@Mascot and @Klopptimist in full, harmonious agreement.
Truly, the Lord works in mysterious ways… 
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This quote sums up much of the discussion on this thread. It does seem that the atheists here are much more self-righteous, condescending and (dare I say) preachy than the Christian/s.
Case in point:
I have enjoyed the discussion, and learned a lot, but binary statements like this, mike drops etc don’t feel helpful
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As someone who has enjoyed some of the more intellectual discussion on this thread, I too find the tone rather disappointing. I very much prefer the deep debates with actual well-developed arguments and supporting evidence, rather than the cheap shots at each other.
Credit to @Mascot and @RedOverTheWater for some rather interesting back-and-forths, and @Lowton_Red as well as @Kopstar for the occasional insightful contribution. No points for @Klopptimist who seems to prefer the cheap shots, lazy generalisations, and just generally spouting things out of thin air with no support.
I genuinely would like to know what @RedOverTheWater has to say about the specific points that @Mascot has raised, especially the commentary about how nominally atheist regimes adopt religious traits in cults of personality. Looking at the again, nominally, Communist regimes that exist currently, many of them do seem to be promoting a core of the cult of personality.
It is quite hard to inspire killing and other atrocities in the name of the absence of religiosity, since in-group membership is defined by the shared set of beliefs, values, and traits. It’s easier to have a religion be the shared belief, rather than atheism.
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I’ve been close to contributing to the discussion on mutliple occasions, but ultimately it feels pointless.
Very much one of those ‘I believe xxxxxx. Change my mind’ when the instigator has no intention or expectation of having their mind changed but just wants to piss all over the beliefs or opinions of a particular demographic’.
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I am going to support @Lowton_Red on this matter.
He’s clearly spoken to his better half, she was there!!!
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Do you think when says he “copied from notes” he actually means “1st century papyrus?”
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Possibly, but I would not ever suggest that @Lowton_Red has been taking a peak at Boudica’s diary.
Hmmm…but what evidence is there that Boudica actually existed? 
Likewise. My starting point would be agnostic positioning similar to @ISMF above, but this was dismissed as impossible, so there’s not really anywhere to go from there.
While there has been some really interesting historical and philosophical discussion, there are also far too many lazy generalisations and caricatures of people who have a ‘faith’. You can’t paint everyone as a war-monger or hate preacher, without also considering the pacifism of the Quakers, leaders like MLK or Desmond Tutu, artists like Tolkien and Bach etc.
I grew up in ‘the church’ and, though doubt I will ever return, it’s much more complex than is portrayed here in places. The worst and the best people I’ve met are Christians
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“Exists”
I would suggest that the trail of sacrifices across the UK’s North West that happen to coincide with Liverpool fixtures might be a clue worth pursuing.
We also have a witness.
We should update Wikipedia to be honest.
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I think that’s a really lazy strawman response. Nobody is painting everyone who has faith as a warmonger or hate preacher. That’s nonsense.
Where the conversation went, perhaps inevitably, was that religion has been responsible for a lot of suffering and death.
But so has Atheism. Hitler and Stalin were atheists
Well, not quite. Hitler definitely wasn’t an atheist, and actually hated atheism. Stalin probably was an atheist but he certainly sat at the centre of a personality cult that inspired devotional faith in himself and the communist party, that was almost religious in nature even if it didn’t subscribe to or promote an existing faith (apart from when it did, with the ROC)
I think that’s about the sum of it and as far as the conversation went.
I very much agree with this, just a different style of teachings using the focus on a single character instead of many. Aesop’s Fables follow a similar idea, teachings through stories which I believe pre-dates Christianity by 500 years?
The most confusing of faith for me is Baha’i. I remember my ex-wife being intrigued by it and was quite excited to be able to visit one of their temples in Sydney.
when a religious denomination shows up on my doorstep, I don’t even entertain their conversation. “whilst I appreciate your dedication to your faith, I don’t share it. Have a good day and please stay off the grass”.
I’d like to know where I’ve been “spouting things out of thin air with no support” An ironic comment given that I don’t believe in invisible, untestable and unprovable sky beings. Now that’s a cheap shot I grant you.
Exactly the opposite, I’ve laid out repeatedly what would change my mind. I’m happy to be proven wrong.
Hey, I’ve heard the rumble of her chariot!
Funny isn’t it. 2 people in utter and total agreement on the most important concept in life. It’s that pesky politics stuff that gets in the way 
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what exactly is this most important concept? religion?
I feel that prioritizing religion over other societal issues is the cause of a majority of humanities’ problems!
If by your actions in this life, you could have eternal pleasure or torment, it is absolutely the most important subject,
IF?
Sounds like you’re already having doubts about your unequivocal stance against the existence of a deity 