I bring up this question because I've seen many religious arguments on Vgchartz that are a waste of time. I think it's completely pointless to argue with somebody about religion. It always creates disagreements and anger as well as doubt and never comes to a solution. Religion is based off faith, not scientific facts. 

For example: I'm a Christian. So while I believe the stories in the Bible as fact, I cannot prove they happened. There is no science behind that, only faith. So why try to disprove me? I don't have any hard evidence to back up my beliefs. You're only wasting your time with your never-ending struggle to change what I belief. 

Here's another example. Take somebody who is a Muslim. They believe in the stories found in the Qur'an. Why would I waste my time arguing with them about my Christian beliefs? My thought process to that is, while I think what they believe is idiotic and untrue, IT'S WHAT THEY BELIEVE. They should have the same thought process about me. They think what I believe is idiotic. Preaching to them my beliefs will only anger them and create an argument, therefore making them even less likely to hear what it is I have to say. 

As for atheists, you base your arguments on reasoning and logic, as well as thousands of years of scientific experiments and facts. You come at those who believe in a higher power, such as myself, as if you are more intellectual than us. You say you have science to base your arguments on and all we have are books that are thousands of years old and trust in the higher power whom we follow. With that said, you are completely right. We don't have anything to base our beliefs on. Scientists are very smart people and a lot of what they say is true. However, why waste your time? If you truly believe in something you won't be swayed to another side by numbers and science thrown in your face. I don't care if you're an atheist. I really don't. I have many friends that are atheists and they're awesome people to hang around with. With that said trying to disprove either side will create problems every time. It's pointless.

I wrote this very quickly so it probably wasn't worded very well, but I just wanted to get my point across and try to see what other people have on this. But most importantly, why are we even having religious talk on a video game website? 

The fundamental difference is that non-theists tend to use known facts about the Universe to assert that a Creator is not necessary for any aspect of our World.

Theists argue the opposite - the difference here is they have no empirical or logical counter-evidence.

Evidence vs. ????

That's how I view these discussions. I think it's about attempting to explain the flaw in the notion of a Creator based upon all observations and evidence. I feel insulted when someone attempts to defend faith as if it's worthy of objectivity like science is.

If little Johnny talks to his imaginary friend, he's sent to the insane asylum. If adult Johnny talks to Jesus, it's encouraged and accepted. My question is, what is the difference between these two scenarios?

Are you joking? Because it seems like you're satirizing Christianity.

I like to discuss Christianity because I'm interested in how other people think. Christianity is such a bizarre belief that it's really hard for me to understand why people follow it. So when I argue that Christianity is flawed, I do so in hopes of one of two outcomes. (1) Christians will see my arguments and agree with me, therefore changing their beliefs (which is what I'd prefer), or (2) Christians will argue against me.

When Christians argue against me, they don't usually say "We lack reasoning and logic, leave us alone" Instead, they usually try to use logic to support their beliefs. I oftentimes disagree with their logic, but at least I understand how they think. But for Christians like yourself, who admit that their beliefs are illogical, it's even more interesting. Why would any sane, intelligent person willingly believe something that they believe is illogical?

People just like discussing things like the existence of a God, especially the characteristics of that God. That's been the case sense the beginning of human history. This is interesting and important because the existence of a God could have very significant implications on the way we should behave. It isn't hard to understand why people would be interested in something that could potentially effect their lives.

Usually when a topic is important and controversial, such as politics, it will fuel many arguments. Religion has both of these components, so it's no surprise that it's a hot topic for debates.

You do realize that islam is rather close christianity, much closer than for example judaism? For example they too believe in Jesus, Mary etc. Jesus' name even appears 6 times more often in the quran than that of their great prophet Muhammad.

But anyway, I found that sentence rather funny. A believer who calls a religion that is even quite close to his own "idiotic and untrue" and asks why people are even debating religion on a video game site... by starting a thread debating religion on a video game site.

