dtwei -

Just because you reject those ideas doesn't mean that everyone feels that way. This debate wasn't about the merits of why people believe in God, but why people believe in God at all.

You argued that the reasons were fear and indoctrination. I gave you 3 surveys to where they were in the minority of reasons. You say then that the top reasons are wrong.

If you don't like God, Christianity, or any reason I can present for myself, or empirical evidences, that's fine. However, that doesn't mean your attack on Christians is valid, given the fact I've posted data that shows that Christians aren't coerced. It may be hard to believe, but many choose (emphasis on choose) to be involved in religion for reasons of their own volition, without coercion.

Since it is obvious that your bias is against Christianity, and no study or survey will appease you (since you don't want to be appeased), I will end my discussion on this topic here. I wish you all the best in your pursuit of your life goals.

Plenty of people go to church because of the community spirit and services they provide.

I do not believe in God or any religion however that doesn't mean the framework of community a church provides cannot be beneficial to people.

Reminds me of some Colbert show, the point he made about a similar situation was that NOW THERE'S A GAY DEMON ON THE LOOSE!

@dtewi I remember when I was your age and my thinking was that simplistic too. Your seem like a bright kid but you seem to act under the assumption that "I'm right because I'm right"
now regardless of your intelligence you still have a massive amount of maturation that your ideas and thought process have to go through. I look back at when I was your age and am almost embarrassed about how primitive my ideology was and at 18 years old I still have a vast amount of growth before me and the pace is only increasing. Regardless of how well thought out you think your ideas are, you only have 14 years of life experience to go on.
A Forum member here once said that life doesn't really start until your in your 20's and that seems pretty spot on until you reach a certain age WE are for all effects and purposes children.

People that become religious out of fear usually don't stay religious very long.

Yes they do, usually anyway. People who are scared will do anything to stay "in the right"

The music is quite uplifting.