Religion.. What do you believe? Do you believe at all?

-- Jen (Winter@nyc.com), November 20, 2000

Answers

no. but i'm not gonna argue about it. i feel there is no need to disprove something that has never been proven to begin with. the burden of proof lies on those who buy into religion. my favorite quote: "when you understand why you dismiss other gods, you'll understand why i dismiss yours." don't remember who said it tho.

-- emily (evvy@chickmail.com), November 20, 2000.

I have to go with Kevin Smith on this one. His movie Dogma ends with the 13th apostle (I know there are only twelve, if you have to ask, go rent the movie) asking the last psion, "Did we make a believer out of you?" "No," she says, "but I have a pretty good idea." That's just it. It's that basic. You believe in good and bad, right and wrong. We all know that as a basic fundamentals of life. Carry that out to the end and there must be an ultimate good and an ultimate bad. Done. That's the whole of religion in a nutshell. The Bible is just a book written by twelve men, 2000 years ago, trying to make sense out of the world they saw. They believed in the teachings of Christ and wanted to share those lessons with others. The Bible simply teaches you right from wrong.

20 years ago, I would have agreed with you, Emily (yes, I'm that old). No, I'm not born again, or evangelistic. Frankly, anyone who takes 2000 year old words literally scares me. I've realized that there is a right and wrong way to live your life. Religion is just one place to turn for guidance. And the stories make for good reading too.

People will tell you that one religion (not gods, there is only one. Even Islam believes that) is better than another. These people don't have it right. No one religion is any better or worse than another. Remember, they all come from the same book. I just try and learn something from it.

Yeah, I guess I do believe.

-- Tony (osmotw@hotmail.com), November 21, 2000.

no, they didn't all come from the same book. far from it. religions have existed ever since humans evolved into creatures which inherently sought psychological comfort at the cost of abandoning logic and reason. jesus wasn't the first person to try and gain a following based on this weakness of the human psyche. in fact, there are about as many religions outside of the realm of christianity as there are reasons to believe that religion is ridiculous in the first place.

-- emily (evvy@chickmail.com), November 26, 2000.

A fair statement, and my apologies for not broadening my scope. Enjoyed your comment, "gain a following based on this weakness of the human psyche." I would agree. It's fun to watch the weak of self worth toddle off in attempt to find salvation. No, I just view every situation or viewpoint as something to be learned from. I would approached any religion or non-religion the same way, make up my own mind and move on. Catholicism is easy because I was raised on it. I don't, however, believe it to house all the answers for my life.

-- Tony (osmotw@hotmail.com), November 28, 2000.