JESUS CHRIST: REAL PERSON OR FICTIONAL CHARACTER?

It is easier to not believe in God than it is to believe in God.

It is easier to have sex for pleasure than it is to have just procreational sex

It is easier to intake intoxicants than it is to abstain from it

It is easier to be selfish and care about yourself than to care about everyone

It is easier to be greedy and work only for money than it is to work for society

All the things considered sins by religions from homosexuality and inidividualism to prostituion and gambling are now common and even legal in todays society. There are several arguments for and against them. But disregarding ALL of those arguments... whether or not any of it is true... it is easier to not be a man of faith than it is to be a man of faith.

We're not here to discuss or define sins/religions/me/sex/gays etc. Just that it is easier to sin than not to sin.

Yes or no.

(Do not bring up my personal opinion that individualism is against religions - I know I put it up there but you can make a different debate about that.)

This is difficult to create in a 2 sided debate (and to make this post neutral), but first I'll try and explain the question.

Let's look at this from the point of view that you are about to start a religion. You do not believe in it, nor do you believe in God but you see the world around you in despair and want to make some rules. However you feel people will not take these rules seriously and need a way to enforce them. This enforcer is God.

Forgetting whether or not you believe in God, what is God's role to humans? After creating us the universe (or not) is the concept or belief in God what is needed to keep people in order? Let's say there was no God. When going against the rules of the religion how would you be punished? Jail? Community work? Parole? Fines? Or a limitless amount of pain for an infinite amount of time? (to burn in hell). Is that a much larger deterrent than something imagineable and altogether not so terrible? For a follower, is God's existance much more influential than the country's police and courts?

So to get to the original point, should the idea of God be promoted whether or not you believe in Him? Even if He IS a lie, would it be better to to have this lie promote morals or if not God, some kind of 'myth'? Whether real or not, is belief in God for the GREATER GOOD?

Two sides are - Yes, belief in the existance of God whether God exists or not has MORE benefits than lack of belief in God.

                       - No, belief in the existance of God whether God exists or not has LESS benefits than lack of belief in God.

P.S. - Don't make this an argument about religions. This is purely about the belief in God and not different religions beliefs and opinions in God. No talk on Christianity, Islam, Hinduism - as that is NOT the question.

AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, IT PREACHES NOT TO JUDGE OTHERS. HOWEVER, IS IT RIGHT TO SAY THAT CHRISTIANS TEND TO BE MORE JUDGEMENTAL THAN NON-CHRISTIANS?

WAS IT A GOD OR SOME FORM OF SUPREME BEING THAT CREATED MANKIND OR DOES GOD NOT REALLY EXIST BUT RATHER A STORY OR IDEA CREATED FROM THE IMAGINATION OF MAN?

Are vampires and reading about them against what the Bible says?

There are many who believe that, in order to be a Christian, you have to attend Church. I do not agree with this view. I believe worship can happen anywhere, anytime and in many ways. The Gospel of St. Thomas, discovered in Nag Hamadi in 1945, only goes to prove my point. The Vatican has declared this Gospel to be heresy. Why would they agree with this Gospel? It would take money out of their pockets, the Vatican is one of the wealthiest non-nations on Earth! The priests, the pope and the Church itself are extremely threatened by this Gospel. Their jobs depend on the masses believing thier immortal souls depend on Church attendance and tithing.

"The Kingdom of God is within you. It is all around you. Break a piece of wood, there I am. Lift a stone, you will find me for I am everywhere."-Gospel of St. Thomas

http://users.misericordia.edu//davies/thomas/Trans.htm

I am atheist and find that I differ with most other atheists on this subject. I would like to read some thoughtful arguments about it.

I honestly don't know. I mean, throughout history, Catholics have been selling passage to heaven and shit like that. They also say don't have sex, but if you have had sex then just pray and G-d will forgive you. Well they are so freaking contradicting that it pisses me off! But I don't know anything about all the other sects of Christianity.

God seems too powerful, inconsistent, and uninvolved.  So should we really respect and worship such a being?

Is believing in God truly worth it in life does it have actual benifits

Compared to criticizing the specific principles that identify particular religious sects, condemning religion or religions as a whole is a cop out. A barrier to fruitful dialog.

I myself am a non-denominational Christian. My parents are Catholic and when a Jehovah's Witness comes walking down  my driveway, my mom comes out and she tells them, "We're Catholic!" and they run away. I have asked many times why we are so hostile towards them, and she always says that they are a cult. She has never given an explanation for it, so after recent research i have done on the topic, I have come to the conclusion that they are indeed not a part of Christian faith. They have fundamental differences with Christianity such as Jesus not dying on the cross and how heaven will only accept 144,000 people. it is also very confusing because they make numerous dates about the end of the world despite how in the bible it says"no one shall know the date or time of the end". they also have many other confusing small beliefs.

GO NUTS! i will have a very open mind in this debate.

With 2010 right around the corner, is humanity outgrowing its need for organized religion?

Look at this article

http://www.sltrib.com/faith/ci_12946044

How hard does reality have to hit a religious person in the head for her/him to take notice

The debate is like self-explanatory I think.

IS GOD REAL??