Key points on Religion

Here I hope to outline some basic arguments against the existence of an all powerful God, in particular, the mono-theistic Abrahamic religions. However, some arguments can be generalised

• Simplicity: we don't NEED a sentient uncreated creator. Currently we have no mechanism to explain how the universe started, however, that only means we need to invent the axiom "The universe was started by something". That doesn't mean we need the something, to take a sentient form, that merely poses more questions.
• Multiplicity: The number of religions means that one cannot simply be picked based on faith. They need to be tested and the decision needs to be based on evidence, just like everything else. Furthermore people who never get to hear about religion x because of religion y are at a disadvantage in religion x and at an unfair advantage in religion y.
• Justice: Infinite punishment for finite sin seems fundamentally unfair. God loves everyone, cares for his creation and it can be argued punishment can be for the purpose of discipline. Then why punish people for eternity, it serves no purpose.
• Inconsistently: most religious books contain inconsistencies in various different forms
• Evidence: many scholars would agree that many important bible characters and events did not exist or happen.
• Morality: religious books give moral guidance which is at odds with modern thinking (homosexuality, slavery, womens rights etc) If God is timeless and ultimately just, why didn't he for example tell the Jew's not to persecute homosexuals? We know and agree that the are right now, surely God would know that too. Furthermore, it is not just that he didn't tell them about these morals, he directly made statements opposed to them. To use an example: we would never contemplate stoning people for homosexuality in the civilised world, and you would be hard pressed without going back a few hundred years to find someone who would agree. Also, why allow homosexuals to be born? I understand the idea of a fallen creation, but to allow people to be born who's most powerful drive is fundamentally "evil" is nothing short of malevolent.
• The structures of religion appear not elegant and simple as would be expected from a being with ultimate creativity and computation, but overly complex and man made.
• God controls the rules, so why doom us by knowingly making them stringent? He could simply have not made those rules and saved everyone.
• Res ipsa loquitur: is an idea that irrespective of any evidence, someone can be guilty of negligence if he has a duty of care and failed. In this case and all powerful God has a duty of care toward us, and therefore guilty of not stopping sin and suffering. This contradicts either his perfection or power/existence.
• Divine hiddeness: why does god hide himself, it seems malevolent to do so. By providing evidence of himself it would allow people to properly decide whether or not to follow him. 
• There is nothing inherently righteous or moral about blind faith, in fact quite to the contrary.
• Our reason for creation seems narcissistic and proud

If you have any interesting additions/rebuttals, I encourage you to comment.

A few good quotes

 "This is an interesting world I find myself in—an interesting hole I find myself in—fits me rather neatly, doesn't it? In fact it fits me staggeringly well, must have been made to have me in it!"

 "Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?"
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