Ed

"Indifference to the needless suffering and plight of the very beings it (god) is supposedly responsible for creating is testament to the convoluted thinking of it's followers. "

I'm sure that it is, but not only followers of a specific ideology but the human race as a whole.  For that matter every species and the whole of nature.   It's a dog eat dog world.  When a lion commits infanticide its not evil its just the natural order of things.  Human beings are fickle emotionally unstable creatures.  For some reason we have the ability to think abstractly and outside of the basic survival instincts if only for a moment or two.  The formation of religions over the coarse of human history was only natural for a creature with this capability in order to reconcile its advanced cognitive status to a deaf playing field.

Thanks :) I'm enjoying it already.  It's nice to be able to communicate with people even if every thought is not seen eye to eye.  The internet is full of people trolling and sniping at one another, its good to finally find a place for civil correspondence.

Thanks for the message.  I will definitely check out that book.  I am always looking for a new read.  You seem like you might have a good opinion on this; Do you think that as a race we are de-evolving by catering to the ignorant masses by creating welfare states for people who are too stupid or lazy to do for themselves and then give them tax credits which equates to thousands of dollars just for having children?  This is going to sound really bad, but wouldn't it be better for our species if we neutered anyone with an IQ under say 100?  There are too many people on earth anyway.  Why is it someones human right to reproduce?  I think it should be a privilege that is earned.  Only the best and the brightest should be allowed to carry on their genetic lineage.  Also there should be a strict guidelines and quality requirements for parenting.  I realize this will never happen.  People are to corrupt by nature to use a system like that for good.  Sometimes I think we are all doomed.