Here is my theory on the dinosaurs. When God created humans humans were originally supposed to live forever, but when man sinned, man started to die. The Bible says that Adam lived around 900 years. just think. The jawbone in a human never stops growing. Just imagine after 900 years. The bones will be deformed after 900 years. The dinosaurs I believe lived longer as well back then. I think they also kept growing. 900 years I mean come on. I think they will grown. That's my explanation. I am a Christian. I have trusted Jesus Christ as my personal savior. I recommend you do to. I will try not to offend anyone. I will just tell you what I believe is truth. I you die without Jesus when you die you will go to a place called hell. See Jesus died for our sins. In the old testament the only way to forgive sin is to shed innocent blood. A lamb was used. Jesus is the perfect lamb. He lived a sinless life and died on the cross for every one in this world. It is all a matter of believing. I just would rather trust a perfect holy God than trust some human scientist that belives we came from a big bang.
Interesting points you have made....
Here is on my take on things....
The onset of religion was brought about to explain the unexplainable, inherently the concept of religion was to bring about order to a disordered world, it was the first set of laws which were brought about, and in fact the ten commandments still form the basis of most of the western world legislative structures.
The arguements for there being a god, in whatever form can come from numerous arguments, the teleological (design) argument, which basically says that the world is too complex to come about through chance.
The Ontological argument says by examining the concept of God, and arguing that it implies the actual existence of God; that is, if we can conceive of God, then God exists — it is thus self-contradictory to state that God does not exist.
However I always find it interesting that the 3 main religions of this world, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism all stem from the same background, from the same books and also acknowledge the same figures in history regarding it, to a lesser or greater extent.
I could write forever on this subject but you are asking my views on religion, I don't know what I believe, I do feel there has to be something which exists, but what it is I don't. In the quote which you gave, you said that if you do not accept Jesus as lord and saviour, that he died for our sins, then those who didn't would go to hell. The actual definition of hell, is actually 'without god'. What they are saying, is that if you do not accept, then you will not be in the presence of God, and that is what hell is defined at. Through the implementation of other religions, beliefs hell has now developed to be what is thought of this fire and brimstone place.
Every war that has taken place over the last few centuries, if not thousands of years religion has been cited for the reason. Its man's corruption of religion which is in essence a set of principles to live by, it has been used to further man's own goals and achievements.
A book which I have found very interesting to read, and is thoroughly a fictional account, is Memnoch the Devil, by Anne Rice, it offered a different perspective, if not interesting view. On the christian viewpoint, I remember reading a book which is now out of print, but called the Last Seven Years. It again offered a fictional account of what the end of the world would be according to the books of Ezekial and Revelations, (the two books which discuss most about the end of the world).
So for me its not about religion its about behaving in a manner which demonstrates how I want to be treated, its about offering respect where it is due, about behaving in a manner which does not prejudice, discriminate, bully or belittle others, its about giving opportunities to allow others to seize upon the opportunities which are offered. It is about being a good friend to my friends, putting myself on the line for others, and allowing myself to learn from others where I do not know better. To listen to their viewpoint, and not to judge and condemn.
I am not saying that I achieve this everyday, but I like to think that my friends trust me, and can talk to me, they can come to me when they are in trouble.