I was not going to get drawn into this, But....
I believe I have read every post, I may have missed something, but I only found one statement that was odviously ment to offend anyone who might believe in a higher being. And I even felt he had a good point til he through this in.
Powwrangler wrote in refrence to God, " but I've found I'm way too logical and evidence based to believe in such things"
It is way more "logical" to believe there is something or someone out there much more knowledgable and powerful then ourselves. You confuse logic for arrogance.
There is much more evidence that there is a higher being then that there is not (because there is no evidence that there is not one). Some just choose to ignore it.
To many, religion and science go hand in hand. Some try to use science to explain Gods' miracles, I say why couldn't God use science to perform his miracles.
There are many valid points on all sides in this "debate", but don't go trying to say one is more "logical" or "evidence based" then the other without expecting a rebuttal.
We can all agree that there is no Proof either way. Some day we will all know, until then there is no harm in believing.
Lets say there is a God, I think God is brought into a-lot more things then he/she/it would ever be a part of. Why would God care what sport team wins, who believes in him, or even when we die (if there is a plan, death would have to be part of it).
I'm sure many things are done in Gods name that God wants nothing to do with, wars, persecution, or anything that harms another person.
Some one brought up Marriage, which has nothing to do with this debate, but as long as it was mentioned.... If marriage is of God, then government should have nothing to do with it and should recognize everything as nothing more than a union. Then each religion should be able to choose whom they Marry based on their beliefs or interpretation. So the real debate there, is Marriage a religious institution or not. But that is another debate.
Sorry, I was not going to get into this but I was drawn in like the hole in Paranoia (Top Tye) after what I thought was a perfect boof.