I have heard a lot of reasons not to believe in God from a veritable multitude of people; most people have. Oddly enough I can sum these up into just two polysyllabic words. Well, actually I could do it in a single word, but if I did that I wouldn't have enough to write about to fill the word quota, would I?

Inconsistency

When choosing whether to believe in God, or not, people will look first at those who believe. Most perceive that if this is the group they will join then this is what they'll be like over the course of time. Sometimes the group observed is not unpleasant, does not appear to be comprised of uneducated dolts, and hard hats need not be worn out of fear of being bashed over the head with a Bible. Sometimes the case is reversed; actually fairly often the case is reversed. The observer learns that the Gospel of Peace is more often than not used as a weapon against those who are supposed to be brothers and sisters in Christ. Interpretations cause schisms, rifts, and splits within churches and denominations, preachers and teachers get caught with their pants down {sometimes literally}, and even though this observer has heard that God is One, experience with believers and clergy says God is inconsistent.

Our observer learns that God loves mankind, yet sees famine, war, pestilence, and man's inhumanity to man. In some church services "Hell fire and Brimstone" is preached about sinners that this God, that loves mankind, is going to send to Hell to be tortured and tormented for all eternity. This God sends His only Son to tell us to be good to each other, do good for each other, and forgive each other, but let one in the congregation stumble and the phrase "They shoot their own wounded" comes immediately to life in full living color.

Our observer now decides to read the Bible to see how so many can get such divergent meanings from a single book. In Sunday School this person hears the teacher say one thing, but the Scripture cited doesn't say what the teacher says it does. Our observer, understandably confused, asks for clarification and has now earned the title of troublemaker, which somehow is spread through the whole church before the sermon begins. To apologize is to confess to guilt that shouldn't exist, but to remain silent is to be unrepentant, and to argue that it was a simple question makes our observer sound as though they are making excuses. Talk about a no win situation!

Religion

Over time our hapless observer

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