dude677: That... is the craziest idea I have ever heard of! Rediculous, yes, but interesting too. Did you think of that all by yourself? Let's make a Back to the Future IV!
Koopaslaya: You said it much better than I could! Free will is real love.
IS: I too would also prefer to live in a world where people believe different things. In history, hasn't there been times where people have changed religion to make it whatever they want and used it to control people and steal their money? (I really need to learn more history, doh!) I don't want that at all.
People may also believe in God because after they try to really know more about Him and obey Him, they experience great changes in their lives and can discover that God is helping them to act like He wants them to. God helps his followers do more than just survive their problems but also learn from them and grow stronger in character (like learning patience from situations that make people feel impatient, and so on). But despite how wonderful that is, living as a real, authentic Christian means living a way that can sometimes be very challenging and unpopular, but overall makes you feel alive and close to God.
If believers of religion changed their beliefs whenever they wanted to, that could cause a few problems for others who aren't careful. Of course, it takes both faith and continual research that things have stayed the way they should through history. Have there been a lot of religions that have changed or come from other religions?
Speaking of accuracy, I do have a reason for believing the Bible and there's more to it than just blind faith. When I read the Bible I'm positive that it's true because God tells me that it is. If something isn't true then He would definitely let me know and help me find the truth. (I think there was a Bible verse about the Holy Spirit leading people to the truth, but I don't have time to look it up right now, sorry). I know this could sound rediculous to people who aren't saved but it's completely true and I know that it's not my imagination. If you don't experience it for yourself then it's difficult to understand, but God gives wisdom and understanding to those who ask for it (again, I forget that verse DX). Even though I don't understand everything in the Bible and some parts make me go "You got to be kidding me!" (like when Jesus basically called a Gentile woman a dog), I still trust that there's a reason for things that I can't see now and might never comprehend, but I still trust that He knows more than I ever will and has a reason for everything.
I admit that at first I didn't know that evolution was a theory in-progress and continually changing, and I thank you, LD and anyone else, who said that to clear that up for me. Because I also thought it stayed the same all the time but... oops! Guess not. Big flunk-a-roony in evolution 101. I wonder if most other Creationists know that or not. But there are different kinds of evolution in the world and some involve different kinds of changes, and not all of them may be correct. If every different form of evolution is put together and called the same thing even if it's not correct, then it gets confusing and people may think that all of it is or isn't right. Even without that it can still be confusing though.
LD: Having your own goals for yourself is fine, but having goals that you can use to serve God is even better. When I used to live just to make myself happy (which I'm still trying to get out of that with God's help) I didn't feel good at all. Then I decided that it was all stupid and a waste of time, and knew that it was time to start doing things for God before I missed the whole point in life. Now I'm trying to obey God and find His plan for my life, and feel like I'm really living now and making a difference in the world. Maybe others will do just fine by doing things their own way and not feel like I did, but I believe (there's that word again!) for myself that if I would have stayed this way, nothing would have changed the way I felt.
Sorry that I always say WAY too much, but when I start typing I sometimes need a little restraint ^_^:. Nothing at all in the world will ever end this debate (except for in this area with "Okay, you guys need to act more mature. Topic closed.") and I'm fine that it's that way. I just want to share my own experiences and give out hope to find a new life. I may not know it all (obviously) and I may sound pretty nuts occasionally (more obviously), but I do know what I believe and want others to belive too, so they can find a life better than ever imagined.
Okay then... I better get back to my college work already! GAH!! *unchains himself from the computer*
Ah say now... let's bury the flame gun! (just an idea for a new sig)
Edit: Holy cow! I can't believe I said that much stuff!!! X_X