Dude. We all know that there's no way to prove that there's a God. But that doesn't mean that people
shouldn't believe in God. People can believe whatever they damn well want.
I'm an atheist, but I will defend to the death a person's right to religion. Religion DOES have a place in this world and it IS a good thing for people to have.
But there's bad people, no matter where you go and what you do. Religion can be used as an excuse and as a rallying point, but it is
not what's inherently wrong.
What's inherently wrong is that we're human and humans make mistakes and humans are subject to mental illness and greed and any other number of things which can hurt others. It is NOT a quality of religion; it's a quality of humanity.
But that's the way we are and in spite of it (and because of it), we can do great things and terrible things.
You have to love humanity for what it is, because it's how we got where we are today. And if you aren't thankful for THAT, then you have absolutely no concept of how shitty it was to live a thousand years ago. =P
And before you go on about abortion or homosexuality, I'll say two things.
A) Anyone who thinks evolution is true and believes that it is the way of our future should be
against homosexuality - because guess what it does? Limits the gene pool. Even IF homosexuality is a "bad gene" there may be other qualities which are unique to the individual and beneficial. Are the costs more than the benefits?
So I find that ironic that the exact opposite tends to take place; but whatever.
Of course, on the other hand, if in the future we are able to create babies from the DNA of two men or two women...then the tables change, because at that point we're opening the gene pool. =P
B) Abortion is a matter of human rights. If someone kills a baby that is born, it's a crime, there is no doubt about it. For the majority of the third trimester, a baby can survive outside the womb in a hospital, or if it's late enough in term, on very little assistance (outside of, you know,
normal assistance).
That's a VERY delicate balance. At which point is someone human, and which point is someone a blob of flesh?
And don't go on about kids growing up without families - while that is VERY well true, you don't kill people just because you feel they'd benefit from it. That's the exact same line of thinking as, "Hey, you know, Stephen Hawkings can't walk or even move his head and lives his whole life in a wheelchair...it must be miserable...I think I'm going to do him a favour and kill him."
At the same time, do I feel a week old blob of cells is human? No. But where do you draw the line?
That's what pro-lifers are concerned about. They can't see a line, so they're against it entirely. So you must understand that line of thinking - they are NOT about taking away the rights of the woman. It's not even something that's MENTIONED in the Bible (like homosexuality). It's just something that happened as a result of the Catholic Church going against it (and subsequently, the Protestants followed, because no matter how much they try to distance themselves from the Church...it inevitably happens that they do follow trends...if only the Protestants would accept the Big Bang like the Catholics have...)
I think there HAS to be research done into this. I think it has to do with brain development. When the brain becomes active and fully functional as a human brain - which happens sometime in the second trimester - then you have yourself human life. Because what makes us who we are, really? Our brains. It's what separates us from the apes. =P
You're going to have to understand people, Speaker, before you go telling them that they're wrong. You have to understand motives. Abortion is not about religion nor taking away rights. It's about a very fine line.
Homosexuality...well, that is about religion...but there's been a lot of misconceptions and negativity about homosexuality for thousands of years...even then, however, it IS accepted in America, despite what you may think. People accept it. Some don't like it, a very few even hate it, but everyone has accepted it as not going to "go away." People are dragging their feet over gay marriage, but we're basically at a formality, now. Gay marriage will happen eventually...within the next five to ten years, definitely...if only because the UK and Canada have already done it and we ALWAYS follow Britain in social trends.
So honestly, don't waste your time over it. =P
