In no particular order;

"Killing the concept of God, does not promote harmony, it does in my view, weaken the conscience. It makes humankind more animalistic and prides itself so."

Firstly, nobody is trying to kill any concept.

Secondly, it is symbolic of religious arrogance the way that many of them get insulted when compared to animals or called animals. We are animals.

Thirdly, anyone who thinks they cannot have morals or be a good person without being religious is terminally hard of thinking and incredibly sad to boot. The law tells me how to behave, no preaching involved. I don't kill or steal because it is against the law, and because I personally think it is wrong, not because of someone whittling on about god all day. The lack of religion in someone's life does not mean they have less of a conscience either. That is pure predujice, never considered by religous people to be a sin, for some odd reason.

Fourthly, religion as the law causes more arguments and wars than simply having countries with different policies and laws, so the point about religion being needed to reconcile different countries is rubbish. It's the best excuse for aggressive foriegn policy there is, and it always will be. As for making people more animalistic, the more fundie style religions make more people behave like animals than anything else on the planet.

"I have known many kind Bible readers, believers, who would not do anything to obstruct your right to *not* believe in a god. So when I see belief in a higher power trashed simply because many proponents have abused it, then I feel...much like you must right now...that such trashing is extremely unfair...yet, it goes on on this board quite often. How do you feel about that?"

Nobody has a problem with those who believe and let others have the right to their beliefs, or lack of them. Few of them ever come here though, the words 'free thinker' seem to be like a red rag to a bull and attracts the more extreme fundie types who just want to preach and not listen. We see the ones who have knee jerk reactions to anyone who disagrees with them, tells them they are some kind of lesser person and has the usual mix of bad arguments and a childish understanding of the alternatives to their own beliefs. Plus what actually goes on on this board is that someone will come out with an unfounded belief, offer it as proof, and then sit there all surprised when others say it isn't because it never occurred to them, or because they thought that because they chose to ignore the irrationality of their beliefs that everyone else has to. Read more carefully and you will see people pointing out how illogical or irrational statements are, not trashing the person for having them.

Common misconceptions by creationists;

- They assume that anyone who doesn't believe what they do is an Athiest.
- They think the big bang says something came from nothing.
- They think the big bang and evolution are the same thing.
- They think evolution means that somehow a cow can spontaneously change into an elephant, and other ridiculous notions.
- They hate science so much they use 3rd grade physics to try and argue against it.
- They don't realise that they would get a lot less flak if they left everyone alone, or showed some of the tolerance they preach towards anybody not like them.

People who don't believe in any kind of god don't go round harassing other people in the street, knocking on their doors, or join organisations to persecute everyone else. So the next time you think about human rights, think about the right not to want people in your face all the time preaching, and show some respect for that for a change.
"All governments suffer a recurring problem - power attracts pathological personalities. It is not power that corrupts, but that power is a magnet to the corruptible" - Dune, Missionaria Protectiva.