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.

Bible:Exodus:21:20-21

And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. 

Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bible_and_slavery

Quran: 16:75

Allah sets forth a parable: (consider) a slave, the property of another, (who) has no power over anything, and one whom We have granted from Ourselves a goodly sustenance so he spends from it secretly and openly; are the two alike? (All) praise is due to Allah! Nay, most of them do not know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_slavery

I just don’t get how a descendant of a slave can believe in a god how prescribes slavery. Could someone explain?

JESUS CHRIST: REAL PERSON OR FICTIONAL CHARACTER?

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.

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

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 believe you should be a christian simply because it states in the christian version Bible that Jesus died on the cross for all of our sins. NOT JUST MINE!! I don't think you can get into Heaven by being a Catholic because they worship the virgian Mary. But the Virgian Mary did not die on the cross for our sins, like Jesus did!!!! In the Christian Bible when it states that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, it means that he shed his blood to wash our sins away.

I look at all these debates on whether God is real or not but I ask you people do you even know what God is? Hint: He isn't a man with a white beard living in the clouds I will tell you that.

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.)

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?

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?

Admittedly, athiests seem to take more heat than agnostics, personally I'm an agnostic and a spiritualist. If you're unsure on what that means it basically means that one understands that they can't disprove a higher power but that it's also impossible to prove something that has no valid evidence.

Now, there's a lot of talk that taking the middle ground means you just want the benifits of believing in something without actually taking any of the heat should you be wrong. On the flipside, perhaps it is admitting to only that which can be proven.

None the less, nobody came here to read my ramblings. Agnostics, are they cowards or just zen?

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.