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the "scientific evidence" you refer to begins with the premise that god does not exist, so of course it wont support his existence.

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by contrast, many of the famous scientists throughout history were believers and today, scientists of all stripes continue to believe and don't find any contradiction in their academic/professional lives, and their faith.

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which is a nice segue into saying---god is more so a matter of faith, and not merely a matter of science.

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it might help knowing there is nothing strictly "scientific" about evolution

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which is predominantly your alternative.

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there is nothing factual about it either; it is even more of a "faith" position than is belief in a god.

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as for the first part of your sentence---the "cornucopia of evidence", if you are genuinely interested in the topic, let me steer you towards josh McDowell's "evidence that demands a verdict", his "more than a carpenter" and lee strobel's "the case for faith" and his "the case for Christ."

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atheists don't find god for the same reason criminals don't find cops---they aren't looking and they don't want to.

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In the first place CreativeDominant is a man, not a woman...a he, not a she. I should know...I'm CD. I'm he...not she.

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In the second place, you were the one that suggested that much of these horrendous acts committed in the name of God...or Allah...could be stopped by ridding the world (paraphrasing here) of the ridiculous notion that God/Allah exists. Do you not see that to do that...especially when you're dealing with fanatics...you'll have to convince them of that?

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ORIGINAL: Marc2b

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I find it interesting that you call for a return to the subject (the existance of God ) when the thread is about a terrorest attack in France.

This thread, like most threads, has delved off into several side debates. I was referencing the side debate between me and Kirata. I presumed the average reader to be intelligent enough to discern that based upon context.

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ORIGINAL: Marc2b

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In the first place CreativeDominant is a man, not a woman...a he, not a she. I should know...I'm CD. I'm he...not she.

My mistake, and my apologies.

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In the second place, you were the one that suggested that much of these horrendous acts committed in the name of God...or Allah...could be stopped by ridding the world (paraphrasing here) of the ridiculous notion that God/Allah exists. Do you not see that to do that...especially when you're dealing with fanatics...you'll have to convince them of that?

Well . . . yeah . . . obviously. That doesn't change the fact that a decline in religious belief would be a benefit to humanity.

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Yes, I understand that. However your "side discussion" has completly derailed this thread and should have a thread of it's own. In the mean time I shall continue to pass over your evangelical atheism.

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Atheist have done plenty of damage without the help of religion.

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ORIGINAL: Marc2b

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Atheist have done plenty of damage without the help of religion.

But nowhere near as much a religious believers because there is no holy book of atheism that demands the death of non-atheists.

But to bring this thread back to the original topic, as you so ardently desire, were the attacks in Paris carried out by Atheists?

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No, which has no bearing on your insistance that everyone accept your faith.

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ORIGINAL: Marc2b

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No, which has no bearing on your insistance that everyone accept your faith.

What faith?

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ORIGINAL: Marc2b
were the attacks in Paris carried out by Atheists?

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ORIGINAL: tweakabelle

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ORIGINAL: Marc2b
were the attacks in Paris carried out by Atheists?

As none of the apologists for religion seem prepared to answer this question, I will.

No the attacks in Paris were not carried out by Atheists.

In fact, the people who carried out the attacks - members of the Islamic State organisation - are exclusively religious in their motivation and inspiration, according to their own account. In their view, they were acting on behalf of their God (Allah). The stated goal of the organisation they belong to and believe in is the (re-)creation of the Islamic Caliphate, a medieval theocracy.

So it is, IMHO, fair, accurate and reasonable to state that the Paris attacks were carried out by believers for religious reasons and that the attackers believed themselves to be performing some kind of religious obligation or duty in their attacks on the people of Paris.

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Following takfiri doctrine, the Islamic State is committed to purifying the world by killing vast numbers of people...

“We will conquer your Rome, break your crosses, and enslave your women,” Adnani, the spokesman, promised in one of his periodic valentines to the West. “If we do not reach that time, then our children and grandchildren will reach it, and they will sell your sons as slaves at the slave market.”...

After its battle in Dabiq, Cerantonio said, the caliphate will expand and sack Istanbul. Some believe it will then cover the entire Earth...

Similarly, accepting any border is anathema, as stated by the Prophet and echoed in the Islamic State’s propaganda videos. If the caliph consents to a longer-term peace or permanent border, he will be in error...

In April 2013, Adnani declared the movement “ready to redraw the world upon the Prophetic methodology of the caliphate.” In August 2013, he said, “Our goal is to establish an Islamic state that doesn’t recognize borders..."

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ORIGINAL: BamaD
The fact that a group, like ISIS, does something claiming to be in the name of religion does not mean they follow the tenants of that religion.

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ORIGINAL: Marc2b

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In the first place CreativeDominant is a man, not a woman...a he, not a she. I should know...I'm CD. I'm he...not she.

My mistake, and my apologies.

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In the second place, you were the one that suggested that much of these horrendous acts committed in the name of God...or Allah...could be stopped by ridding the world (paraphrasing here) of the ridiculous notion that God/Allah exists. Do you not see that to do that...especially when you're dealing with fanatics...you'll have to convince them of that?

Well . . . yeah . . . obviously. That doesn't change the fact that a decline in religious belief would be a benefit to humanity.

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ORIGINAL: CreativeDominant

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ORIGINAL: Marc2b
Well . . . yeah . . . obviously. That doesn't change the fact that a decline in religious belief would be a benefit to humanity.

In your eyes...in some way not yet proven. Although, there have been glimpses. Didn't Stalin try something similar in Russia, that perpetually happy society?

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ORIGINAL: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/religious-children-meaner-than-agnostic-and-atheist-kids-study-finds/story-e6frg6so-1227597959661
An international study has found children in religious families are meaner than their godless peers. The report, published today in the journal Current ­Biology, challenges notions that equate piety with charity.
...
"Past research has demonstrated that religious people are no more likely to do good than their non-religious counterparts. Our study goes beyond that, showing that religious people are less generous — not only adults, but children, too."

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ORIGINAL: MariaB

@Greta
Nobody here has condoned or excused ISIS. Nobody here is sympathising with terrorism but if you have an ounce of humanity in your body and I suspect you don't, you would educate yourself enough about Islam to have a balanced conversation about them. Your naivety is astounding and your prejudices sickening. You are forever telling us how we are getting it wrong whilst your country is getting it right but the only evidence you appear to have about our state of affairs is the sort of shit you'd read in far right newspaper articles.

Try debating with an open mind occasionally instead of just standing on that cardboard pulpit of yours and preaching your ideals to us all.

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ORIGINAL: bounty44

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ORIGINAL: BamaD
The fact that a group, like ISIS, does something claiming to be in the name of religion does not mean they follow the tenants of that religion.

in general I appreciate that argument bama, but in particular in this case, I don't believe it works. I don't for a moment believe the muslims in isis are any less muslim than their moderate, or even conservative counterparts around the world. if anything, they are more devout and a legitimate argument can be made for the apostasy of the others.