Many scientists do believe in a supreme being, and that’s just fine by me. Their (not “there”) fields of science may not concern the origin of life or the existence of supreme beings, anyway, so their belief in said supreme beings should not influence their work very much, if at all.

As for “keeping it under the table,” this is no different than atheists in religious communities who have to keep their beliefs hidden out of fear of persecution. If believers are hiding their beliefs in the scientific community, that is truly sad because scientists shouldn’t give a rat’s ass about anyone’s personal faith.

Also, what is the difference between an atheist’s “self elitist attitude” and a “chritian” acting smugly because he believes he’ll go to heaven, no matter what sins he commits, because of his belief in Jesus?

Finally, what the heck does “history would indicate otherwise” mean? That logic fails in the face of blind faith? That self importance is a bad thing that only atheists can experience? Help me out here, because I can’t understand that argument.

Actually pascal’s wager from a christian viewpoint makes perfect sense. If the Christian is wrong, they lose nothing the atheist will not lose. Pascal was a christian and therefore he developed the wager from the christian perspective. What makes you think I was attempting to win you over? I thought the atheist was attempting to win me over.

I have yet to see the allure here? Cate my life is quite worthwhile and very much full of meaning beyond what I would have ever imagined. Next?

And please share how belief in God somehow ignores science? Pascal among many others would enjoy the education.

There will always be setbacks, but I think on the whole, we are becoming less religious as a population.

As a Texan, I am concerned about this new law, and not sure what it will mean for my son when he reaches school-age. That’s a few years away, so I can only hope for the best.

With regard to a meaningful life, I see meaning and purpose every day in my interactions with the world. It’d be a shame to miss out on the day-to-day experience in hopes of something greater.

We make our lives about personal responsibility because we make choices freely, without inducements or blackmail.

The delusional are outbreeding us.

Greeting from Portugal.

But that aside, there doesnt need to be an allure for the truth, only a sideshow like religion needs to draw them in. We just need people to think.

There is as much evidence for god as there is for leprechauns. I read about both in an old book… and then there’s all the other gods people have believed in. Those are in books too.

The fact that religion seems to make people shockingly ignorant of science should be a serious concern for its advocates (like you) rather than a smug talking point you can launch Pascal’s easily discredited “argument” from.

My life is full of meaning because I don’t view it as some piss-poor dress rehearsal for some imagined “beyond.” What I do now in this life matters so significantly because it is the only existence I (and everyone else) have to make a positive impact on this world.

Dammit guys! We need to create our own atheistic heaven! Then the logical people will come and join us!!!!

If a chritian is wrong about Jesus Christ and eternity, they get what the atheist already gets by default. So what is the allure? Self importance? A self-elitist attitude? Maybe a belief in a higher form of logic? No, history would indicate otherwise.