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What it breaks down to is this in a nutshell, either you believe or you don't. Some that do believe do so with a unswerving loyalty that can at times border on hysteria, which is about the same feeling that those who don't believe feel about how they believe. The difference is people that don't believe by and large do not feel the need to beat you over the head with their beliefs, while people on the opposite side of the coin feel it is there mission in life to "save" you. I don't have a problem with anyone believing in their own beliefs, what I do have a problem with is people pushing their views on me. That seems to be the prime objective for most organized religions out there. They feel as though it is there one and only goal in life, this need to convert me to there way of thinking. We don't do that. When is the last time an atheist knocked on your door, peddling his viewpoint, trying to convert you? You say your rights are being trampled on by atheists wanting to take God out of schools. We say we simply don't want our childrens heads filled with what we deem complete nonsense. We want them to learn facts, not superstition. I have a daughter who is 9, and she owns a Bible I bought for her. I have encouraged her to read it and decide what she believes, and not to base her beliefs on mine. I want her to have all the facts, not just the ones the Church deems true. Remember and believe this, if the Church had its way none of you would have a Bible, or any knowledge of science. Only priests were allowed to have Bibles, and just about anyone who dared defy the way the Bible said the world was created or worked were killed, censured, or ostracized from the community they lived in, and forfeited all property. Why? Because they dared to question what the Good Book said. Ask Galileo, Copernicus, and the others it happen to. Time has shown they were right, where is the proof from religion? If, (and I mean if) Jesus was real, and all that was written in the Bible is true, then why doesn't the historical record of the Earth bear this out? Why are the two so different? Why does the Bible contradict itself so many times in its pages? Answer me that!
I guess my biggest sticking point is the people that make up these religions. Why is it that just about every person I meet that has a relationship with the Lord seems to be a huge hypocrite? They talk about tolerance and loving thy neighbor, but the minute you let it slip you don't share their viewpoint suddenly you are a "lost sheep that needs their guidance", as though you are nothing more then a child who can't form your own opinions. They treat you as though you are a lowly animal that they need to train to be a true human, that everything you think is wrong and only God can set you right. Is that how you treat people you respect? I have a mind. I like to think I'm a relatively intelligent person. I didn't start believing in what I believe in just because I didn't want to read the Bible, in fact I have read it, and the Torah, and the Koran. None of them match what science has more then proven to be correct and true. Not a one of those holy tomes makes a lick of sense versus science. If I gave you 2 beans, and then 2 more, then told you you had 6 would you believe me? No, your rational mind would say you have 4. Yet when I show you proof that man did indeed come from apes, that the world could not be created in 7 days, that even if you defrosted both polar ice caps and all the little cubes in everyone's refrigerators you could not cover every piece of earth with water you tell me I must take it on faith! WHAT!!!!? Mine can be proven scientifically, like counting the beans in your hand. Well, you say, God cannot be proven, he must be experienced, like the apostles experienced him. They did not need proof. But they did. Check your Bible. Thomas was not the only doubter, just the most famous. You show me some proof, then we will talk about me changing my mind.
As for the rules the Bible sets out for all humanity to follow, why don't they follow all of them? They talk about 10 Commandments, but in actuality there are closer to 500! Why are the other 490 not followed? As far as I'm concerned if you want to live your life by the rules written in that book you have to follow them all, not cherry pick the ones you like and the ones you don't. In for a penny, in for a pound.
Someone told me not long ago that he would rather believe and be wrong, then not believe and take a chance on going to Hell. Thats not faith, thats fear. If you profess a belief because you fear the alternative what kind of faith is that? I'm suppose to change my way of thinking and follow what you believe, when you yourself, by the true meaning of faith, don't really believe it yourself? Really? Thats your selling point? Please!
The long and the short of it is this, I have my own beliefs. No amount of prayer to your deity will change my mind. I don't wanna change your thinking, please extend me the same courtesy. If believing makes you happy, then more power to you. Not believing makes me happy, why don't you want me to be happy?
