Religion or Atheism? An open forum.

[Thorne]

Without your all convincing evidence Thorne, the position of the atheist holds no more actual bearing of validity over any of this than that of any given theist.

Agreed, at least in principle. I disagree about the lack of evidence, though. I think (or, as you would claim, "believe") the amount of negative evidence, AGAINST the existence of gods is overwhelming, while the amount of positive evidence, FOR the existence of gods, is non-existent.

And its not just me who thinks dis-believing in something is in and of itself a belief honey...I didnt create the english language, or philosophy and ethics, or the very basic logic that draws that very conclussion.

Well, I have already spoken of the inadequacies of the English language to formulate this idea. And it's still my contention that, based on logic, your conclusions are wrong.

Sounds pretty high and mighty fanciful to me that an atheist minority having no evidence what so ever to support it's claims expects a religious majority to up and abandon their own long standing assumptions on said topic.

Again, misreading what I have claimed. I do NOT expect anyone to "up and abandon" their faith. I DO expect them to keep it private, among themselves and their fellow theists. Keep it in church, where it belongs, and not in politics or the law.

Im also not the one who made anything up when it came to what a state run by atheists looks like btw we have allready seen that happen in not one but in several countries...as much as you wish to deny it, which does in deed prove that alltough religions can be twisted by individuals to bad ends...so can any idea or belief system or lack there of.

These so-called "atheist states" were no worse than many of the so-called "Christian states" or "Islamic states" that exist, and have existed, over the centuries. Surprisingly, they were run by people, just like any other political entity.

I am glad however I live in a country were we dont have to do as any one person says and that we are all free to believe what we wish so long as its not hurting anyone else.

Yeah? Tell that to the children dying from religious ignorance. Tell that to the gays being denied their rights, and killed, because of religious intolerance. Tell that to the abortion doctors being killed because of religious fanaticism. Tell that to the children who's minds are being turned into jello by religious education.

I just wish you could do the same and respect the beliefs of others in the same way you wish for them to respect your own.

By this rationale, I must give the same respect to the hateful Westboro nuts as I would to yours. I would have to stop laughing at the hysterical idiocy of the science fiction cult of Scientology. Must I give respect to the hick Baptist down the road who spouts badly misquoted biblical texts to support his blatant hatreds?

Sorry, but I won't do that. I give respect where it has been earned. I certainly respect your beliefs, for example, since in my view
it's obvious you have given a lot of thought to what you believe, and why you believe it. I may not agree with it, but I respect your understanding of it.

I honestly don't care whether anyone respects my disbelief. I only complain about those who misrepresent that disbelief, because of a dogmatic belief that everyone MUST believe something.