Originally Posted by Martian

Now you're getting it! I'm fascinated by these questions not because I think the answers other people have derived are 'correct,' as such, but because I find it equally if not more fascinating to learn how and why they believe what they do. From an analytical standpoint there is no real difference between religion and, say, entomology. Both amaze and astound me and in much the same way. I'm not part of these other religions, I don't believe what they do (although I certainly don't take issue with them believing it) but I want to learn about it just the same. You could, I suppose, argue that my interest is sociological in nature, but regardless of the root of that interest I am very much interested in these complex questions and the plethora of answers derived. My own beliefs cause me to approach these answers all on equal footing, including the answers of atheism. What I've discovered in my travels so far is that atheism is a belief system like any other. Where most belief systems use ancient teachings in the form of texts and oral traditions (which may not actually be oral in the strictest sense, as I've recently learned) atheism uses logic, a comparatively new teaching.

I don't understand how others can not be fascinated by these things. Then again, I also don't get how others can not be fascinated by stars or bugs or physics. I'm all about the pursuit of knowledge for it's own sake.