What is faith?
The blind following of these beliefs despite contradicting, yet more logically sound evidence.

What is God?
An imaginary friend for adults.

Who can be a God?
Anyone can pose as a “god”-like figure. Anyone can be appointed a “god”-like status. You’ve seen Stargate. You’ve heard about cults in the news.

Where did God come from?
The need for people to explain the universe around them in terms and ideas that they could understand.

What is the Holy Spirit?
I was never explained that in catechism or the church. My understanding of the holy spirit is that it is just the freeloading “brother” of Jesus and God (I have never heard of the holy spirit doing anything).

Who was Jesus (most non-Christian religions have an opinion)?
Some believe him a prophet, some a normal man. It’s highly probable he existed. It’s also highly probable all reports concerning him and his acts are fabricated or exaggerated.

Is there a Devil?
An antagonistic character created to deal with the fact that, despite God being all-loving and all-powerful, he still lets bad things happen to people.

Are their Good and Evil Angels?
That’s like asking if there are good and evil unicorns.

How does a person cast out demons?
By realizing that the demons are nothing more than personifications of one’s own inability/short-comings and overcoming those problems on one’s own by changing one’s behavior, thus bettering oneself.

How can a person be saved or enlightened?
By looking at the evidence around them supporting real, scientific explanations and then realizing that they’ve been duped by a fairy tale for kids. And then living their life as best they can with their newfound understanding that there is not an invisible man watching them, judging them. That the main source of judgement they feel/experience comes from within (with other sources being those around one), as one tries to fit in with societal norms or challenge oneself to break free of various bonds. This is a mixture of the esteem and self-actualization levels, the highest two levels, of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

Can God help people become saved or enlightened?
In the same way that Superman could use his heat vision to melt the freak twelve feet of snow that blocks your front door, sure. (unless you’re Brian at Mich Tech, then that kind of snow is just normal)

When a person is enlightened in this faith, what are the fruits of their enlightenment?
Religious enlightenment? Closed-mindedness, blind hate towards those who are different (which is different than close-mindedness, as that is merely the refusal to accept other beliefs but does include not the hate that many fundies exhibit), and the incessant need to validate their belief system by forcing it on others. ‘Cause, after all, if everyone believes the Earth is inordinately young, it must be true.
Realistic englightenment? Everyone is different. They all have their own understanding of why and how things are. They may be right, they may be wrong, just as I may be either right or wrong. Who am I to judge them based on what they believe? (Note: I would like to point out that I know full well that I have not reached this level of “enlightenment,” as I am very clearly being condescending in this whole thing.)

How does God help us in our lives?
He is an emotional crutch designed to help those who are not able to deal with the harshness of life on their own.

What happens after death?
I’ll tell you when I die. It is impossible to determine what happens after death. Using “heaven” to represent an afterlife is just a way to placate people with the fact that death is an inherent part of this world.

Does a person need to do works to be right with God?
A person needs to do works to be right with themselves. And possibly those around them, depending on how much approval one needs to feel good about oneself.

What human works will satisfy a God?
Note: “A god” and “God” are different. You cannot say “a God.” Stop trying to steal the word “god” just because you guys decided to name your deity after a common noun synonymous with what he is.
On topic: Why would a god be satisfied by lowly human activities? Wouldn’t a god need godly amusements to be satisfied?

Can a person accept God’s unconditional Grace to be right before God?
I am having a hard time understanding what this quesiton even means. That last half just seems to be worded weird. Maybe it’s the lack of sleep.

Is this a karma, mercy or grace based religion?
Seems to be grace based? At least that’s how it looks with everyone constantly spouting “God loves you!” But that also tells me it’s insanity based. If God really loved people, I don’t think he’d be letting so many go hungry or get raped and murdered. Jacki lied to me when she broke up with me. She never actually disputed the fact that she was doing things with Zak, but by not saying anything about it at all, she lied by omission. This is a similar concept. God is not directly “not-loving” these people by actively putting them into terrible situations, but he is not-loving them by not extending his supposed grace to save them. Well, actually. If God is all-knowing, he knowingly put those people into those situations. He knowingly let that girl get raped in the alley, he knowingly let that child get shot by a surprised burglar. He knew it was going to happen, and he did not stop it. Either that means God is not all-powerful, or he is not all-loving. Oh, and let’s not forget the “It’s all part of God’s plan” apologists. Apparently, according to them, GOD’S PLAN IS FOR CHILDREN TO DIE HORRIBLE DEATHS.

What do they teach about love?
Same thing nature teaches about love: Love thine children and neighbors so that you can all survive together.

What do they teach about relationships?
Basically the same thing as above, except “relationship” is less strong in meaning than “love.”

If there is no God, no truth and no consequences, why don’t we just lie, cheat and take anything that we desire?
Why does no God automatically equal no truth and no consequences? That does not make sense. That is a terrible method by which to validate your beliefs. People don’t lie, cheat, etc. because people have an inate sense of right or wrong. Look at the animal kingdom, the other inhabitants of this Earth also display a similar sense of morality.

How do you determine if something is a religion, cult or mythology?
By how inane the ideas and beliefs seem. By how high the average member ranks on the crazy scale. By the fact that the leader or head figure/deity of the religion/cult/myth requires the members to believe in them unconditionally and give their (life || money || soul || possessions) over to the leader in order to achieve “salvation” and reach “heaven.”

What set of questions do you ask?
Why do you care so vehemently what I believe in? Why do you force your beliefs down my throat? Is not your relationship with your god a personal one? I am neither you nor your god, so I should not be involved in this relationship at all. I would appreciate it if you would respect the fact that I do not have a faith in the supernatural, and I will respect your decision to believe in whatever you want.

There is nothing worse than a religious person that decides it is up to them to “save” those around them. I don’t give a shit about your religion or beliefs. People who try to convert others or continually hold inane “debates” (they’re laughable, so I don’t think the word ‘debate’ really applies?) with those that are not of the religious-persuasion are, in my eyes, less of a person than those (of any belief system) who go around and LET OTHERS BELIEVE WHAT THEY WANT WITHOUT SAYING THEY’RE WRONG. Laissez-faire, much? Also, isn’t the act of judgement expressly reserved for God? Why do you guys feel the need to judge others when it is not up to you?

I do this because it is you. How could a man smart as yourself fall prey to something so ridiculous as religion?

I mean, really! How can you honestly believe that god is testing your faith, wouldn’t he rather want to give you no reason to doubt him rather than every reason to doubt his existence? If he’s really testing us, then he’s doing things wrong.