Ritesign

Some people might call that an emotional rant. Some people might call it insightful. Most likely it was an insightful rant. But you know what they say, a rant in any form is worth two in the bush.

So "Have Gun" Will Ravel, what you're postulating is that God is just a concept we use to feel safe and snuggly, and the more we learn through the sciences, the less use we have for God, correct? But what if we assume that God is more of a passive entity, which exists, is responsible for the creation of the universe, but no longer plays a direct role (such as providing light by being a large flaming ball of gas)? Rather God is one hell of a billiards player who lined up one hell of a shot that got the universe into motion and this shot will be responsible for it's ultimate end. Or, without the need to mention creation, God is an entity that has existed since before the universe if such a thing is logically possible, or since it's beginning if that is the logical alternative (since God's omnipotence and omnipresense presupposes logical coherence, thus ignoring criticisms such as "can't God create a rock so large, it can't be lifted" or "can't God create a round square"). Are these not logical possibilities?

As for religions role in society and politics, or the authenticity of scripture, or the validity of extremists, I don't see how these disprove an omni(scient-potent-present) God's exsistence, or make such a belief rediculous. Does it make literal interpretation of scripture as God's word rediculous? Sure, it would appear so. Does it make appeals to God fallacious? Most definately. But does a failure to find God in the sun, or a stream, or on Mars mean that such a belief is absurd? No, especially if you weren't looking in any of those places from the beginning, or they were simply failed hypotheses on the way to a more accurate answer.

(Rant, ignore this if you wish to preserve brain cells)
Lastly, does turning on an idea ingrained in your head since birth make you enviable? No, in most cases, it makes you crazy. Does it make you brave? Maybe, but only if your new belief brings you into a state more dangerous than your previous one. Last I heard, they've called off burning atheists at the stake, so I think you're safe.
"The fact of the matter is, it makes no difference if god exists or not." Oh, and you'd figure that would make a lot of difference about a lot of things...