>The discussion is now going downhill. They are not even close to the same. Putting the Tooth Fairy and God in the same category is a useful rhetorical tool for atheists and only a substitute for argument and evidence. One is physical and one is non-physical.
>
>I'm sorry to tell you, the conversation was going downhill the minute you backtracked on the "can't prove a negative" argument. <s>
>
>But no worries, I know that religion is such a cultural factor for many - and perhaps Jos is right that it does condition many peple.

I said the vast majority of people are conditioned, totally, with or without religion.


>But yes, they have one major component in common - no physical evidence on either of them.

You set the standard of measurement (physical evidence) to which God, if one exists, must conform. If a God exists, and I only postulate an if, then I would think it would be presumptuous to dictate how that God should prove himself to you.