Religious believers can't prove that what they believe in is true.
Many atheists are just as bad, because they can't prove wrong the beliefs they disagree with. The only thing they can do is point out that the religious believers have no proof that their beliefs are correct. Nevertheless, even with such a weak argument those atheists still have the audacity to think they have the right to call the believers 'wrong' (in the same way believers arrogantly condemn atheists). It only makes sense to say something is 'wrong' or 'right' if you have proof. Religious believers, and atheists have proof of neither. This renders both groups of opinions not worthy of all that much, than being mere 'opinions'. It's ok to have certain views, but it is simply ludicrous to get angry about something you can't even prove is real, or is not real.
Oh but the stupidity doesn't stop there. Oh no. Many religious believers are divided up into gangs/armies of biased bigots. Basically saying "Our religion is the correct religion". Some to the extent where they interpret certain religious teachings the way they want to, so they can condone acts that would usually be regarded as being deeply sinful, but instead are 'justified' by many as being 'in the name of their religion', even though other people within their own religion oppose this and are disgusted with them. Incidents like this represent clear flaws in that religion. Whether there is conflict between certain religions, or conflicts within one specific religion, each conflict is evidence of a big gaping embarrassing flaw. For it not to be flawed, the religion would have to be made clear and precise. There wouldn't be messages in the teachings that were grey areas for you to interpret using your own discretion. There would only be clear facts for you to follow rigidly. However, many people can't see this, and remain to believe the Bible, Quran, etc, right down to every single word (how they've understood it), and think that how they've interpreted it must be right, without even discussing with many other people how they've interpreted it, or asking how they all interpreted it.
I neither believe or don't believe. I'm searching for an answer I probably won't get before I die. Maybe I will find out after I die (if religious people's beliefs turn out to be correct, regarding life after death). Even if many religious beliefs happen to be about something that really is true, I still have the common sense, and knowledge, to know that a religious movement is an institution which involves influence and control. There is a hierarchy like in any other institution. The people at the top have more power than the people at the bottom. Furthermore, a massive amount of religious leaders have committed some of the sickest crimes known to humans. This goes back throughout history and ancient times. Yet, people still don't feel the need to question things, and just blindly follow what feels comfortable and seems right, just because of what they have been taught by other 'people'. Even if things could be proven correct, religion is still a form of brain-washing, especially when taking into consideration the traditional aspects. Some of the strongest influences in life are during childhood, which come directly from your parents/guardians. Most people place more trust in their parents/guardians than in anything else, especially at a young age. I believed in Catholicism when I was a child, because I trusted that what my mother told me was true, so from that I trusted what priests and monks told me, as well as teachers at my catholic schools. It wasn't until I got older that I started thinking for myself, and saying "hold on! This doesn't seem right", in the same way an older child starts questioning Santa, and the tooth fairies. But they'll pretend for a while, to keep getting the money under their pillow, in the same way many other people are happy to be involved in a religion for their own personal gains (whether it be financial, a psychological security blanket, or to network/make friends in high places etc). People seem to forget that religious documentation such as the bible and the quran, were written by (male) human beings, who were highly regarded figures, then the masses of 'regular Joe/Jill' human beings at the time simply took their word for it, because they knew no better than to respect people of a higher status, and be in awe of them. From then on, the writings have been passed down through the generations. But people are less gullible these days, because they're more educated, and more aware of how human psychology works, networking/social structures, and natural selection/the survival of the fittest, as Spencer and Darwin put it. Therefore, even if there really is such thing as God/Allah etc, we still know that much of what was written is nothing more than fiction, or a cryptic way of teaching people about what is right and wrong, however, nowadays we can see that some of what was written was clearly wicked and cruel, especially to women, and homosexuals.
My personal beliefs are as follows:
Get the most out of life you possibly can, and don't waste your talents
Look after your body and mind
Look after your family
Learn from your mistakes, but don't dwell on them and punish yourself
Don't be Lazy
Help others, and help yourself
Appreciate the good others do for you
Treat others how you would like to be treated
Don't be cruel to people (physically or mentally)
Don't be two-faced
Don't express harsh judgmental views about others (unless necessary, for example you think they might harm someone, and it's in the interest of public safety)
Be grateful for what you have, and not be overcome with greed or jealousy
Be honest as much as you can, but be aware that sometimes common sense, and tact is more important. For example, if I knew someone wanted to kill someone, and they asked me if I knew where the person was, I would tell a lie in that situation, and say that I didn't know, to prevent the other person from getting killed. I get wound up by people who say the truth should be used at all times. No! Nothing is ever that cut and dry in life. Sometimes the truth can be more evil than a lie. If God really does exist I think 'tact' was a great gift he/she/it gave to us.
As long as I try my best to stick to all of these personal beliefs, I feel happy that I'm trying my best to be a good person, and contribute to the world. I'm obviously nowhere near perfect, but I'm not running around with a chainsaw murdering people, or feeling up little kids either (like so many religious leaders do). A religion can't make me try any harder, or make me a better person. Only I can make myself be a better person.
