[DougN7]

The next time people on HN say they don't see intolerance or contempt for religious folks on HN, I'll point them to this comment as an excellent example of both.

Origin stories are hard, if not impossible, to answer. Sure, we have the Big Bang. I've read the thing that exploded was estimated to be the size of a grapefruit. So where did the magic exploding grapefruit come from? The Big Bang pushes the quest back 13 billion years, but still doesn't answer it.

Or perhaps you like the theory that we're living in a simulation? I'd argue that is 95% identical to religion.

When I see this level of vehemence, I sincerely wonder if someone isn't concerned about the possibility of having to ultimately answer to someone or something for their life's actions.

[bambax]

How do religions help answer origin stories?? If the universe was created by God then who created God? If God "has always existed" then why can't the same be true of the universe? This is "turtles all the way down" over again.

About your last sentence: the hardest part of not believing in God is not having the consolation of thinking your enemies will burn in hell -- I don't miss heaven for myself but I do miss hell for other people.