I have been interested in religion all of my life. I suppose is is part of my never ending quest for knowledge. People are amazed when I tell them that at two times during my youth our family did not celebrate Christmas. No Christmas tree, no Christmas celebration of any kind and of course no Christmas presents. We were abysmally destitute and at times there was nothing in the house to eat. My Mom had been baptized into the Mormon church when she was a kid. We never attended church but somehow the local Mormon church in Thermopolis, Wyoming, found out about Mom's membership in the church. One Christmas representatives from the church came to visit bringing food for a Christmas dinner and some Christmas presents. This was the beginning of my relationship with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. After my Dad died our dysfunctional pulled itself together and started healing. We started attending church regularly and all of us were baptized. It is interesting that today some of us have no interest at all in Moromonism and some of us are deeply involved. I haven't been inside a Mormon church in many years and am an atheist. My youngest brother and his wife are just now wrapping up a two year mission to England.
After a lifetime of interest in religion I have reached some conclusions that don't set well with some people. It is no secret that religion has been man's guiding light since he first looked up at the stars and wondered where he came from, why he was here and what was going to happen to him. I believe man invented religion to answer those questions. Instead of God creating man about 6000 years ago, I believe man created God about 14000 years ago. In this country many of us look upon religion as something to practice on Sunday morning and some vague principles to live by the rest of the week. Other cultures practice their religion every minute of every day. I believe that religion is the greatest and worst thing that has ever happened to mankind.
Since I am an atheist, I think I see religion from a neutral corner. I may just be fooling myself but it seems to me that religion has outlived its usefulness. We no longer believe that the sun is pulled across the sky by Gods. Our understanding of the physical universe has advanced to the point that we believe that the unknown is not a fearful place but just an unexplored place. I am certain that questions I have now can be answered. Religion does not play a part in finding the answers.
The odd thing is that religion which I believe to be man's honest attempt to explain the unexplainable has now become the villain. Over the years religion has been used quite effectively to keep people in their place. More people have suffered and died in the name of God than for any other reason. And yet there are people who have dedicated their lives to helping other people in the name of God.
i've pretty much shared your views on this topic for a long time. we forget, too often, to consider the the bible is merely a grouping of stories written by folks like you and me. assembled in the book and accepted by mankind for many years when actually there were no other rules. no laws. so the bible served as a guide to how to live life. how to be good people. now? well, there are those that have faith. and those of us who don't. so like you, i hold no stock in organized religion at all. however, is there some sort of supreme being? is the physical life we lead really what it's all about (as opposed to the hokey pokey)? like to hear your thoughts.
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