I dont know what American schools are like, but the schools in the UK teach science in science class and Religion in Religious education class. I never felt the school was atheist or religious.
I came to be an atheist on my own, school had zero effect on that. if anything put me on my atheist path it was reading the whole bible cover to cover, and my slow realisation that my belive in a God was fading like a child's belief in Santa claus.

I understand why you may feel atheist try and "covert" people to atheism. I just think that human nature, If you believe or like something to tell people about it and hope they may agree. It is no more sinister than buying a car and telling people its great.

I will say however I have never had an atheist knock on my door and try to covert me or seen an "atheist" group handing out leaflets in the street. Maybe its different in America. I know you have a far more vocal christian community, maybe you also have a far more vocal atheist community too?

Either way, when evil is done, It is individuals that do the evil. Sometimes they use their beliefs as an excuse, sometimes they use the beliefs of others an excuse. What ever the excuse, it still amounts to evil.

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

It IS the case. She is seeking to get a bill passed to have any church that suggests to talk about any political ideology whatsoever labeled as a lobbyist. I have no delusions of persecution. I don't think this person does either-

"During early 1997, young Kim Kyung Il and his brother crossed the border from North Korea into China. The following year he met a pastor, became a Christian and joined a Bible study group. Under the leadership of this pastor, Kyung Il served refugees from North Korea and started Bible studies in the Chengdoo region. He later became involved with sending refugees to South Korea.

Kyung Il was overseer of a safe house that discipled over 70 refugees. When a large number from the group were arrested by the Chinese police, he fled with some of the remaining refugees to the China Mongolian border. He and his wife were captured, but the rest of the group continued their journey in the desert. Without their leader, they wandered for two days and finally crossed the border into Mongolia, where they reached the South Korean embassy and received passage to South Korea.

Kyung Il and his wife were sent back to North Korea and placed in prison. His pregnant wife was hit in the stomach with a stick forcing an abortion. In the prison there were many inmates who knew Kim well, but they protected him by pretending not to know him. Thus the authorities did not realize how involved he was with helping refugees escape from North Korea. He was released after serving only a short sentence. He remembers that those who protected his identity while in prison had asked him to work harder to let the world know about their situation.

Kim’s wife was released from prison shortly after the forced abortion. She escaped to South Korea with other family members. After his release, Kyung Il fled to China and worked at another safe house. He continued to disciple refugees and assisted them in escaping to South Korea. During April 2002, he was caught by the Chinese police. Since his arrest, he has been held in prison in China. He is scheduled to be sent back to North Korea when released from prison in China. All his family now live in South Korea. Pray Kim Kyung Il will not be sent back to North Korea, where he will surely be executed."

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And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

In the heart of man, is forgiven if it used to further their religion. With the internet "that persistant dogma" will not plunge us back into the Dark Ages.

FreeChina Quite a username to be ridiculing religion.

Anyway, religion is by no stretch of the imagination evil.(unless of course you are talking about suicidal and homicidal cults)

It gives people a reason to live(especially Christianity), help other people, be a good person, try your best, and work.

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“Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation.”

-Proverbs 16:12

Religion is the organized and ritualized perpetuation of denial.
That, ultimately, can not be good, though I acknowledge some religious practices and traditions are highly salutary.
Religion can be said to be evil insofar as it interferes with our species' developmental progress. The faith-based belief that humans can not possibly foul the plant beyond the point of no return and thereby cause our own extinction is an example of the deep neurosis we call religious faith. As you know, there is a large body of climate scientists that believe we can and actually are doing just that.

Christianity creates a better world. It gives people a good conscience a moral compass to firmly stand by and a reason to be good people, live their lives, and to have faith in times of crises. Christianity also creates hope for people who otherwise would have none. Also the whole "religions used to fight so they blocked human advancement" argument is completely wrong, do you believe people would not fight without religion? No, people will always
kill each other over different ideas, no matter what they are political, historical, religious, or other IT IS BOUND TO HAPPEN. And Christianity has nothing against the climate change theory.

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“Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation.”

-Proverbs 16:12

I dont really think that religion is to blame for that. but once again people using religion as an excuse.

I've heard liberal "hippy" christians types use the bible to justify us looking after the planet too. We are put here as custodians of the planet concept.

Ultimately though religion is often used as a tool to pull the strings of the believers.
That is a bad thing, but its not the belief in god or the religion that's at fault, but the abuse of power it's religious leaders hold.

We must all be guarded, that our beliefs (in god or what ever) are not being twisted and used for ulterior and unseen motives.

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

Perhaps. But such things are possible without Christianity, or any religion for that matter. So Christianity may be a tool for producing those results, but it is only a tool. And only one of many.

Most religions do this. As well, wouldn't it be best to actually address those peoples' plight so they *did* have hope?

Religion can be a powerful social tool. But like any tool, it can be used for good and ill. Christianity is no exception.

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Man up.

[quote][quote="MonkeyJim";p="346501"]I dont really think that religion is to blame for that (denial of global warming).
The religionists running the country right now hold this opinion.

There is a growing movement in Christian circles to do just that but I certainly wouldn't characterize the adherents as hippies.

Please people, reach into your minds, study the doctrine that seeks to understand His plan and find your hearts. Demand freedom, truth, equality and privacy rights which is what the American Revolution is all about.