[ChrisV1]

Originally Posted by ShotgunSnipist

To tell you the truth. I think 'God' is just one GIGANTIC Placebo. I was Christian. Was. Then I realized I was basically praying to a brick wall. However, I think praying works for a lot of people the same reason writing in a diary or notebook helps. You just feel like it's getting out of you. I also think it would just be a better Idea to rely on stuff you are 100% sure exists. We know we exist. We know our friends exist. We know animals and beings are all real. We can rely on them. We can rely on scientists to create cures for life threatening viruses and such. But we can not pray and expect someone to be healed.

Just because a believer prays it does not mean it will become true 100% of the time or maybe even half of the time. If you prayed that all the people of Europe would die by sickness, it will not come true; Or even that you will be rich one day. There could be extensive reasons that god doesn't grant prayers. Another thing is, the results to a prayer can be very subtle and may come along in the future and you may not notice. I personally believe in praying because most have mine have came true, that wouldn't have otherwise. Also when I pray I actually feel like I am talking to someone, not just to myself, I feel that someone is listening. Maybe you don't get the same effect I do, but those are just my experiences.

Originally Posted by Rocky32189

But that can be rationalized by science as well, i.e. the origin of our evolution as we know humans today. What I'm trying to say is that there is nothing that religion can explain, which can't be explained more rationally and believably by science. And there is not a shed of tangible evidence that God indeed exists.

You could say that there is no tangible evidence, but there are many holes in the Theory of evolution that can point to Intelligent Design. Also. if hands on evidence is the only extent in which you will believe, you really need to think outside of the box a little bit.

As floorpuncher stated, there are animals which exibit the same characteristics as ourselves. Obviously, our superior method thinking and morals come from our intelligence and this can be explained by evolution. Of course it is possible for us to stem from single celled organisms. This can be explained by billions of years of evolution. These changes are so tiny you can barely see them if you look at a small scale (thousands of years) but on a huge scale it is very reasonable. I do not feel religion provides the same type of rational explanations to justify their assumptions.

I wasn't talking about our 'superior thinking methods' I was explaining the concept that only human have remorse, spirituality, and very strong opinions as we are having right now, instead of just acting on basic instinct. Even humans with severe mental retardation have these traits.

But why would God intentionally put hurdles in our way to trip us up? Why would he allow rational people such as myself to slip through the cracks and burn in hell for using the reason he supposedly gave me? I know you cannot answer these questions, but this is the type of rational that leads me to believe there is no God. Most of the answers given to back up religion just do not make sense.

Because the whole purpose of life in Christianity is a test for Eternal Happiness. There will be harsh times, death, sickness, evil dictators, and opposing view points swayed your way but if you can get through all of that and still believe and love god you have earned your spot up in the good place.