Two discussions that I generally stay away from entering into, (yes even I, opinionated as I am avoid some debates), involve Religion and Politics.
No matter what your belief there will always be someone with an opposing view. Most of the time they will disagree quite forcibly with you. I now find it easier to just keep my opinion on those subjects to myself.
That said, personally speaking, I see too much horror, death, misery and poverty in this world every single day to believe that there is some almighty omnipotent being that 'loves' us all. I have yet to see one tangible piece of evidence to support that.
What did the millions and millions of starving and AIDs riddled people of Africa ever do to deserve their plight??? What did the people of Sri Lanka and surrounding areas do to deserve the Tsunami Wave last December, a Tsunami wave caused by Nature...the very 'nature' that God created?? Damn nice of him eh?? What did Jessica Lunsford ever do to deserve the violence and horror that John Couey forced upon her??? And they are but three examples, there are hundreds of thousands of real, tangible horrors that we can see, feel and touch every single day.
Going to a big building with some fancy windows and singing a bunch of songs whilst reading a book that is over 2000 years old and is riddled with inconsistencies doesn't bring me comfort. It doesn't bring me hope that the troubles and horrors of this world will ever be solved. There is NO EVIDENCE of it.
What is at the root cause of almost every war in human history. Not land, not oil, not money....you got it. RELIGION. More people have died fighting over religious differences than any other reason other than maybe old age and natural causes.
People of Religion will say that "God has a plan for us all" and crap like "Horrors like this happen and you see God working in all the people who try to help" and "It brings out the good in fellow men!"
What a load of
bollocks. I refuse to believe that there is one almighty, all seeing, omnipotent being that would allow suffering on a Global scale.
When I see it with my own eyes, hear it with my own ears and can touch it with my own hands and see real results and real relief to suffering. Then, and only then, I may sign up to this Religious mumbo jumbo.