Goodlife posted the following screed, an invitation to a Q and A session and an opportunity to correct some misapprehensions by goodlife. I thought I might oblige ;)
Q.As we look at world conditions today and consider all the wars that have taken place and are taking place, what changes would you like to see
A. A world without god - one less reason for the fanatics and fundies of this world to kill and maim.
Statement(paraphrased from original for brevity) - Our OAPs have seen the world go from bad to worse as the belief in religion declines.
Counter - No, they havent.By any measure you care to use - Living conditions, health, wealth, infant mortality rates, average age of death, life has improved. Nor was the "older generation" uniformly believers.
Statement - "Those who are sincerely searching for truth generally recognize that there must be a God and that he reasonably would reveal his will and offer answers about why we are here, what life means and what the future holds for us."
Counter - Simply not true. As the search for truth by means of the scientific method, logic and reason have continued, wise people have concluded there is less and less reason to believe in god.
anecdote and homily edited out for brevity.
Statement -" The Bible includes the oldest and most widely circulated of all sacred writings. It alone comes to grips with questions that we need answered—Why are we here? Why do we die? What does the future hold?"
Counter - No, it doesnt. It contains little stories, little parables, little fairy tales about a jealous god who demands faith from the followers, and continually tests that faith. It has nothing especially useful to say about the future - you do get those who try and cherry pick an event with hindsight, then to attempt to claim unerring truth from the holy book - but any rational observer will smell the *** a mile away.
Intelletual rigor - 1/10. Rationality and Logic - 0/10.