An open discussion about religion in general

I will argue your points in order. First you state that religion gives people hope. You clearly state the concept of heaven as the reason why. What about the concept of Hell? As stated in my opening, I am an atheist. According to scripture I am going to Hell. If my mother was a devout Christian and knew I was an atheist, how would this thought make her feel? Her son would be tortured for an eternity. That provides worry, not hope. The fact that theists are taught the concept of Hell goes directly against your argument. Unless you want to state that it provides hope because "I hope I don't go to Hell". You state "That helps people know that even though their loved ones are gone, they are still there in spirit. " I argue nobody "knows" this. Your second argument is that religion answers questions. I submit that I can answer every question you throw at me. That doesn't make what I say true. What I deduce from this statement is that you do not value truth. I interpret that as, it is better to lie to someone to make them feel better than to admit a lack of knowledge. You also state the Bible explains everything. Again, this does not make it true. I already made it clear in my opening statement that there are flaws in the Bible. I will also argue that the Bible does not explain everything. "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. " (Timothy 2:12). Explain that. I would also like an explanation for this: "Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. " (Numbers 31:17-18). If God could create everything out of nothing, then why did he need a rib to create Eve? What did the carnivores eat on the ark? I could go on and on with Bible verses but I won't. I will ask questions about real life that the Bible cannot explain. The Bible does not explain why innocent children are dying daily due to starvation. The Bible does not explain ancestry in evolutionary terms. In fact it contradicts it. The Bible doesn't explain why the only source of light God gave us also gives us cancer. The Bible doesn"t explain how plants lived without the Sun, which according to the Book of Genesis is true. Also, you think "heaven" is a great answer for a child who wants to know where he/she goes when they die. I have a better answer. 'I don't know'. The difference between this belief and the belief in Santa Claus is that children grow out of believing in Santa. I don"t mean to repeat myself, but is Hell a "great answer" for children regarding what happens if they don"t live by an old book and believe in a God based on poor evidence? Not only is this concept brainwashing, but it is also blackmail. Next you site prayer as a positive. I'll ask you, is asking for something and not receiving it a positive? Multiple studies have shown prayer does not work. I will list sources at the bottom of this round. How many people do you think pray for the victims of ISIS? Did God do anything about that? If I were to sit in a corner and talk to my imaginary friend George, I'd be considered crazy. But if I did the same thing, but instead of George I called him God, I'd just be a Christian. You do say that he answers questions and provides support. I still have yet to hear an answer for why there are starving children, even though people ask "why" on a daily basis. Your next argument is that churches do charitable things. I will not deny this, however there are many secular organizations that also do charitable things. Christopher Hitchens said it best. He posed a challenge that I will pose to you. "Name me a moral action committed by a believer, or a moral or ethical statement uttered by one. That could not be made or uttered by a non-believer. " This is your challenge. I can name many immoral or evil actions committed in the name of God and their beliefs. Warren Buffet who is the 3rd richest man in the world pledged to give 99% of his wealth to charity. He is atheist. Bill Gates is the 2nd richest man in the world and he's donated over $26 Billion to charity. He is atheist. Pat Robertson is the wealthiest Evangelical Christian in the world and has donated almost nothing to charity. You make the claim that religion encourages giving back to the community. While that may be true in most cases, explain why many churches expect the community to give back to them. Churches are tax exempt. Paying taxes, by definition, is giving back to the community. Pat Robertson and Joel Osteen are self proclaimed "men of God" yet there are poor, poverty stricken people suffering all around the world while they live. .. .well I"ll post links to show you how they live. Lastly, you state that religion unites people and its one thing that two very different people can agree on. While this may be true, what happens when they don't agree? I'll answer that one. Terrorist attacks, the Crusades, and the Israel/Palestine conflict are just a few examples of direct religious disagreement. The Bible does state that we are all God's children, but he did send his only "true" son to get brutally tortured and eventually murdered. I refuse to accept this whole concept. What kind of parent sacrifices his son when he has the power to accomplish his objective with omnipotence? Also, if we are all his children, what kind of parent sends his kids to an eternity of torture based on their beliefs and not necessarily their actions? If you believe we are all God's children because the Bible says so, then you must believe he murdered millions of his own children. Tell me, is that positive? Sources: Prayer doesn't work: . http://www.patheos.com... . http://www.nbcnews.com... Joel Osteen's living pretty well. Pat Robertson too. Meanwhile in Africa". . http://www.howmuchmoneytheymake.com... . http://www.inplainsite.org...