I did not realize how heated the discussion was, I was raised Roman Catholic so I studied the Bible (Old and New Testament ) exclusively until I was older , I know it quite well, and must say I never questioned a thing at first.Later in life I started learning about what occurred through history in the name of my specific form of Christianity and began to have deep questions no one could/would answer for me, like whom combined the Bible in it's current form and why, what was lost in the original translations, why some of the gospels were left out, why so many had to die in the crusades, why we share so many pagan holidays and traditions, why the protestants separated from the main church long ago, etc. I studied the other gospels next which showed quite a different view on things, at that time I decided to read the Qur'an, it just lead me to have more questions on how this all came about, next was the religion of the Egyptians and how that was constantly evolving , then the older European gods of the Greeks, Romans, and Norse. After that I was hooked and started looking into the gods of the Native Americans, Inuit, Mayans, Incas and so on. That lead me back to the more recently developed followings of the Mormons and Scientology.
In the end I had learned so much of the rich history that religions have to offer, and came to the conclusion personally that no one really has a clue whats going on, and if there was a specific all powerful god out there, what a pansy to just not show up and clear all the confusion up.
I truly do believe everyone would get along better in today's world if religion had no influence. I will not try to convince anyone whom is religious in whatever sense that they are incorrect I just wish everyone open there mind to all the information out there and treat it all equally. Sadly most put on the blinders and ignore all but what pertains to there beliefs, or even worst they believe something and know a lot less then even I do about what they are telling me they believe in.
I find much more wonder in the world around us , and all that we can learn and see in this vast universe, and our short time to experience it, then what any religion has to offer.
Alas nothing I believe or you believe is going to matter in the end as we will all be dust , and go back to where ever we were before we came here, if we were anywhere at all. So lets all get along and enjoy this roller coaster of an experiences we get to all share in.