[SillyEvee]

I don't think promoting atheism as a reaction to corruption in religion is a contradiction. He seems totally down with theism, just not with the organized part. I think advocating removal from organized religions and respect for belief in a god are compatible. There's a big difference between "wanting religion/theism" as you wrote, and respecting theism/religious belief systems, which is the sense I got from reading his initial post. But we all read into each others' posts with our own biases.

About "faith comes from yourself," that's a central part to Christianity and Judaism. I can't speak for other religions, because I just don't know, but I know that a big part of Christianity is a PERSONAL acceptance and commitment to Jesus based on what YOU want and believe. In Judaism we are encouraged to explore our connection with G-d on our own. A Rabbi once told children that they should never ask questions because then he'd be forced to give them candy. :P

I think the point was more anti-brainwashing than anything else, really. That faith in a higher power is fine as long as you grow into it personally and don't have it forced upon you while you're ignorant of other possibilities. I thought pretty much everyone in here agreed that indoctrination of young ones was often a bad thing...

And of course you'll do what you please. I wouldn't have it any other way. When I said "why enter a debate forum?" it was in honest curiosity. (I'm actually being 100% not sarcastic here.) Why do you come if you're not interested in broadening your perspective? My note to you was in reaction to your quasi-hostile, condescending tone and confusing (mis)use of punctuation. If you didn't mean to be hostile or condescending, I apologize for misreading your posts.