Not More Relgion Talk! (Have I Lost My Mind?)

Well, I think I discovered the secret to getting multiple blog hits in a single day. Apparently making extreme statements such as the Jesus Christ didn't die for our sins is pretty popular amongst people that occasionally read this blog. I jumped from an average of 3 hits a day and hit what I think might be an all time record of 8 yesterday. Yeah still not very impressive but when you thing of the fact that my daily readership grew by almost 200% I am impressed. That said.

I was thinking of implementing a self-imposed hiatus on discussing any religious topic but, since people seem to be vaguely intrigued -- what the hell. That and its kinda early my roommate is asleep and it seems like a good time to run through some ideas in my head.

I think one of my biggest problems with Christianity is not the extra ordinary claims made by the Bible as much as the idea that there is only way to God. And that is inevitably through Jesus Christ and the Bible. I have always struggled with this sentiment even when I did consider myself a Christian. It just seems if God wanted us to believe in a specific religion He may have wanted to be a little more obvious with which one we should choose. And why Christianity? Whats wrong with Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Wicca, Scientology, or Jehovah Witness. I am sure if you take Scientology for example and well if Tom Cruise is a member you can obviously toss it out. But, if you were raised a Scientologist or Muslim. Why would you choose Christianity over what you already know. I don't know a whole lot about other religions but, I don't really see any glaring mistakes in these other ones that we should immediately discount them. (Scientology aside) One of the questions that always burns brightly in my head is when someone who has been a Christian all there life. Would they have chosen Christianity if there parents were not? I realize this a gross generalization but, how many people have actually sat down and pondered the pros and cons of the religion they have without any outside pressure or bias from those they consider close to them. I have feeling a majority of Christians have never really weighed their religion versus what other religions can offer. Than a lot of these people go off spouting that they have the one true religion and try to make other feel inferior or even worse fearful for their eternal soul because they don't believe what some book written over 2000 years ago says.

The thing is, with religion I don't really think it matters if you weigh out every possibility. There are too many and we don't have enough time here on Earth. I think religions are very helpful when learning how to deal with the world around us. By having some way we believe the world is presented to us it makes it a hell of a lot easier to go about your day to day business. If you believe Jesus is the Son of God and that we should love our neighbors as ourselves then you don't have to worry about certain moral aspect of life. You can live by that standard and not have to contemplate every little thing. The same hold true with Buddhism and you believe that wanting things leads to suffering you will inevitably go about your business with this mindset and can be a productive member of society. In my opinion it is a lot easier just to go with the religion you already know best and if it helps you live in a way that you can be satisfied with your life go for it.

My problem lies in the fact that I can't seem to do this. I have a disease I like to call sees-all-points-of-viewitis. I am a sucker for any well thought out argument. I change my mind, my opinion, and view so regularly I rarely know whats up or down half the time. You should see me just trying to decide were to eat dinner. Well Chinese would be good, oh but Mexican is really spicy, how about American. Damnit someone else decide and inevitably I'll probably find something enjoyable about the experience. Anyways, this disease, as I like to refer to it, has its advantages I rarely get in heated arguments because I'm willing to bend to the other persons point of view and therefore I don't step on too many toes in the process. I suppose this make me a generally agreeable person that is easy to get along with, though a tad on the quite side for fear of rubbing people the wrong way. (All bets are of course off when I'm drunk.) But, of course it causes a lot of mental anguish because I can't always pin down what I believe to an exact science.

But, anyways that is how I feel about religion in a more laid back not angry at my previous church sort of way. But, honestly since religion has been part of this self-discovery process I'm trying to go through, it would be cool if those of you who do stumble on this to leave comments as to why you believe what you believe. I am not here to judge anyone I'm just curious to see how people came to their conclusions. I know nobody likes to talk about these things it is all very heavy so leave your name anonymous if you must. But, it would be cool to get some kinda dialogue going instead of me just waxing poetic every time I am feeling all philosophical and/or underenlighted. (by the way I like making up words)
So the question is simply this. Why do you believe the religion or if you don't believe in God (atheism or agnostic) that you do?



Ok I realize the odds of me getting comments given my track record is slim. But, I want you all to keep a few things in mind. First of all I really LIKE all my readers, your opinions are valued commodities to me. Second of all I have given you the special present of my own opinions it would be nice if you reciprocated. Third I am pretty sure in given time everyone will be doing it. So be the first in the in crowd before it is too popular to be cool anymore. Fourth If you don't I might start feeling underappreciated and give up on this blog all together. Fifth I am an expert at deciphering good opinions so lets see what you got. That should be sufficient reasons for commenting. So lets see what you got.