"I'm very lucky that I can't really associate with your problem. I think it is a geographical hazard of being situated in Tennessee (arguably even the US). In the UK, in my experience, religious people are generally frowned upon and…"

"The only laws, in my opinion, that should be drafted are those which curb the privileges of religions. Namely, religious parents should not have the right to send their children to schools in which they will be indoctrinated. As far as the…"

"'What you're asking is inhuman. It's human to love one's own progeny over and above someone else's.' You are right, of course, that we are genetically predisposed to favour our own kin, but this is not a good…"

"It's best to fight dogmas like this fiercely, even if you run the risk of "overreacting". If you ignore them they will most likely be directed at other people, who might be more prone to religious indoctrination than you are. I think…"

"I don't think so. People tend to have the ability to compartmentalise extremely well, especially with abstract concepts like religion. Therefore, I think that if religious students want to learn maths and science, they will be able to do so to…"

"I'm afraid the question doesn't really make sense. In all the other cases (philosopher, theist, scientist) the final position derives from the method (X) that is particularly relevant: I choose God (X), therefore I am a theist. In the…"

"Is this actually real? "

"The most contemptible, primarily because it is an excellent justification for religion if believed, is: "without religion, people would not be moral"."

"BTW, I wasn't considering the issue with children in mind, rather adults. I completely agree with regard to children; their actions have consequences so minimal that post-action punishment will rarely be justified or effective. People…"

"Yeah, you're right. I suppose the discussion is better viewed from the perspective of what we hope we will do, rather than what we will choose to do. Of course we do not essentially have the ability to make truly independent choices based on…"

"Certainly not reliable, but I think sufficient to be justified. Considering the incredibly small chance of being caught in the act, I think it is the preferable choice. I'm afraid without the study (and perhaps 50 more like it) I will never be…"

"Keep in mind that the way she phrased the question "do you believe" implies she is aware of the dispute. If she recognises that there are sides and that all the adults in her life might have been wrong or lying, you should have told the…"

"I admit that it is immoral, but you don't think that the prospect of retaliation (exacted on those after the crime) is likely to act as a deterrent, thereby reducing the number of crimes committed? If the 'value' of that which is…"

"I am not entirely sure what you are getting at, but I agree that choice is not an end in and of itself. It is meaningless. It is, however, the determinant of actions, which lead to consequences, which are en end. If we can manipulate choice to meet…"

"I would maintain your current stance. Ultimately, "coming out" is only a good thing if it serves an obvious purpose; it is unlikely you are going to convince your town of the merits of atheism, so the purpose must be your family. I have no…"

"Yeah, the question is whether a world of mediocre, dissatisfying effects will produce more 'good' (I'm utilitarian, but perhaps something tantamount to 'good') than a world without them. I expect that punishment,…"