Religion is the manipulation of the feeble-minded, regardless of age (though younger children are more susceptible to manipulation *see the Easter bunny) . [The following is from the extreme spectrum, I know there are exceptions, and there are intermediates when speaking about anything]. The concept of God and religion are not innate, nor is the dismissal (atheism) of either theory innate. Each individual is taught and manipulated to believe one or the other. Once that momentum begins, those individuals persuade and convince themselves that only that specific religion is right, and through that blind dedication, they believe that they are obligated to only accept what is theirs and dismiss all other thoughts and concepts. Through years of worship, they further reinforce their ideals. The concept of God and fate is the easy way out to those that fear the unknown. It's their fail safe and their fall back. They can't accept that there is no answer (yet). They don't ask questions unless the answer is in their holy book, granted these "answers" are often misconstrued and manipulated due to others' ulterior motives (*see politicians, kings, dictators, religious leaders). Do you think the Bible you read right now, is the exact carbon copy, word for word of the first ever written? Think about how many times it has been transcribed and translated. Anyone could easily slip in a few extra verses and stories. Take into consideration, those that live by quotes from the Bible. Often times, these are misquotes which were never in the bible at all. So are these followers of Jesus Christ or Sidney Algernon?
"God helps those who help themselves" is not in the bible. The quote is by Sidney Algernon (1622-1683) in his "Discourses on Government."
http://www.holybibletrivia.org/display/bt_display.jsp?bcontent=not-in-the-bible
The problem with religion is the issue of pride and power. Those that want to be "right", and feel the need to assert who is "right" to everyone else (goes each way *atheists, catholics, etc). Pride over who is right, leads to conflict which leads to nonsense wars that have no justifiable end (then again, is war ever justifiable?). *see The Crusades. A bitter long war, in which fighters were granted remission of their sins and ascension into heaven for fulfilling their holy duties. After at least 11 crusades and millions of deaths from both sides, what was there to prove? What was there to gain? And to think people were ignorant enough to trade their lives for the motives of higher authorities they didn't even know. Caught up in the thrill of killing their "enemies" and asserting their "correct" ideals, and with promises of a free ticket to heaven; and to think this would cycle itself 11 times over?? How blind is religion, its followers, and its leaders? Are they doing this for God, or are they doing this for their own human motives.
I don't believe in fate, and I don't believe in God playing a hand in our lives. If there were a God, he does not have time (if it even exists in his dimension) nor care enough to facilitate all of our petty human affairs. We thank God for the awards we've won, the luxuries we have, and the food on our table. But did God really give that to us? Should we be thanking him for putting food on our table or should we be thanking our parents for going to work to earn the money spent towards our food? Following this same concept, those that starve to death such as children all around the world, are they not worthy of God? How come God won't give them any food to be thankful for?
I have always followed the idea that each individual is responsible for themselves and their futures. There is no divine hand that assists us in our endeavors. There is hard work and there is luck (but that is a different story, that I've yet to figure out).
So what am I? I am a biology student. I believe in Science and I believe there is a God. I respect everyone's perspectives and views on religion, but I find myself enjoying a number of books on Buddhism (I was born and raised Catholic if that matters). I am not here to tell you I'm right nor that you are wrong. I am just here to give another perspective on religion.
Aside: Once one delves into the massive world of Science, one would truly learn how the world around them works. You TRULY TRULY begin to respect Nature and how far it has come. Cellular respiration, metabolism, glycosylation, evolution, dehydration reactions, and everything in between, it is absolutely mind blowing. Science is able to explain so much that is unable to be explained, but as it delves deeper with its questions and finding, one would have to believe that a God had to have created something so majestic.
Yes, I'm aware that 2/3 of NT is void of literate capacity, and would much rather me post a .gif. I am also prepared for the "Did not read" .gifs.
However, if you enjoyed my perspective, I have a blurb on my thoughts about death and the after-life.
http://kiendien.tumblr.co...614/i-thinkkkk-thatttttt
