Originally Posted by The_Heretic

Itsmeeee might have a better answer to this than I [she's a salesperson]. But in general when you're trying to sell something and the existing pitch gets you all the customers you can get then you try another advertizing style to draw in those who didn't go for your first ad.

The evidence they'll cite will prove to be subjective, and play heavily on the Euro-Christian cultural bias, but then again because that's the frame of reference they're working it it's to be expected.

Originally Posted by The_Heretic

Itsmeeee might have a better answer to this than I [she's a salesperson]. But in general when you're trying to sell something and the existing pitch gets you all the customers you can get then you try another advertizing style to draw in those who didn't go for your first ad.

The evidence they'll cite will prove to be subjective, and play heavily on the Euro-Christian cultural bias, but then again because that's the frame of reference they're working it it's to be expected.

Originally Posted by itsmeeeeeee

did i hear my name?

well, as a salesperson, i'd say this NEED (compulsion) runs MUCH deeper than all that!

ANY belief system's absolute obsession to PROVE it's set of beliefs are the ONLY CORRECT set of beliefs (even if it has to pull it's "facts" directly out of it's ass) comes from the belief system's built-in ego.... and it's conjoined twin - fear. it's about "right-eousness". the ego and fear are the glue that hold the belief system together. they hold it together in the absense of evidence.

they HAVE to sell it because:

EGO: religions are built on a foundation that they are the one and only "truth". these religions say everyone who doesn't accept this definition is wrong, or evil - and must be saved (educated) or fought (because it's un-righteous).
My complaint with Evangelical types

FEAR: the requirement to be "right" generates two kinds of fear.
one: doubt fear. "i'm-only-safe-if-i'm-right" / "what-if-i'm-wrong" fear.
two: persecution fear. "disbelievers-are-danger" fear.

the sell job is a form of self-defense in the face of fear.

anyone genuinely fearless would feel no obsession to sell their belief system.
they wouldn't feel the need to fabricate proof, or feel threatened by another belief system.
I agree completely. I have completely dumped all belief systems, even the latest dabbling with Buddhism.
Which is not to say I am amoral - I won't harm a fellow man, simply because they are human, and deserve respect as such.

But I feel the same about animals, and even plants to an extent - they are all alive , and should be left to live as the natural order has set them up.

And I have no hostility to religion. If that is your belief, I'm fine with it, as long as you don't proselitize to me

that's just MY take on it.

Originally Posted by Comicsartist

I know we've all touched upon the age old question "does God exist" and I recently found this site. I admit, my post about Google piqued my curiosity, so I searched for "who is God". This link is the second one mentioned, and I don't assume to know where their "truthiness" (all pardons to Jon Stewart) falls on the credintials scale. I can bet they are right wing, but I thought their "answers" (not sure what to call them at this point) were somewhat interesting. What do you all think?

http://www.everystudent.com/features/isthere.html