Personally, I don't. At least, the god that any religion on Earth talks about. This decision wasn't reached lightly, it took years of soul-searching and inner debate. But I just can't believe in an all-powerful being watching our every move. I can't believe that any of our religions or philosophies have any real explainations for what brought us here or what happens to us after we die. They're all guesses, nothing more. I've given up pondering the unponderables, because no matter how many books you read, no matter how many religions you study, no one knows anything about life and the nature of the universe until they die. I consider religion a crutch of sorts, and I don't need one. I like coming up with my own answers and following no one's lead but my own. Sadly, then, the only answers I have are logical ones, especially concerning death: like I said, you never truly know, but I think there is no afterlife. When you die, you go back into the nothingness that you came from, and everything that summed you up as a person is lost forever. Do I LIKE thinking this? Hell no. Do I like knowing that there's no invisible being watching out for me and keeping me from harm? Hell no. Such is my burden. In that small sense, I do envy those with faith. I do hope I'm wrong. But I don't think I am. I don't think there's any kind of "plan". Things just happen. Period. At least believeing this make me cherish every second I have. Hmm...then why am I wasting time here? ;)
However, I see nothing wrong with anyone praticing a religion, as long as no harm comes of it and as long as you don't try to shove your beliefs down anyone's throat. Religion in it's purest sense is responsible for a lot of good. It helps some people who, otherwise, wouldn't have the strength to make it through another day, let alone life. But, like anything good, it can be perverted and used for wrong. It's always a shame when that happens.
I believe in self, in trying to better oneself and being as good a person as I can be. You DON'T need god's word to do that. Yeah, I fuck up alot and don't always do the right thing, but at least I try, which is more than I can say about a lot of people that actually DO follow a faith. I consider myself enlightened and evolved for feeling this way, just as a deeply religious person might feel the same way about having their faith. Neither way is wrong, but this is MY choice. Please respect it, as I respect yours.
Feel free to share your thoughts. No attempts at religious conversion please, though. Thank you. ;)
Now why do I have a feeling this thread will end up in Fight Club...? I hope it doesn't come to that. Religion is always a touchy subject... :)
