On Religion...

I grew up as a church going, non-denominational protestant.  I went to church every Sunday with my grandparents.  I don't go to church now.  I haven't gone in twenty plus years.

Does that make me a bad person?  Am I going to Hell because of it?  I don't think so.

Do I still believe in God?  Maybe.  Do I believe there is a higher being who created us all and everything around us?  I have no way of knowing that for certain.  Have I seen things that made me wonder?  Of course.  Am I going to take a chance that there is not a God, and live as if I will never be judged?  Not on your life.

I try to be the best person I can be.  In both my personal and professional life I try to treat others with respect and dignity, even if they cannot be troubled to return the favor.  I don't steal, I don't murder, I try not to lie.  I cuss like a sailor sometimes, but I feel bad about it sometimes too.

I believe if there really is a God, and he or she is as benevolent as nearly every religious book makes Him or Her out to be, then I will be judged based upon how I lived my life.  If the simple fact that I have chosen not to strictly follow any particular established religion, or live by any particular book means I am condemned to Hell, Purgatory, or whatever other damned place you might believe in, then I guess I'm screwed.

I'd like to believe that would not be the determining factor though.

There are so many different religions, and even different groups within religions, who believe that their interpretation of a book is the only way, and who believe that we should all be good to each other and treat each other as equals, unless of course we are gay, non-believers, or otherwise in conflict with what the chosen book says, that I wouldn't know how to choose one religion over another.

Every religion I have ever encountered preaches love and hate at the same time.  Love everyone, as long as they subscribe to the same beliefs as you.  If they don't, stone them, or behead them, or burn them.  Then, forgive them.  Just don't murder them.  But treat them as you would be treated.  Ummm, yeah.

We really don't know what awaits us when this life ends.  Does our spirit go to some higher place and go on eternally?  Do we come back here as something else?  Do we simply cease to exist?  I don't know.

I think I'll just stick with Smithism.  I don't expect anyone to follow me.

...and I won't pull an L. Ron Hubbard on you, I promise...