I was thinking early-classical. But you're right in saying it probably wasn't 100% but pre-Pythagoras it must nearly have been 100%. Anyway, its beside the point =P.

technically the earth is an oblate spheroid, where its slightly flat on the top and bottom; its not perfectly round ^_^

To claim that religion has done more damage than good is to separate humanity from its very quest for knowledge. The origination of religion (at least in my opinion) is to explain the inexplicable.

Yes, religion has done damage over the years. It's also spurred some of the greatest scientific quests in all of history. Separating the two in historical terms is fallacy and has only come into prominence with the "modern" method of thinking, which is a parting of church and state.

Too many people cast off the good of religion in favor of the bad it has caused; it's a short-term way of thinking. Humanity is evolving and I'd like to think it's moving toward a sense of freedom from dogmatic ways of thinking. Unfortunately, I think too many people are shifting their dogma from religion to science, and it's simply one "unexplainable" to another (more rational in their head) "unexplainable".

Much modern organised religion says that which is unexplained is unexplainable as it is the work of God(s). Science says that which is unexplained we should try really hard to try and figure out, well at least that is what science should do. People who believe that what science says is ever an absolute truth are just as closed minded as those who believe that every word of the bible is accurate, the greatest thing about science in my opinion is the fact that a lot of scientific effort goes into proving current scienctific beliefs wrong.

While organised religion has done great things for mankind it is no longer helpful in the search for knowledge because ever since (and even prior to in many cases) the dawn of modern science the major churches have clashed with any scientific teaching that challenges their dogma.

I've never been one to understand the fear of death personally. When we die some form of theological experience kicks in or we cease to exist in which case we wont even remember being alive anyway. I've never found that depressing. I haven't existed much longer then I have.

True, but if 95% of the world thought the exact same thing, and there were pockets of society that had never met, or ever understood each others language, and so on, it would make me question it more.

If Aborigines and Germans thought the exact same thing 2,000 years ago, I would put more stock into what they thought, as there would have to be some underlying primer that drove both to the same result.

See? This is exactly what I'm talking about. You point out some flaws and people say "you totally disrespect the good things religion has done." No, I don't. But in my personal opinion Religion is currently causing too much damage. That doesn't mean I'm narrow-minded, really. And why are so many people focusing on science? I just don't see the connection. Science isn't some kind of religion to me and most of the other atheists as well here. I used it as an example, yes. But that's it. I don't care anymore about science than the average religious guy. You are jumping to conclusions (to the wrong ones, that is )

@ That Guy: About your first point: I didn't want to rule out the existence of god with this one... it's like saying "yeah, Bush's anti-terror laws sucked for me" and you saying "you rule out the existence of the USA"

The same goes for your second point. We first had the "science" discussion and now we have the same discussion just with the existence of god. It doesn't bug me that there may possibly be a god. It really doesn't. It is my personal opinion that there is no god, that doesn't mean it bugs me. You know if there was a god I wouldn't have a problem accepting that (well, I'd like to have an indepth discussion with him but oh well... ). I also don't get why you jump to conclusions in each of your posts? I know we could still analyize things and do science, etc. So far you merely seem to answer my posts but rather try to tell me there is a god (at least it appears to me that way) or that I have problems accepting things which I really don't. I never said those things.

This is something that really bugs me, btw. People really like to read something into your statements which you never said and never intended to say Is my english that bad?

But honestly, I just want to point out this is just my opinion and I'm not some kind of crazy guy completely focused on either religion, science, proving people wrong or anything else. I just wanted to point out my opinion and I think we shouldn't get too much into this discussion. It's getting a tad boring after the 100th time anyways (which goes for all of us I think). Just want to point out that I completely respect all of your guys opinions, really.

I don't know if it was aimed at me (I wasn't talking about Rocketpig actually, just using the post as an example) but I agree atheists aren't better in most cases. Personally I dislike both points of view, thinking of someone as retarded (not to say rocketpigs post implied that though) because he has different values / beliefs is silly.