FinnMacCool said:
I know I'm going to get my head bitten off about this but here we go. I've been going to Catholic private schools for 8 years and I can tell you first hand that forcing down religious values on people doesn't do any good, even if they actually believe what their religion teaches. Christianity, and any other religion, is just an excuse; an excuse, and an explanation. This is why twenty different religion arose out of certain cultures, which explains why I would be a Hindu with an absolute believe in about a thousand Gods if I lived in India as opposed to me fanatically believing in a chrstian God here in america. If a bible is the absolute truth then surely the other books must be absolute truths as well? What a vicious cycle of religion! And meanwhile, people go to church and be bored so they can go away and feel better about themselves, as if that makes them anymore morally correct then others. Morality isn't defined by religion but by common human instinct. Religion is a helpful way of dictating this, which is why so many christians commit sins though they fanatically believe in God. If one is willing to simply throw out all this religious vomit, then you can actually see the truth.
First, I don't believe that you understand the true philosophical aspect of religion. Religion is much more than simply a morality compass or guide for what is right/wrong, good/evil, etc.
Let me say that I am a Christian. I have never attempted to "push" my sense of values onto others. Nor do I believe that my religion is the "One True Religion." Many non-Christians have the misconception that ALL Christians believe this -- not so. I believe that "
SOMETHING" must give us our conscience -- our "moral guide" if you will. It seems strange to me that humans appear to be the only species on a planet of millions of species that has a conscience.
While I agree that there is no way to prove the existence of a supreme being, Science has never offered me proof that there wasn't. Science has never provided me a reason
WHY or a concrete explanation of
HOW homo sapiens are the only species among millions that developed a conscience.
I hated church as a young lad and even swore that I'd never
FORCE my own children to attend. Even now, as and adult with two beautiful children, I catch myself questioning sometimes the validity of my beliefs; but then my heart usually softens and I remember that one aspect of my religion that you, and others like you, seem to miss.................
FAITH.
You see, most religions, whether it's Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, or Jedi, are
FAITH BASED. And to me, the most important aspect of any religion is that that
FAITH in an after-life gives
HOPE to millions upon millions of humans. Religion also gives
MEANING or
PURPOSE to one's life. It gives one at least the "
INCENTIVE" to try and do the right thing.
If you understand this, then allow me to ask some simple questions, and remember, I don't try to force my beliefs or guilt trips onto others. I've always wanted to know why someone would go out of their way to try and tear down the belief system of another? What would make a person take joy in removing someone else's
HOPE even if that someone else has done nothing to force their beliefs on others? Why does it seem to bother so many atheists that people are happy, have hope, have found meaning in their lives or have a found a non-destructive moral guide by which to live their lives?
God Bless (oops, am I allowed to say the "G-word" here? -- just kidding)