Religion has played an integral role throughout human history. People have worshiped deities, the sun, gods, and goddesses. Over time, religion has turned into a very profitable business. The advent of televangelists is a testament to this phenomenon. There are a multitude of religions throughout the world and many of them believe that they are the true followers of the creator. This seems to divide people more than it unites them. It is as if the choice to follow any religion has been relegated to a proposition of faith versus fear. Humans are the only species that can contemplate their own demise. Therefore, we are always wondering what is next after this life. According to the first law of thermal dynamics, energy can be transformed (changed from one form to another), but cannot be created or destroyed. This leads humans to believe that there is quite possibly something more beyond this life.
I grew up in a religious family that practiced Catholicism. I remember being inundated early on with dogmatic rhetoric and trying to follow it as best I could at the time. As I grew older, I started to question the actual values that this faith espouses implicitly and explicitly. I definitely still believe in the Ten Commandments and the beatitudes but overall I have become disenchanted with this domination. The fact that so many molestations have happened to alter boys with no accountability has tuned me away from organized religion in general. I feel that an intermediary is not necessary for me to feel connected to the universe. I experience happiness everyday through my interactions with the natural world. In no way am I saying not to follow your heart with what you believe. I am just saying that I do not believe that I will go to hell if I don’t go to church or follow any established religion.
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