An observation: if all the believers who claimed for rhetorical purposes to be ex-atheists actually were ex-atheists, then there would be a lot less religion around to debate over.

I'm not sure it's necessary to compare the two (quantum theory and the trinity) and determine which is better or worthwhile. I agree with Mr. Lynchburg's statement that Quantum Theory is based on experiments that have enabled scientists to predict [with very good accuracy] outcomes, as is usually the case with scientific investigations.

What strikes me is that he says near the end, "the doctrine of the trinity is not so interesting and mysterious." The context makes this seem like fact more than opinion which is not reasonable.

...Interesting exchange

Mr. Lynchburg? Or Dr. Dawkins in Lynchburg? :)

Quantom Theory is being replaced by Quantom Ring Theory.

I was there.

You would have had to have been there to understand EVERYTHING that he is about.

The guy who asked the question was just a douche.

I've invented a new religion, called "Q"ristianity. In "Q"ristianity, the Trinitarian property is even more powerful than it is in Christianity--so powerful in fact that the value of pi turns out to be 3.

How the value of pi could be 3 is deeply mysterious.

Therefore, "Q"ristianity is true.

"Q"ED.

OK, here we go.

3 != 1

Ask any 3 year old, if three equals one. Even they can tell you, categorically, that 3 does not equal one.

It's the dumbest thing in Church Doctrine.

For a really good assessment of how the church got into such a pickle, read "Christianity without God" by Lloyd Geering - the last Presbyterian minister in the world, to be tried and convicted of Heresy.

In regards to "3 != 1", it completely depends on what you are comparing.

For example, H2O can be in the form of water, ice, and steam. That's 3 different forms, but elementally the same thing.

So the concept of the trinity is based on the fact that the basis of one thing can be in different forms.

Ah, so the mystery of the immaculate holy godhead is a chemistry problem. What about plasmas?

I've met people who are Christians and claim to have been atheists in the past. But upon talking to them about their beliefs, I notice that they denominated themselves as atheists because the wanted to fit in with a circle of friends or appear to smarter than they are. As a consequence, they never really understood why God and the doctrines surrounding religious belief are nonsense in the first place. At a later age they humble themselves to believing in fairy tales and wishful thinking because it is so much easier than understanding science and logic. It also justifies their apathetic minds.