I think that's a question you need to ask yourself and answer that.

My interpreation of the no contest part is in reference to some religious people who dont really understand the issue or Logic. E.g You cant proove God doesnt exist, therefore he exists.

philosophy of knowledge - in order for someone to know something: x is true, person y has to believe x is true, person y is justified in believing x is true.

you saying science isnt a belief is utter nonsense guido, everything that one "knows" is a belief. i assume that you not answering the question of brainwashing that you realise not all people who hold "religious" beliefs are actually brainwashed

Ok so we agree on that. That reads like you're saying your religion is right and other religions are wrong? what happens to those people who aren't of your religion when it comes to judgement day?

Farrell I really feel like you'd take something from reading the god delusion, or at least watching that Dawkins, Grayling and Bishop of Oxford debate i posted earlier.

As AC Grayling says himself ……….

I would imagine Jesus was a kind of Jewish reformer. If you were looking for an equivalent to the figure you dimly perceive through the gospels it would probably be a Richard Dawkins.

Somebody states something to be a possibility. they then set out to proves it so, in doing so they offer evidence to the fact. That evidence may be fallible and disproved. It may support the original thesis. All in all though it offers a question and possible answer with evidence to support the fact or refute it.

religion is the statement of something and the absolute belief it to be true with no evidence to allow the acceptance of fact or refutable evidence to the contrary.

If you think they are the same then I would question your sanity.

I really don't know, as far as i regard judgement if you have done more right than wrong then you've had a positive effect. i haven't studied christianity hard enough, my memory is terrible and all the science i have actually learnt has pushed out all the old stuff (i havent done religious studies since i was 14).

And christians (the particular brand that seems to fit most with my feeling) can be as bad as any other religion for fucking others over and repressing people.

a few people are coming across as very bigoted in here

Lol - The existence of a possibility of a "grand perhaps" doesnt validate religion.

No, people like you assume that you should accept religion and make allowances for it. 21st century is a far more secular society than what we have experienced before. Im sure you would agree? This trend towards secularisation, suggests that more and more people get on with their lives without having to rely on a belief system, without being influenced by the apparent acceptance that has been made for religion (to indulge you for one moment), and without conceding any ground to religion altogether.

Who tells you that you are to accept religion and make allowances for it? I certainly do not implore you to accept my belief system. I certainly do not ram my point of view down the throats of others and i certainly do not ask you to make allowances for my belief.

Your point is relevant only to a small minority of dogmatists.

I think my initial point remains in relation to the respective roles of the two 'institutions'. We can all suggest aphorisms. I could say that science, inter alia, is a tool created by man to pray on our insecurities and deep seated discomfort with the possibility in the existence of a creator. It doesnt make it any more true.