Regarding JP: I did not respond to JP’s last post for the same reason that I don’t run full speed into a brick wall to prove to myself it’s hard. But, given your admiral attempt, I will provide the reply to his post that I came up with this morning:

It’s a chicken and egg question. Which came first, ignorance or religion?

And laws of our nation are based on universal truths that existed prior to the Bible such as don’t kill, don’t steal and treat others as you want to be treated, which are probably all concepts that early man developed that were existential to mankind’s survival. As to our country, our laws are made by man for man, and not religious based, for to do so would bring in a particular religion’s dogma into the system, which the forefathers knew would spell trouble; look at the history of Europe and England and the wars, persecutions and abuses that were wrought in the name of religion. Take for example the ten commandments; only 3 or 4 could be actual laws and they are the ones that were universal. The others are not commands that could be a part of any democratic society’s legal system. Plus which commandments would we refer; the first set or the second?

I believe I have everything to gain and nothing to lose by my faith. Atheist and
evolutionist. on the other hand, have nothing to gain and everything to lose by
what they believe. Yes, I am better off.

Surely the first schools were in Ancient Greece or Egypt. Christians aren’t responsible for all of civilization despite what many of them would have you believe.
Yes, the first schools in our country were within churches. Churches created by monarchies where the King was right up there next to God. Sit down, shut up, and pay attention has been the style ever since, as in church itself. Discussion with knowledgeable moderators or teachers is more compatible with democracy and I’d like to see things change in THAT direction.

I had the same idea regarding getting together over a coke (I’d prefer tea or coffee).

A meeting place and a moderator are needed and we could have a great local discussion group.

A park on a nice day would be best. Bring your own chairs and coolers with a little extra in the coolers to share. Okay, what the heck, maybe a loaf of bread too. No alcohol. We probably need about 10 or 15 committed to the idea and it could happen.

I never received an answer, I had to go out and do a lot of research, cry a lot of tears and argue with a lot of people.

Now at last I see signs of a new renaissance in our culture. This incredible conditioned schizophrenia we label religion, this mind numbing cognitive dissonance creating disease (read “The
God Virus”) may at last see its days numbered, if we are not afraid to speak out.

I realize for some, evolution erodes certain preconceived notions of earth beginnings, but just as Augustine warned the Catholic Church couldn’t continue to teach things that was being shown as false (at the time it was the order of the universe, where the Church was continuing to promote an Earth centered universe) for those outside of the Church would reject the Church in its entirety if they knew it was teaching things that were false.