I just do not understand the concept of free choice as applied to religion. In science an Athiest or whomever has fact up to certain points, they then go on to use the best available evidence to arrive at the the most logical conclusion of theory, some involve the big bang, others do not. However, they are open to change as new FACTS are discovered and new theories emerge, and can beleive in the possibility of several different theories.
Religion is NOT based on ANY FACTS, in fact, it is complete heresay (heresy?); written or spoken by others who do/did not have any facts. Thus to have faith is really only to believe what another has said, or to believe something on your own without any facts.
The concept that a god would chose to use this method to have its creation believe in it means that if there is such an entity it does not have or/and does not desire reason in its universe.
So, why then would it create a universe such as the inteligent design models now suggest? Or give us the capacity to reason? Is this the point I am missing? That god wants unreasonable faith?
Martin Luther said "reason should be destroyed in all Christians". I still don't get it.
Thanks,
A.