Why does belief in God go so unchallenged in the USA?  Too many people
throughout the rest of the world, the idea that there is a Santa Claus
is more creditable than the possibility God exists.  Why in 2002,
should encroaching on this subject be so unacceptable in the USA?

Disclaimer: This is just my opinion

Belief in "God" is such a personal opinion, making it an issue that is
often avoided. While it is difficult to compile convincing evidence
defending a belief in the existence of "God", it is equally difficult
to challenge one's belief. The United States was founded, at least in
theory, in part on a belief in religious toleration and this cultural
values persists, to some degree, today. The culture has also become
increasingly secular (your reference to "Santa Claus" further reminds
me of this fact) further removing the common American from true
religious debate.

In countries like Iran, a fundamentalist Islamic theocracy, there is
much less religious debate than in the United States. While some lip
service is given to a belief in "God" in the United States ("In God we
trust" etc.)there seems to be a general pretense that this is a fairly
arbitrary and generic designation. While Americans may not often
directly challenge the belief in "God", the mainstream culture seems
to have taken the side of secularism. In this respect, it seems that
the belief in God is implicitely challenged in the United States, if
not directly.

To help in the quest to disprove the existence of "God" I have
compiled some arguments (often comical) below. I also included some
evidence for the existence of God.

CASE AGAINST GOD

Is There a God 
The Onion 10/9/02
http://www.theonionavclub.com/avclub3837/avfeature_3837.html

"The Onion: Is there a God?

Conan O'Brien: Yes. Wait, hold on. No."

Proof that there is no god
http://www.update.uu.se/~fbendz/nogod/no_god.htm#reasons

God Wouldn't Allow Suffering!
By Rod Smith (not the wide receiver)
http://www.rodsgarden.50megs.com/suffering.htm

My Search for God
By Tony Sharp
http://www.secweb.org/asset.asp?AssetID=237

The Atheism web 
Bible contradictions #1 
Joseph C. Sommer, Some reasons why Humanists reject the bible 

Does God exist? a debate between John P. Koster and Frank Zindler 
The Internet Infidels 

Julian Huxley, Religion without revelation (New York, NY: Mentor
Books, l957)

Michael Martin, Atheism: A Philosophical Justification (Temple
University Press, 1984)

John Stuart Mill, The Religion of Humanity (1874) 

George Smith, The Case Against God 

CASE FOR GOD

Philosophy and the proof of God's existence
http://www.philosopher.org.uk/god.htm

A PRACTICAL MAN'S PROOF OF GOD 
http://www.doesgodexist.org/Phamplets/Mansproof.html

God is a woman?
http://atheiststation.org/mpc/docs/Site/Proof%20of%20God.html

The C.R.E.A.T.O.R. Formula - The Mathematical PROOF of GOD! 
http://www.1ebooks.com/creator/

Thanks for the question!

-Anthony (adiloren)

We live in a society where the majority think it is ok to lie for a
really, really good cause, and some lie as a default action. As a
result I am not impressed by polls. A billion people world wide have
stories to tell, which indicate stongly that God is real. Some of
these people are very creditable. My tentative conclusion is God,
Hereafter and a significant part of the trappings is reality.  Neil

First question you should ask yourself is what the definition of "God"
is.  This is the first step towards seeing the root of your question.

For some very compelling arguments showing the irrationality of God,
try searching Google for:

Ayn Rand God
Ayn Rand Mysticism