reasons to believe, there is no God

[Thor]

The Bible of course! That's the first point of reference for every single claim that is ever made by Christians like this. If it's in the Bible or it can be derived from it then it is true and nothing you can ever say or do, EVER, will change that.

It just amazes me that anyone can read the Bible and believe that it's true. The bullshit is just overwhelming. Talking animals? A man loses his strength because his hair was cut? A woman created from a man's rib? A worldwide flood that kills every living creature except for a handful of people and animals on an ark? A river turns into blood? A sea is parted? A virgin birth? A man who walks on water and heals the sick with a touch of his hand? A man who rises up from the dead? Intelligent, rational people believe this drivel? Not only that, but the "God" referenced in this book is drastically different in the two testaments. The OT god is angry, jealous, punitive and vengeful. The NT god is forgiving, loving and joyful. These could not possibly be the same god. Unless, of course, he has undergone a personality transplant.

As Carl Sagan said. "You can't convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it's based on a deep seated need to believe."

Couldn't agree more! These people NEED for their beliefs to be true. If they aren't, their entire world comes crashing down. Consequently, they will defend these beliefs no matter what.

It reminds me of the remake of "Planet of the Apes". In case you didn't see it, the apes all pray to Simos, the supposed creator. Near the end of the movie, the apes discover that Simos was a lab monkey who escaped from a crashed spacecraft many thousands of years before. I'll never forget the scene when one of the gorillas looks at his counterpart and bellows, "EVERYTHING I'VE BELIEVED MY WHOLE LIFE IS A LIE!".

I wondered how many people in the audience had the religious symbolism fly over their heads.