THANKS FOR THE WELCOME

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	Thanks for the welcome Gloria.  
	
	Pascal wrote that one is more apt to accept his own reason for 
his particular belief, rather than another's reason.  In matters 
religious, this is quite accurate.  One can present all the valid 
arguments in the world to a hard core believer and still find no change 
in attitude.  I vigorously debated a devout Jew who was Princeton 
educated and exceedingly sharp.  Upon ending our debates, he honestly 
concluded he really had no basis for his beliefs but loved the tradition 
Judaism offered and there was no way he would ever abandon it.  So here 
was an open admission to not having a basis for his belief, but he 
continued on for the tradition.  Society at large, cannot offer him this.
	Then there are those who believe and are skilled debaters.  They 
are grounded in logic and can forcefully present their arguments.  Only a 
skilled debater can counter these individuals.  It is interesting that 
great debates can occur defending a non existent god.  This shows the 
power of logic and debating skills.  
	Yet, we must realize that religion will probably only fade away 
as science becomes more advanced and time itself brings us forward.  
Science has only begun to deliver its goodies to us and if we survive 
long enough as a race, science will overpower religion.
	Religion holds as its stranglehold, the power of fear.  Fear of 
death and fear of not obeying a fictitious (though very real in the minds 
of believers) god.  I feel this crippling fear must be overcome to leave 
religion behind.  One of my favourite philosophers, Bertrand Russell, 
stated that one requires more stoic courage to be an atheist.  
	I was brought up Roman Catholic and joined a religious cult when 
I was 18.  I was with them for almost six years and attended their 
university.  It was in my third year of study that my best friend began 
to pose difficult questions, I could not answer.  Over the period of a 
year and a half, I threw the bible out as a work of rubbish and began the 
enlightened path of intellectualism and rationalism.  I have never looked 
back.  Not once.
	Enjoying this forum.

	Ralph D.

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