Forget Jesus, the stars died for us, Brendan! The beauty of science is my favorite reason why people should refuse to commit the fallacy of faith, though there are many others as I was reminded when I looked over an old favorite recently:

http://gretachristina.typepad.com/greta_christinas_weblog/2007/10/atheists-and-an.html

First, you might like to note that this post is over three years old.

Second, miracles are magic is not an explanation. That's an appeal to authority. It's not persuasive and never was. The only people who like "explanations" like this are those who already believe you.

Third, we care because dominionists and theocrats of all stripes are constantly trying to have their personal practices carved into the law for all to obey. We care because believers are constantly trying to convince of us to adopt views which have no evidence behind them, and that approach to the world has been shown in many other instances to lead to danger and madness. We care because the difference between truth and fiction is real and not a matter of personal opinion.

This is merely scratching the surface; there are many other reasons. If you look around and read what atheists actually say, it's not difficult to find their explanations.

I find it amusing that atheists often criticize the Church for not having evidence, proof or an explanation for the miracles, THATS WHY THEY'RE MIRACLES.

It's so simple that even you can understand it. A miracle is by definition impossible. No amount of evidence would prove that something impossible had taken place. Only the gullible, the easily deceived, fall for that stuff. And the thing is, a god would know this. A god who wanted us to know him and believe in him wouldn't bother with miracles, because such a god would understand that people are completely justified in not believing in them. A miracle is not evidence for god, it is evidence for human error.

Just forget about the miracles.

You also might want to read what Ebonmuse writes, so you can get an idea of what he's talking about.

Since he is obviously clairvoyant (or maybe he just gets asked this a lot), Ebonmuse already has a post to specifically answer the question of Why Do We Care?

And to whoever commented about how Catholics are not part of Christianity really needs to do some research, the Catholic Church was founded by the Apostles themselves, the ones who heard Jesus's teachings first hand! Almost 90% of the major protestant sects agree that Catholicism is part of Christianity and also acknowledge the Pope as the rightful leader of the Church as a whole. The definition of a Christian is someone who believes in Jesus as the messiah and if you think that Catholics don't fall under that category you really don't understand what Christianity is.

http://www.ateosmexicanos.com/portal/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=190:sobre-los-santos-incorruptos&catid=34:articulos&Itemid=54

as for whether its real or not. I think the case of St. Bernadette Soubiros still makes a pretty strong argument. the key evidence is that the crucifix and rosary that was burried with her had oxidized when she was exhumed. I dont know if her casket was lead or not. if so that could make evidence for natural mummification. Furthermore their is also the many times when the "odor of sanctity" has been smelled when some of these saints were exhumed. I suppose its possible that some deceitfull believer could have dug up these bodys and sprayed them with a bottle of perfume moments before they were exhumed. but that doesnt seem very likely to me, considering how hard something like that would be to pull off.

Sir Flinders Petrie, a famous archeologist who made some highly exact Pyramid measurements, reports that he once caught a Pyramidologist secretly filing down a projecting stone to make it conform to one of his theories!

Also, why is the Virgin Mary so cagey? Why does she skulk around as if she has something to hide? Why doesn't she come out in the open? And make some special appearances for anti-Catholic bigots like Jack Chick, like:

Jack, Jack, why are you persecuting me?

Explain stigmata then. You guys certainly have a good laugh over incorruptible relics. Have at it.

Gladly. Stigmata are the product of mentally disturbed or deceitful religious believers who intentionally injure themselves.

Odd, but I don't run to your websites discussing your views just to poke at them. In fact, I don't care to even waste my time.

It's unfortunate that you think examining views different than your own is a waste of time. Not all of us share that attitude, however.