, I can clarify the above:

1. Nancy Pelosi is the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the United States Congress. She is a member of the Democratic Party and considered, by American standards, to be quite left-wing, though in England she would probably be considered a centrist.

2. There are none. GovernmentCheese is using the word "communist" purely as a perjorative.

3. Nothing- Pelosi is pushing for greater restrictions on campaign financing, which some right-wing sites misrepresent as targeting religious organizations specifically, which is not the case. For the record, I oppose the restrictions since I consider campaign lobbying and financing to be free speech, but I don't buy into GovernmentCheese's delusions of persecution.

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"Some people complain about the system. The system is not good, so they can't do anything. It's an excuse. Freedom is in your heart." (Jin Xing)

Tail-Gunner Joe would have to disagree...

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"Duty is the most sublime word in our language. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less." - Robert E. Lee

http://forum.ebaumsworld.com/showthread.php?t=168867

Here's a religion(mostly anti) thread with almost 5,800 posts. I only read through the first and last pages; there are some interesting videos on page one.

Religion is the past. With the internet, educated people can spread factual information at speeds never before heard of. I believe we will see an "evolution of religion," if those two words may be placed in the same sentence.

To the religious zealot, I would say: Do not censor yourself from information. I was baptised and raised a protestant christian, but through education and much introspection I have learned to keep an open mind and to have a REALISTIC view of the universe.

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Being a practicer of a religion does not essentialy dictate you must be closed-minded. But the problem with the secular atheist schools is it teaches people to abandon their religion, which is despicable. And if you want to touch upon a 'Realistic' view of the universe, Science has more than enough holes in it for people to be disenfranchised and scepticle.

You can believe that religion will eventually die out and science will prevail but I disagree and it also depends on the definition of religion in context.

Interpersonally, I pray you have not abandoned your christian roots. You will find no solace in the integrity-destroying Science dogma.

....Religion is not necessarily evil. But it is silly.

Why are you trying to protect monkeys?