...fulfills the need for "guidence" that some people think they need in their lives. Others believe in god b/c they were brought up to believe and if they want to remain part of the family or community, they continue to believe or become ostracized. Some believe b/c it is comforting. Some believe b/c it gives them a sense of purpose or power. Others believe b/c it justifies their morality.
I don't believe b/c the "guidence" provided by god is just you finally making up your mind for whatever reason. I also don't believe b/c I think it is a cop-out to say "it is in god's hands now" or "it is god's will". WTF!?! Some things happen b/c of random chance. Other things happen b/c humans influence events around themselves for whatever reason. Anyway, whatever happens can be explained without resorting to "god did it". Sometimes the explanation is not always immediately apparent, but given time, can be found.
Sometimes you just have to say "F--- it" and be yourself no matter what others think. I am not saying to be offensive or anything, but if you are ostracized for being who you are, you probably shouldn't have been there in the first place. You cannot control how others act. You can only control how you react to them. If they have a problem, that's what it is--their problem. I started a story on another thread about a born-again (?) christian I almost married right out of college. Her mother hated me b/c I could not stand by while she spouted out stupid shit all the time. I tried to be respectful, but when you finally obtain a degree in biology and then are told that snakes lost their legs just like it says in the bible or that all Catholics are going to hell (I was raised Catholic and she knew that) or that I needed spiritual guidence b/c I didn't think the way they did, etc. you just lose it. However, for as much abuse I took about not being a BAC, I at least did not comment on how much my girl liked premarital sex (that is still a no-no, right?) or how much money the mother wasted on make-up or on how much slanderous gossip she spread right after we would get out of church or her "throwing stones" at all of us "heathens".
I think that we should spend time trying to improve this world, not preparing ourselves for an afterlife that might or might not exist. Remember, good works don't get you to heaven, so why bother with them? God gets to pick and choose for whatever reason--that sounds fair, right!?!
One more thing, don't tell me I don't believe in god b/c god is making me not believe in him/her/it b/c I have rejected him/her/it. What kind of BS is that?
{added by edit--This is not directed at crashfrog (in case anyone could not tell.)}
[This message has been edited by hitchy, 03-05-2004]
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