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I don't subscribe to organized religion for a few reasons. Before I start let me just say that I know that there are exceptions to the examples I'm going to give, and I do not intend these as blanket statements. Do I have proof of all of this? No, but faith is not about proof.
The moral message of most religions don't really sink into people. They sin from Monday through Saturday and get absolution on Sunday. It doesn't even occur to a lot of people carry a high moral standard through the week. This is hypocrisy in my book, and I'll have no part of it.
I don't believe in a "heaven" and "hell", per se. With the incredible complexity of the mind and the universe and as many unanswered questions we have about life after death (and other things) I cannot believe that we live then we die and that's it. I do think these places may exist, and one may really be your final destination, but one life is not going to decide your ultimate destiny.
People use religion as an excuse for violence far too often. Where does it say, in any religious text, that you should kill those who stand in your way, or to kill those that do not believe as you do? Nowhere. The problem is vagueness. If you have a certain point of view, you can probably find a passage in the Bible (or other text) that supports that point of view. This is how religious violence gets justified. Utter nonsense, as far as I'm concerned.
The final message of virtually all religions is this: Do the right thing, be a good person, and do not cause harm to others. It is nothing more complicated than that.
-OC
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But what is adulthood except a delayed end-run around our parents' better judgment?
-- Peter Egan
*cough*
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