He, on the
other hand, attacks me.

If I had realised that you suffered from a "victim" mentality, then I would
have ignored you completely.

Donal, we can discuss beliefs without taking it to a personal level. I respect
you for two reasons: 1-You sail. 2- You seem to have a sense of humor. There's
really very little else I can tell from what's written here, but in this group
you MUST have those two items to survive.
Ultimately, I believe that the key reason people continue to believe in god is
because they are unable to cope with the idea of dying; of not being. The
control commanded by various religions is totally based on a promised "quality
of afterlife." Meanwhile, our biology and real world efforts are clearly geared
to the reality of a final and complete end.
If that seems sad, consider that many wonderful things (Roses, sunsets, the
life of a beloved dog) all end quickly, making them all the more special. We
need not invent a heaven for them, or ourselves.

RB