Thankyou that is very well put.....

I don't think that most atheists have a problem with people believing in god if they want to. Speaking for myself, my main concern with religion is that it teaches the next generation not to question or to think. I don't accept that ignorance is ever a good thing.

I really don't believe in talk of 'evolution towards higher conciousness'. For a simple proof.. Evolution doesn't just happen, it comes about by a process of natural selection.. The superior traits survive because they are more adaptable. Now people who argue like you that the planet is 'tapped out' tend to have fewer children than those who don't out of concern for the environment. (and this isn't just speculation, I've seen studies that show this trend), so if anything, humans are evolving away from this worldview.

Anyway, apart from that, humanity has many negative traits that work against a 'unified conciousness'. Many people don't question their beliefs and will not question their beliefs because they are simply not 'wired' to do so. They get into fights with each other often trivial things, and on a larger scale this leads to wars, etc. People can't even agree on what the truth is since every political/conspiratorial stripe has its own media proclaiming its own truth to their own unquestioning believers. The internet seems to spawn more and more subcultures, so I think as people we are drifting further and further apart with less to unite us.

I'm not fully convinced that we are on the brink of humanity-induced environmental destruction, but if we are, I don't see anything stopping it. Too many people are simply unwilling to cut back on their lifestyle arguing they only are a drop in the bucket towards the problem. Ok, I do see one thing... the significant decline in human population caused by the disaster brings things back into balance.

Sorry for the dim depressing view I used to be more optimistic, but the more people I get to know the less hope I have for most of our species.

I wonder what would happen if pagans ran things? We should get a pagan president.

Uth, ((HUGS))) welcome to UM.....Thankyou for sharing that most depresing persepctive , but in many ways i can relate, I am proactive to keep from sinking into a darl abyss of hopelessness myself, I have a great pal fortunately who supports a vision for a newer humanity, especially in my darkest hours which helps alot....(he knows who he is) ....It makes me feel better to look for seemingly inconsequentail blurbs in the growth of humanity...LOL.... I am a vegan and very into the enviorment, but i have three kids, I do apprecaite those that decide not to have kids for the reasons you stated and there are alot more of them, Unfortunately its the best people who really should have kids who decide not too,go figure...

lats, i agree with this, it really does impede the thinking process.....the educational system is dumbing down the next generation too...

Somehow "Jihad" (Or, holy war) doesn't fit into those categories. And word has it there's quite a crowd screaming "Jihad for Allah".

Just a thought.

kba,

irish is correct.

the true understanding of jihad allows for it to be called only in response to a threat = defense (revenge).
those using it for their own agendas are interested in power (which includes expansion and financial gain).

And which also include better standing with their God. Do you think people are driven to blow themselves and a group of others up so they can have power?

Your talking about the soldiers of the war...wars are not started by soldiers. The soldiers are fighting for the causes of religion. But if there was nothing to gain from the war(revenge, expansion, money, power, etc.) then their would be no war. Somebody somewhere has to be gaining something.

It depends on what kind of atheists run it.

Personally I think a country run by agnostics would be probably the best.