[Armistead]

I think Steve is a lot like me, once very involved in faith. I actually lost mine trying to find it. I think the problem is, many of us really test our faith and realize it's just that, beliefs with no real evidence and much evidence to the contrary. I think the only way to keep faith is to shun history, science and logic.

That's not saying I don't say God isn't possible, but it's clear beliefs are more cultural indoctrination. I can't find a reasonable God in any religion. You would think if God existed we would have a clear revelation so that in the end the masses aren't tortured for all eternity. Honestly, the God of he bible is so cruel, unjust, biased, etc., I would have to assume he is the creation or view of those early Jews.

Certainly religion played a needed role in early humanity in numerous ways. It helped explain then what science could not. No doubt even those religious have evolved, but the bigger question is when will we evolve out of the need of religion? My guess is most of the world isn't, because of lack of money and education. It's still the same, poor uneducated societies need religion to keep them from chaos.