I have come to realize, arguing about supernatural higher powers such as God on the internet is completly futile. It is a broken record that can not be fixed. You either believe in God or you don't. There is no reason to argue about it, debate it, mock it, or define it. It is an endless debate of "you are wrong because i'm right" end of story. You are not going to win any converts on the internet to atheism or belief in God.

Why this is debated so much boggles my mind. The only other thought why God is debated so much between atheists and believers is to keep a constant flame war stoked.

As far as i'm concerned there is nothing more to debate. Why Christains do this and that, the problem with Christ, the problem with religion, why atheists believe there is no God. It's all futile. No argument is going to change anyones belief. If God himself appeard to humanity it wouldn't change Atheists belief there is no God. If it were discovered scientifically that there couldn't possibly be a God it wouldn't Change relgions belief.

It's all a waste of time and energy to debate this.

Starfire, don't you think that you could say that it is a waste of time to discuss or debate anything?

I am not trying to convert, or to be converted, but I may change my mind about something, or become more open to ideas.

By discussing, and researching the information behind our discussions, we are learning. Don't you think that opening one's minds to the ideas of others, researching facts, and debating them is educational?

And religion is a major political factor in the world, so I don't think that we can just ignore it. Perhaps more discussion will lead to better understanding, and a more peaceful world?

I cannot understand why anyone would think that religious discussion is pointless. I am happy to discuss almost anything of interest ~ and religion is interesting.

But maybe your post deserves a thread of its own, where others can give their opinions on the subject.

..... it is about understanding where other people are coming from, and maybe now and then pointing out where their opinions are not helpful to society. ...

... one might ... take a clearer look at the points in his/her position that had previously been kind of glossed over....