isn't it... especially when all three are known as "People of the Book"...

I still say while religion may be an instigator of war, it generally is being fought for much more mundane reasons such as power, resources, greed, etc. There rarely is a "higher calling" where war is concerned. If there were, there wouldn't be war.

and charlatans

where every thing is sacred, and every button is being pushed by someone not physically involved. It's all being done by proxy for their own reasons. Again, power, greed, resources and add chaotic world upheaval with this. World Dominance being one of the overarching power plays here, to my mind.

There was an article that spoke to that sentiment just over a week ago. I wish I had saved it.

When they confront science, which chages according to new data (although old boys fight like hell to keep the overturned hypothesis that gave them their PhDs), the religious feel like they're standing on quicksand.

They have to think they have found the one true god, usually by being born into that religion, and anything but hilarity ensues, although that's what should ensue.

For the existence of their god.

It's like an argument between people who believe in fairies and people who believe in gnomes. Neither have evidence but they still argue over non-existent creatures.

But they didn't catch a god, I noticed.

I imagine I can fly with just a cape and my arms held high. And yet I keep falling off buildings. Reality has a way of asserting itself.

or any other imaginary creature. God exists as but one of all the other many imaginary creatures man has invented throughout history. Catching a leprechaun is the equivalent of catching a god.

Southpark concludes that imaginary creatures are not real with it's Supreme Court decision. But Kyle begrudgingly capitulates that they are real, in order to preserve the consensus and keep the peace and status quo. He concedes for practical reasons, knowing full well that imaginary creatures (god, leprechauns, etc) are not real; Kyle plays along with the fantasy. Jesus is notably standing alongside the other imaginary creatures when Cartman imagines Kyle fulfilling his obligation to their wager, and is in fact a member of The Council of Nine wisest imaginary characters ever created...

I know imaging something does not make it so.

In your imagination you maybe a god but it doesn't make it true

Some anthropologist theorize that our imaginations are a survival mechanism in that we can imagine what may happen in the future and protect ourselves from future dangers. If we, as primitive people, see dangerous predators roaming around, we can imagine them killing us and then protect ourselves from them.

But imagining fairies and gods that will protect us from the predators is not such a good idea. It will make us less likely to take action to protect ourselves.

Imagination is really only useful if you have a bases in facts. That you believe in as many true things as possible will build a foundation for you to make good decisions.

Thinking your neighbors are witches is not likely to benefit you if you need your neighbors help.

It has no survival value unless you know some true facts about your neighbors and your society. If you know your neighbors property is valuable, that you can buy it for pennies if your neighbor is accused of being a witch, and nothing will happen to you if you accuse your neighbor of being a witch, then it may help you, if you want their property and can get them burned at the stake.

Same with gods. If you don't claim to believe in a Christian God can stop you from advancing in politics or other occupations, especially in the US. Not believing in Mormonism if you live in Utah, can be a career killer. But you have to know other true things to determine that.