Hi all,

A friend showed me this site recently and I've been silently reading the debate and discourse. It's really good to find a place like this where intelligent debates and thoughts can be shared without too much yelling and screaming.

I myself grew up in a mostly atheist/agnostic household. As I got older I went to church with some of my friends and saw how content some of them seemed to be in their belief. As a result of that I wanted truly wanted to believe in what they were preaching, but even at that young age none of it seemed to fit together. As time progressed and I began to see the harm that organized religion can do, the desire for belief faded.

It's good to have a community like this. Hope everyone is having a good holiday season. 

Also, the Pope has prayed for peace again this year: 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12076575

Maybe the magic carpenter will listen this time.