So... I was told to state my theory on Abrahamic religions here.

[Rhyfelwyr]

In my point of view, the idea that someone would put their trust in something completely unprovable that is held together only because of powerful establishments that bridge generations for the benefit of a few people over the many makes the entire concept--and thus people who subscribe to it--incredibly suspect. edit: By this I mean the concept of heaven and hell. Us vs. Them. The Believers and the Non Believers. All major organized religions agree on one thing: Its better to be a believer.

My reasons for believing have nothing to do with the church as an establishment nor is it a generational thing that was passed down to me. I also believe there is evidence that supports both the existence of God and the authority of the scripture.

As for the us v them mentality, religion can also be a source of unity that hold society together. Judaism held the tribes of Israel together even when they were divided between two kingdoms. Islam united the Arab tribes. Christianity tore down the barrier between Jew and Gentile. etc.

As for it being better to be a believer, well that is obviously true for any belief. I'm sure many people in this thread feel I would be better off if I was cured of my ignorance.

I understand that this is an unfair prejudice, but that doesn't mean I understand where you're coming from any better. This is the cause for the entire divide.

Religion isn't inherently more divisive than politics or race. For all practical purposes here on earth, I have more in common with the atheist next door than I do with a born again convert over in China, or the Westboro Baptist Church.

Although I'm guessing you might be influenced in saying what you said by the fact that politics, race and religion are all so intertwined in America with your classic white Christian Right Republican.

It only gets worse when people of one faith or another try to push for REAL laws and reforms on the basis of something that the rest of us simply find ridiculous. Its an impossible debate to have. And now we're getting to a point in America where being an intellectual athiest is actually kind of a social stigma. That scares the crap out of me. There are a lot of Americans out there who are only a few steps removed from the Taliban they hate so much--the only difference is that the Americans are benefitting from the REAL and TANGIBLE fruits of intellectual labor while at the same time trying to create a divide between the faithful and the intellectual. It is a scary trend.

Well, the fact is that America has seen massive social upheaval in recent decades that really has eaten away at 'traditional' values. The radical Christian Right is really just a reaction against that, its no surprise that its heartland in the south also happens to be the area with most problems in terms of divorce, single-parents, and the poverty that seems to complement such trends.

I would also suggest that the Christian Right is not as new and terrifying a development as you suggest. It may be a fringe element in political nowadays but it would tbh have been fairly mainstream fifty years back.

I mean we all like to believe that its the end of the world and things are only going to get worse before they get better (whether its the Viking Ragnarok, Christian armageddon or Marx's final class war) but it wasn't that long ago America was enduring McCarthyism and IIRC 'The Buraeu of Un-American Activities'. I'm sure you'll get through this...