I'm still waiting for someone to convince me that religion isn't the doorway to ignorance. It hasn't happened yet.
It's not going to happen, dude, for a very simple reason - there is no proof that god/ allah/ jaweh is any more real than Casper.
There's also no way any of us atheists can prove beyond a doubt that there is *no way* god/ allah/ jaweh, or even Casper, absolutely don't exist.
If you're looking at evidence alone, it's farily clear that the meaphysical elements of religion exist only in the heads of its respective followers. Any evidence I've EVER been presented with to prove religion is very, very shaky.
My test is always as to whether I would accept that quality of evidence for proving anything else - if not, why would I accept it to prove god?
It seems, when it comes to discussing religion, the rules change regarding proof for many people.
However, I think that it's important that we are able to discuss these things as calmly as possible and thank both Gene and MA for doing such with me, on this thread.
I've little more to add, at this point except to agree that this:
Let me tell you, my stomach turned when the dude I'm chilling with out here proceeded to explain to me how important it was to his religion (Catholic) and to Christians in general, that the California constitution needed to be amended to outlaw gay marriage, because marriage needs to be defined as between a man and a woman.... because.
... is the unfortunate reality of religion at its very darkest, yet seeminlgy (if you take into account what the scriptures say on the matter) purest form.