well that is my oppnion and also the oppnion of the righter of this article, it is really good, i suggest you read it:
As a bit of a prelude, this was originally written as a letter to my sister (which is why it might seem like I'm talking to someone specifically at times). She's a bit of a fanatical Christian and was trying to convert me for some time and kept pressing me to tell her my views on religion, which I so graciously did. Needless to say she left me alone after this. It's long but I think you'll like it. Enjoy!
I really don't know how to explain how I came to my opinions without coming off as an arrogant, pretentious jerk. That's not my intention, but I could, quite honestly, sum up my entire reason for being an atheist as such: I can think for myself and use logic. To me religion and spirituality in general is an archaic creation that the human psyche refuses to let go of because we're naturally inclined to fear that which we do not know. That's all spirituality really is, a vain attempt to explain the unexplainable because the alternative frightens us. Mankind has an innate disposition to need to know things- that much is obvious over the course of our history- and when we encounter something that we not only do not know but cannot find an explanation for, we would rather create a myth to make ourselves feel better: People would rather believe and easy lie than the hard truth. Which is what it really is, the hard truth- there are just some things out there that we can't explain, but that doesn't mean we should fabricate explanations. Rather we need to come to terms with the limits of our own comprehension. All this not only shows why spirituality exists period but why it became so popular and why it remains popular even today. I supposed in the end all that really matters is if the person is happy and has direction in their life, but it also raises the question why do they need to believe in that which defies all logic simply to give them guidance? Why do they have to not only be lied to but to lie to themselves to know where they want to go in life? Why can't they reach the same result on their own? In the end it will most likely just end up misguiding them even more if only because when you try to explain the unexplainable you raise more questions than when you started, which just leaves you more confused and lost. I guess that's religion's role, to gloss over these discrepancies and tell you not to question them, thus nullifying any questions that could possibly be asked.
Which brings me to the other part of my view, religion (which is very different from mere spirituality- keep that in mind). In my opinion organized religion is the single worst creation of mankind. No human invention has killed as many people and left even more mindless drones who can't think for themselves. I do not think it is a coincidence that no major religion is younger than 1,500 years (that being Islam, which started in the mid-500's), because human advancement has come so far that we no longer need some ancient book or council of elders to tell us how we should live our lives- we can make those decisions for ourselves. The Bible wasn't written by 'God', it was written by a committee of men starting over 2,000 years ago and has since been altered, translated, added to, and subtracted from more times than anyone, much less the Church itself, would like to believe. The Torah and the Koran are the same way. All 3 are sets of morals and principles written so long ago you can't even fully comprehend the real length of time. The only morals that still apply today should be a given anyway, and if you honestly need to be told them then you have some serious issues. Organized religion IS a cult- they tell you THEY are right and everyone else is WRONG. They tell you how to live your life- they insult the free will they claim God gave you by taking it away. They brainwash their participants, they invoke loyalty to the point of intense violence, they would rather have those that disagree dead than alive to question them, and they deny you your very right to think for yourself. Which goes on to raise another good point- why do you worship a god so arrogant and conceded that he REQUIRES you to worship him, so much so that if you refuse to you are sent to Hell? But I digress- all in all I see organized religion as the largest proprietor of revoking people's freedom to think and do what they want. I predict that my only regret in my life will be that I won't live long enough to see the downfall of Christianity, which saddens me because it shows that people would rather be told what to think instead of thinking for themselves.
Which is really what life is about, doing what YOU want to do, not what you're TOLD to do. You waste your whole life in a vain struggle to gain acceptance to an afterlife you're not even sure exists. While you toil away I'm enjoying my life. Quite honestly my life is GREAT- I can't think of a single day I've been depressed. Of course I don't attribute that directly to my atheism, but I reached it along the same path. We were brought up in a household where we were encouraged to form our own ideas, which is good because most households tell their kids not only what to believe when they're young but to not question it, either, which I cite as the main reason organized religion has persisted as long as it has, although I guess spirituality would live on. In any case, because I was left to form my own conclusions on life I've found some very important beliefs that transcend something as trivial as belief in a superior being, or lack thereof. I came to my religious views the same exact way, by contemplating life, the human condition, and how they come together. To me unquestioning faith is absolutely disgusting- I don't say that quote from Galileo ['I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.'] is my favorite for nothing. Humans are naturally curious, as I said, and to suppress that defies everything we live for (beyond the Darwinian view, of course). Spirituality and religion both work to limit this natural reaction, though in different ways. Spirituality limits it by removing from us our desire for a real explanation by providing a fake one, when we should really accept the unexplainable, or to contemplate it anyway, which could very well lead us to seemingly unrelated revelations. Organized religion requires unquestioning faith because they could quite simply not hold up to the intense scrutiny each and every human being would put it under. Organized religion is so successful in lying to its followers because it forces them to lie to themselves. Mankind should question each and every single thing we encounter because it gives us a much more complete and rounded view of them. Leonardo Da Vinci examined everything from at least 3 perspectives because it showed him much more than just one could have- it's doubtful religion even examines things from one perspective and instead just removes the inquisitiveness entirely so as to continue with the followers assuming they're right rather than looking at the situation objectively and coming to a conclusion for themselves.
That's my view on spirituality and religion. You may say I'm a cynical person but I'm really not- I just see the world for what it is and accept it rather than requiring a lie to make me feel better about myself. I feel good about myself regardless of religious belief or affiliation and I think there are FAR more important things than the nature of one's beliefs on the afterlife and how we came to be. I look at life as being my only chance to really live- I don't know how life began or what happens when we die but I've come to terms with the fact that those are things I will never know the answer to, and I'm comfortable with that. Instead I'll focus on being the best person I can be, and trying to lead a life that I deem worthy of living. So far, at least in my mind, I've passed with flying colors. I'm not saying you should believe as I do, although I honestly think the world would be a much better place if everyone did, I'm just saying that the belief system that has worked best for me is none at all. I do think I'm right, as you probably think you're right, but I really don't care if I'm wrong- it won't change how I live my life, and I'll continue making my own decisions about which paths I should and shouldn't take, and if God won't grant me passage to Heaven for that then so be it. At least I know that I have a great life and I'm enjoying myself, because I choose to think how I want to think and do what I want to do, not think how I'm told to think and do what I'm told to do. I know this isn't your vision on the subject, but I really don't care about that- you can believe anything in the world, just as long as you don't try to force me to believe the same thing.
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'What Kind of skis are those?' -this stupid poser kid
'Line' -me
'who makes that?' -this stupid poser kid
'Line' -me
www.johnkerryisadouchebagbutimvotingforhimanyway.com
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