Religions - Your Opinion

[Sasquatch]

War has a multitude of causes. Religion is one, but I'd argue that religion is used more by leaders in fragile societies who are attempting to create an 'us versus them' dichotomy.

Thank you. All too many people don't realize this -- more often than religion being an actual "cause", it's used as a "cause" by leaders who manipulate the religious teachings and use them for justification. This has happened to many, many religions over history.

But I still think resources (Oil; for the Americans) ... are more significant causal factors. Religion is still there, however.

While this argument is commonly used, the fact remains that the United States hasn't gotten a drop of oil from Iraq that wasn't bought on the market for the same price that everybody else pays for oil from Iraq. Petroleum prices have gone up since the start of the conflict, and Iraq, as oil-rich as it is, is only a drop in the bucket (or barrel, if you will) compared to some of the surrounding nations -- Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, etc.

I am an Atheist personally.

Soft or hard? As in, do you just not believe, or do you believe that there is no god? There's a difference.

I do not mind any Religion, providing they keep themselves to themselves, and stop trying to convert people.

So you're alright with other people having different beliefs, as long as they don't tell anybody that their beliefs are different. On the same note, I'm alright with other people being a different color, as long as I don't have to see their skin.*

I find it sad that people can willingly force a belief upon people (I.E. Jahova Witnesses) ...

"Jahova Witnesses [sic]" force their beliefs on people? Wow, I never realized that. I mean, from my experience, I've had them come to my door and want to talk to people, to spread their beliefs, but never with guns, forcing their beliefs upon me. But I guess they do it differently where you live, huh?

... and to be fair I believe you deserve all the hatred and insults you get by doing so.

So you claim to not have a problem with religions or religious people, but you do have a problem with them telling others about their religion, and you don't have a problem with people hating and insulting those who talk about their beliefs. On the same note, I don't have a problem with black people, I just have a problem with them showing me their dark skin (I have my own skin, don't bother showing me yours!), and I don't mind if other people hate and insult black people because of their dark skin.

I also hate it when people actually try to prove Gods existance. How can you prove someone's faith? You cannot

But lemme guess, you have no problem when people try to disprove the existence of a god? What's wrong with people trying to find evidence to support their faith?

Stop wasting your time, thinking you're right.

... Really, kid?

*For those of you who don't realize it -- and yes, I know there will be some -- this is complete sarcasm, meant to show the irrationality of the argument that "you can be different as long as you don't show it". I have no problem with any skin color.

...then let's eliminate all the unnecessary pluralities that, to this day, have been an impediment to the advancement of human civilization.

Of course! And let's ignore the fact that religion has been the cause of advancement of human civilization more often than any sort of "impediment". Let's ignore the fact that it was religious institutions that provided education to most of history's greatest scientific and philosophical minds, it was religious institutions that financed research and invention, it was religious institutions that pushed for advancements in every facet of science, mathematics, and culture. Let's only focus on the fact that a few specific leaders of a few specific religious institutions used their religion to suppress a few specific beliefs.