But back to the actual topic. There is more than one reason why people try to disprove religion. (believing or not believing in religion is a completely different story)

One explanation is that atheists are their "own gods". When their own "god" is going down (=for example when they start to realize that they are getting older, their body is already showing first signs of decay etc. they often react by trying to ruin "the other people's gods".

Then of course there are those with low self-confidence who try to boost their own ego by such discussions. They just kind of like the idea of discussing with people they consider to be morons believing in ridiculous stories, it gives them a welcome feeling of intellectual supremacy they don't have often.

And then I'd say there are those who are at least somewhat unsure of what they should believe, no matter if they admit it or not. They are actually interested in the topic and want to know what others think about it, because they hope to find interesting thoughts that might help shape their own opinion.

If people kept their beliefs to themselves it would be fine.

But this is not so. Religion is a major US political issue influencing real laws and education. People fight and die over religion in the Middle East and Africa right now. And religiously motivated discrimination prevents equal rights for women, homosexuals and nonbelievers around the world to varying degrees.

That is why religion's influence is worth fighting against.

Apart from that, I like debating with any religious person willing to have a logic based argument because I like to see how they think, so it helps me learn about the world, and I enjoy the debate itself even if there's no realistic chance of position change.

Because debating is fun.
By the way, this is inevitably going to turn into a very gruesome religious argument, too, you know? That "why do you argue with religion" rhetorical question was a bad idea. The thing crusader atheists will be most touchy about is obviously their rationale for being crusaders.

Mainly because religion encroaches in many aspects of people's lives whether your a believer/follower or not. Having a debate against religion shows that not everyone is a believer or accepts the morals of religious texts (which are usually person X's morals backed up by carefully selected passages).

And personally I find these religious debates allow most involved to think outside of their normal box. It's a learning experience for everyone involved.

It means more people will know how ridiculous religion is --> hopefully less people will remain religious --> less crimes in the name of their beliefs, one less reason to hate and discriminate, less bigotry...etc.

The world would be better without things like religion. I wouldn't care if it was just harmless nonsense, but it isn't harmless.

Honestly? because I want both the sword and the shield that is Religion to be taken away from those who would use it to judge, belittle, or halt the progress of science. As a man who believes in the value of the future, there's few things in the world more frustrating than hearing about some schools that are trying to have evolution banned, or have intelligent design taught. Knowing there are people out there who claim the earth is only 6000 years old scares me, and I want that all expunged from any institution for learning.

Not to mention the various religions have declared wars on gays, wars on other religions, wars on premarital sex or contraception. So many terrible things done in the name of religion, and yet they get away with it because they're granted a freedom of religion.

Religion is irrational, and yet they get away with pushing their baseless claims and backwards morals because of some nonsense tradition. If they had any proof or evidence to back up their claims, I'd leave them be, because I do think you have a right to believe what you want, but you don't have a right to push it on others. At least science is 'right', and that makes all the different.

And No, I'm not getting into the 'even science requires faith' argument, because that just turns into 'well, you have to have faith in what science says to believe scientists, so that means it's fair to believe what the bible says for the same reasons' nonsense. No, it does not mean that, no they are not the same thing. Either way. If religion kept to itself I wouldn't care, but as soon as the controlled schizophrenic masses try to push their mass delusion on me or insist their morals come from above, I have a problem. so I argue. I argue because I will not stand by and watch as willful ignorance conquers scientific progress.

Well, do you accept that:

• Religious teachings have no place in a school
• You have no right to force your child or any other to follow your religion
• Your religion's ideas of morality do not apply to anyone else
• No religious figure should have any influence in your government
• No religious organisation should receive any money from your government
• Your religion has no right to restrict scientific progress
• Your religious beliefs do not give you the right to take rights away from other people, whether or not they follow your religion.

If you accept all of those things, I feel no animosity towards you at all and it would just be a friendly philosophical discussion. If not, it's rather more serious.