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[Spartan-67]

You're under no burden to prove whether or not your shoe gnomes exist or not, because it has no effect over me whether the exist or not.  It's your belief, and if you want to worship invisible shoe gnomes, I'm cool with that.  I don't see why I can't worship something and not come under criticism for doing so by people who say "Prove it" with no evidence to the contrary.

Religion, Christianity in particular has alot to do with my life, I do not belive in a god, but many of the people who are in office do, an they affect my life, for example: gay men cannot marry, my uncle is gay, the rational is god

[Blargityblarg]

To counterbalance Cript's glowing description of religion, it also

-provides excuses for atrocities large and small
-can put irresponsible people in positions of power
-can cloud and hinder new thought.

Fake edit: Yeah, it's bad when the beliefs of some override the beliefs of others, but that's how democracy works.

[Criptfeind]

Yes religion is used as a scape goat a lot. But when you look at the core, and at the baser levels of humanity, you will find that it does not condone immoral behavior.

Of course when the moral code changes the religion needs a update that it does not really get, so you get trailing fringe groups using it as a way to fight change. (I am looking at you anti gay rights people.) But hell, tons of things do that (I am looking at you, music industry.)

[Knight of Fools]

If you're basing your beliefs in Darwin's Law, homosexuality is also self-defeating because it doesn't allow the strongest of a species to reproduce (Except in cases of bisexuality or artificial insemination).

But let's not turn this into a gay/anti-gay discussion.  A person's sexuality also has no effect over me, unless they force it on me like some people try to force views of God or the lack thereof on other people.  (Hint, hint.)

[MetalSlimeHunt]

A: Religion provides groups of people who think the same for people.
 B: Religion provides comfort and support both mentally and from the aforementioned groups physically.
 C: Religion adds meaning to life.
 D: Religion strengthens moral values.

I'm going to have to make some counter-points here.

A. Religion provides groups of people who can easily exclude those not in the group.
B. Religion is just one of many thousands of possible support avenues, some of which lack the cons that come with many religions.
C. Meaning in life is subjective and personal, not requiring. Meaning to life is also somewhat irrelevant overall.
D. Religion can instill perverse and destructive values. (Persecution of homosexuals, women, and people not in the religion in question are the most common example.)

EDIT: Grrrrrrr.....ninja'd so much...

[Spartan-67]

I base my beliefs on thousands of years of social interaction, and on known scientific facts.

[Knight of Fools]

Such as Darwin's Theory?

[freeformschooler]

-can cloud and hinder new thought.

Interestingly I have found this to occasionally be true of atheists. Not the ones here, really, or even my atheistic friends, but mostly the level 5 wild atheists you can battle in CNN's online comment sections (or a lot of news stations' article comment sections)

I think certain people are just more prone to this than others. 

[Spartan-67]

I would like to thank everyone who has posted so far, It is an interesting topic, and interesting ideas abound.

[TherosPherae]

You're under no burden to prove whether or not your shoe gnomes exist or not, because it has no effect over me whether the exist or not.  It's your belief, and if you want to worship invisible shoe gnomes, I'm cool with that.  I don't see why I can't worship something and not come under criticism for doing so by people who say "Prove it" with no evidence to the contrary.

Religion, Christianity in particular has alot to do with my life, I do not belive in a god, but many of the people who are in office do, an they affect my life, for example: gay men cannot marry, my uncle is gay, the rational is god

There's a difference between the religion being bad and people being douchebags. If these guys are mocking you because your uncle is gay and you don't have a problem with it, then they're being douchebags. If they're drawing pentagrams in his blood and attempting to use his soiled kidneys as a sacrifice to the Immortal One, then there's probably a problem with the religion. Probably.

NINJAS, CEASE THY FLUTTERING

Edit: Some stuff was old hat because of the ninjas, so I pulled it out.

[Criptfeind]

Metal, that is why religion is not for everyone.

A: I don't get your point. People gather in groups all the time. This is just a way to make the gathering easier.
B: So what? Religion is for some people the easiest. I don't do it, I would use bay 12 for that, but for many religion is where they go.
C: So? That is why we have atheists and what not. I do not care what you believe so long as you believe something.
D: Yes. Like I said it needs updating that is hard to do. Oh well, nothing is perfect.

E: I was only saying why people believe in religion. I never said it was perfect or the best way.

Such as Darwin's Theory?

Now you are just trolling. Stop it.

[Spartan-67]

Are you trying to tell me what I believe? I am not so crazy to think that what Darwin's theory says is law, and there is no acceptations, some animals can show homosexual tendencies.

[freeformschooler]

There's a difference between the religion being bad and people being douchebags. If these guys are mocking you because your uncle is gay and you don't have a problem with it, then they're being douchebags. If they're drawing pentagrams in his blood and attempting to use his soiled kidneys as a sacrifice to the Immortal One, then there's probably a problem with the religion. Probably.

NINJAS, CEASE THY FLUTTERING

Edit: Some stuff was old hat because of the ninjas, so I pulled it out.

I believe he/she was talking about how it's actual state law probably wherever he/she lives for gay men to not be able to marry, not any specific people persecuting his/her uncle.

[Spartan-67]

You're under no burden to prove whether or not your shoe gnomes exist or not, because it has no effect over me whether the exist or not.  It's your belief, and if you want to worship invisible shoe gnomes, I'm cool with that.  I don't see why I can't worship something and not come under criticism for doing so by people who say "Prove it" with no evidence to the contrary.

Religion, Christianity in particular has alot to do with my life, I do not belive in a god, but many of the people who are in office do, an they affect my life, for example: gay men cannot marry, my uncle is gay, the rational is god

There's a difference between the religion being bad and people being douchebags. If these guys are mocking you because your uncle is gay and you don't have a problem with it, then they're being douchebags. If they're drawing pentagrams in his blood and attempting to use his soiled kidneys as a sacrifice to the Immortal One, then there's probably a problem with the religion. Probably.

NINJAS, CEASE THY FLUTTERING

Edit: Some stuff was old hat because of the ninjas, so I pulled it out.

Thes douchebags are some of the people who run the country, why do they think that they can decide what other people can and cannot do based on a 2000 (or older) year old book

[Knight of Fools]

Tendencies which still fail to produce offspring.

I'm still curious which facts you're referring to.