Some people (such as Parakeet here) need religion. Others (such as Orpheus) dont. I've heard of studies isolating areas of the brain associated with religion, I can't quote them directly but I beleive the studies did show that there is a physiological difference between those who are strongly religious and those who are not. I doubt either group will be able to fully understand why the other does/does not need that beleif in a higher power to function. I am strongly atheist, and I have many friends who are strongly christian/muslim. I could never go to church every sunday, or pray every night, but I accept that some people need that like diabetics need insulin.

It's true! There are a total of 23 churches in a local town of 2100 people. 'As for crosses on every hilltop,' I'm not sure exactly what that means. Anyway some of these churches in this town have only 10 people going to them. Some have none. That's religious freedom for you. If you support a right to atheism, why not a right to have a church on private land? If you support a right to own loud negro-stereo systems, why not some church bells that are not so offensive as "puff daddy?"

I don't know about your brother, Orpheus, but it seems that he is just another thing that is causing you to be bitter about religion in general. "Man, there's crosses everywhere." (I'm so glad you're not a vampire...) "My brother just won't shut up." It just sounds like you are mad at Christianity. I actually had a brother who was on drugs too, he stopped being a Christian so he could use drugs. He didn't like being told what to do.

As for my "propaganda theory:"

There are numerous ways in which Christians are made to look bad.

1. we oppose the homosexual lifestyle, so we are "haters."
2. We oppose abortion, but the media says we oppose "a right to choose" (makes it seem like a dictator.)
3. Ned Flanders is a doofus
4. Everyone associates us with THIS lady. http://media.putfile.com/Lady-Goes-Crazy-on-Trading-Spouses
5. On NBC's TV show "the book of daniel." The children raised in the christian home are drug addicts and lechers.
6. much more, but i gotta start working now.... more later...

if people want to discuss things then it's up to them, no? you're not obligated to participate in debates. + everyone knows your opinion on those topics anyway. If you don't want to participate in a topic, just skip it " SRC="images/smiles/icon_wink.gif">

There is a whole plethora of topics I'd discuss that would prolly curl your toes. The point isn't freedom restriction but more a point of giving a topic time to cure a bit. Those two topics have been discussed more often than R_Speeds has, and everyone will admit that R_Speeds is a bit more important than they are.

I could abstain. I would more expect everyone else to abstain first however since, discussing it further will not advance the topics. However, abstaining could advance moral around here since I am pretty sure that I am not the only person tired of seeing those two topics arise.

I refuse to put it to a vote of any other democratic option since merely asking should by rights be enough to get everyone to avoid the topic for at least a little while.

Then again, perhaps not. But I warn you, I will indeed bring up a topic that will disrupt this site if I continue to be forced to endure these topics. Even if I have to invent it. :/

I dunno if any of the rest of you have noticed but, this site is in pain. It is in desperate need of something fresh to discuss. I fear that the current topics are driving people away nearly as fast as one of the other sites with nothing but children posting. Each atmosphere is detrimental to the health of any site.

This site is made up of nearly 100% mature posting active members. Lets try to find something else before we too fall into the category of "Sites best avoided"

I am not disrespecting you Blister, but I am indeed tired of these two topics and I will disrupt them completely if they do not end soon. With any methods I see fit to disrupt them with.

I looked up "really firm breast" on Wikipedia and it said that God created the earth in 6 days then breasted on the 7th. I think that is where they came from.

About the people who "try so hard to make creationism work:" Why the heck not? If you thought that ANYTHING else was the truth would you not do experiments to try to prove it? If religion is nothing more than a personal hypothesis on life, why deny them the scientific method?

About homosexuality, I'm not gonna say much coz it starts crap, but you can't compare it to infertility. while it DOES kinda lend itself to a no-children atmosphere, homosexuality is different from infertility in that homosexcuality is a feeling that CAN be supressed or changed (just like straight guys who turn gay, i'm sure it can work the other way; and many people go thier whole lives without heterosexual relations as well.) We view it like pyromania, you dont HAVE to light things on fire, you just WANT to.

I agree with you reaper: Atheism is a lack of ISM, but if that is so, why do people claim it under the "freedom of religion" part of the constitution. It's NOT a religion, its a lack thereof, and thus is not covered in "freedom of."

Also, reaper, I know there are LOTS of crazy christians who are stupid and stuff, but why do we have to choose THOSE to represent thw whole group? Can you name ONE living, internationally renowned Christian, who is famous for his Christianity?

I say let's dicuss something different. this topic was GREAT. because I finally outlined my beliefs so that all my other replies can be understandable to those who don't know the logic behind my beliefs. But anything else would be good to talk about too.

lol, BlistEr

We discuss these two topics (mainly religion) because it effects EVERY part of our lives and effects every decision we make as well as every opinion we have.