i refused to do RE at school and was granted exemption when i stated that i didnt believe in god and that no RE teacher could prove to me that he existed so they excused me from class so as not to disrupt the other children

A stork exists too!! And a gooseberry bush! This is a development.

The main thing, though, is that AndrewR doesn't exist.

I'll settle for that.

Another triumph for solipsism, the me, me, me philosophy

Usual suspects in this thread!

Cant remeber the exact quote Im taking this from but (Perhaps shakespere?) "safer to belive, because if it turns out ther is you'll go to heaven /valhalla etc, if there isn't then it doesnt matter anyway...."

For me I think i may just embrace catholicism before i die assuming I'll have time and see it coming. Unitl then Im afraid Im a non believer....

That's Pascal's wager.

Of course it only works if the choice is between God A and atheism.

If the choice is between Gods A, B and C and atheism then it's less straightforward, even if Gods A, B and C aren't just slightly different flavours of one god.

So before you know it you're avoiding bacon and beef, venerating cats, dedicating your battles to Odin and throwing virgins into volcanoes.

I see your point - I could never become vegetarian.