After watching Valkyrie I thought to myself: How can any reasonable human being believe in a God who "allowed" Hitler to escape some 15 assassination attempts. Fifteen was the number cited by the movie just before the credits. But I went online and found that the number of assassination attempts goes up to some 45, dating back to the 1920s. Forty-five? It took one attempt to kill Lincoln, a decent guy. But this bastard escapes with his life (I know he killed himself; still he escaped punishment) after murdering millions. How fucked up is that? Where was God when millions were being exterminated in gas chambers? Why didn't God step in? Is it because God doesn't meddle in human affairs. So why then did "he" bother sacrificing his "son" for us? Why do people bother with prayer if God doesn't get involved. What's the use of a "powerful" God who's a lazy bum?

This is best summed up by one of my favorite quotes on the subject of God.

"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?" - Epicurus

Let's just pretend for a moment that God doesn't condone killing. With that we could understand why he was hesitant to off Hitler. But couldn't he have at least saved those brave men who tried to eliminate him? Or did God want those men punished for attempted murder? Either way you spin it, God comes out like a hypocrite. And there's nothing I hate more than a hypocrite. Enough said.

I love the way Supernatural questions the existence and goodness of God, angels, demons. Nothing is black and white in Sam and Dean's universe. Although one could argue that Dean, the older brother, tends to see things in black and white. (He hated Ruby because she was a demon and it didn't matter that she wanted to help Sam and tried to keep Dean from going to hell. He also questioned the existence of God and the goodness of his angels.) Demons equal evil. I think Dean's transformation came when he met Castiel, the angel who pulled him out of hell. He didn't believe that angels really existed, and who could blame him considering that for the better part of his life he's been hunting demons and no angel ever stepped in to help. As Dean met more angels throughout the 4th season, he saw how cruel and selfish they can be. Just like the demons.

The fact that Supernatural doesn't say anything definitive about the existence of God, makes the show more interesting. It wouldn't be as nearly interesting if they came out and said that God doesn't it or that God does exist. I think it's better this way. They leave it up to the viewer to decide for themselves. The storyline they went with was that most angels have never seen God so that way no character on the show, thus far, can say that God really is up there somewhere.

Even though angels and demons are prominent in this show, they are metaphors. Sam and Dean are just two brothers trying to do some good in the world who find it increasingly difficult to judge with certainty who the good and bad guys are.

I was over on richarddawkins.net yesterday just browsing when I came upon a list of common debate points that atheists are likely to encounter. I thought I'd respond to all of them, but not in a single day of course. There are 34 debate points currently listed. I'll start with the first one on the list.

What are your qualifications to question religion anyway? Just who are you?

I wasn't aware any qualifications were necessary in order to have an opinion. What kind of qualifications does the average person need in order to question politicians, scientists, authority? If qualifications are necessary then I will say that I have read the Bible, the good parts and the bad. I have seen and personally felt the consequences of religious beliefs. Does that qualify me? Or do I have to be a preacher, minister, nun, reverend, priest, professor of religion in order to question religion? If I were any of these people, the chances are that I would not question it even if I did not agree with some things, at least not as vocally as atheists tend to do. Religious people rarely criticize their own religions. Yet many have no problem questioning the faiths of others.

I find nothing wrong with questioning religion just like I find nothing wrong with questioning our governments, politicians, courts, police, etc. Since religion affects us all, whether positively or negatively, all of us, as citizens of this world, have the right to question anything that affects our lives. That is what qualifies me to question religion.

As to the second part of this question, I believe I have already answered. I am just a regular person, a citizen, that has the right to question anything that damn well pleases me. That's what freedom of expression is all about.