I think most people are the live-and-let-live type. There will always be assholes, and they tend to be the loudest, so they look disproportionately representative of the whole group. Like those assholes who say, "I don't care if you're Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or whatever, I'm saying 'Merry Christmas' to you…

I didn't say it was wrong when religious people do it. Nobody's calling for people's heads if they wear mixed cloth or eat shellfish. Any philosophical text that is thousands of years old is going to need some revision.

My intent was that the emphasis was on the "should". That is, while the universe allows for a god (a hyper-intelligent AI with fine control over matter and energy would technically fit the bill), there is nothing about the universe that requires a god.

I mean, the people who believe that the texts are actually holy do, so I don't see why not.

That spilled seed was there when I got here.

This is probably going to open up a can of worms, but this is something I almost never see people discuss: why should there be a god?

Of course not, but if you take out all the supernatural stuff, most holy texts have some decent philosophy in them. Incomplete, but decent.

No we just leave it to liberal idiots like you to blame all Christians for such things.

I really wonder how many holy wars in history were started by saying "We need to kill them because they're heathens!" and how many were started by saying "We need to kill them because… er, god says so. Yes, that'll do."

Yes, but they make life more bearable. That's the point.

You're saying it's illogical to do something that makes you feel good, even if it isn't actually good for you, in order to make life easier? See also: alcohol, junk food, Michael Bay movies.

But they don't believe in it for no reason. It's like this: ever deal with a pushy straight-edge person, who calls people idiots for drinking because it'll impair your thinking, or hurt your health, or whatever? That's fine and good for them, but life is hard, so have a drink, or seek solace in the church (if you're…

It's awfully easy to hate all religion when you're sitting pretty. I think there is something wrong with thinking billions of people are idiots just because they need something to believe in to help them deal with poverty, hunger, and war.

Who's this mythical human that would make themselves an immediate target for multiple suicidal gunmen armed with automatic weapons?

Maybe they won't piss away all the good will like we did.

Divergents always have trouble with the wall. They can't ever seem to find the door.

Holy shit.

I said below that the next GOP debate is going to be ugly and I was concerned that that might have been going too far.

I imagine it's a side effect of triage.

That would make suicide bombers think twice!