1. The main form of evidence cited by proponents of intelligent design is that of irreducible complexity. There are currently no proven examples of irreducible complexity, and those put forward are usually a result of a lack of apreciation that cells and tissues can change function during the evolution of the organism. One example is the flagellum of a bacterium that comprises of over 40 proteins that if altered do not work. the explanation is that this first evolved as a defence mechanism, which we know by observing other species of bacterium, which did not require this precise arrangement.

2. Quite often there is a failure to realise what an astoundingly long length of time 3 billion years is, so it appears there is not enough time for evolution to occur, when in fact there is a stupendous space of time availiable.

3. There is not a real lack of transitional fossils; just look at archeopteryx, and due to the tiny amount of organisms that fossilise, it is more remarkable that we have as much fossils as we do.

4. Its a conspiracy, they say when all else fails. Individual scientists may occasionally be biased, but science as a whole is so vast that if the evidence was there, this would be the accepted scientific theory.

p.s. One does not believe in evolution, as we have enough evidence that no leap of faith is required. Pedantic, I know; it just really irritates me.

You know, the USA put Saddam in power in the first place, after shipping him around the middle east after a bungled assasination attempt, and even gave him WMDs in the 1980's.

Wow. An awful lot of you are astoundingly ignorant to the fact thaat christmas is one huge piece of propaganda form Constantine. It was originally called Saturnalia and tied in with the winter solstice. this was pinched from the romans so that the transition between roman religion and christianity could be smoother. In fact, a lot of pagan ideas were included, such as halos.

This transition happened to try and avert a civil war, as Rome was rapidly fragmenting into two empires. Athiests, therefore, have just as much a right to celebrate this festival as any other group. Originaly Jesus' birth was celebrated in april.

Oi, moron saying "research" showed Jesus couldn't have been born at this time; How can this be possible as weonly have two accounts, clearly symbolic (Jesus is representing Israel during Matthews account).

Have you quite finished your little rant? Then can you please connect your brain, which has obviously been hibernating when you started this thread, whilst you read my reply.

1. Accusing the catholic church of helping the spread of AIDS is an entirely founded criticism. Condoms are pretty much the cheapest and most effective way of stopping AIDS, yet catholics working to promote AIDS awareness refuse to condone them, over views that are not present in the bible. They even teach that condoms don't help, for God's sake.

2. Just because people criticise you does not mean that they are prejudiced or that you are being abused, and it is completely hyperbolic to suggest otherwise. All examples mentioned are of critical satire, not abuse or prejudice.

3. Get your facts right about Rome. they were no more decadent or hedonistic than present day western europe and america. Christians were persecuted because they were easy scapegoats, as they were viewed as immoral because they refused to worship the Emperor. The catholic church broke off from orthodox Christianity when this had become the official religion of the Roman Empire, so that is just nonsensical.