4/12/2001 11:45 PM
 

This was a big excerpt from an email I sent to an old friend...

If you don't mind, I had a couple of questions for you.  They may be a little too personal, but religious questions usually are, and you don't get points in life for not asking.
 
Recently, I have been thinking quite a bit about religion and humanity.  For the longest time, I have been agnostic/atheist.  Please don't misinterpret this...  being in this category does not make me an anti-theist in any way.  I have had friends of all religious denominations throughout my life and we all get along really well.  I have recently found myself wondering if there was anything more to this existence than simply living to collect possessions, then dying to await some sort of reward in the afterlife.  I remember you saying, a long, long time ago, that you were Unitarian.  So far, this is probably the religious group that I would say I understand the least.  Can you tell me a little about this?
 
I recently took an online quiz that said I was 100% humanist, 95% Unitarian universalist, 86% atheist/agnostic.  I guess what really hit me was the fact that my best friend converted from atheism to Mormonism a month or so ago.  I don't quite understand why the transformation happened, but I think he felt god in some way or another, plus it helps that his fiancée is Mormon.
 
Here are some of my beliefs... 
-I believe in a soul, not something that is eternal, but intelligence has to be more than just chemical / biological reactions.  We will soon be able to build machines that be able to think on their own, but it won't really be pure thought... it's more like following a bunch of instructions until the most probable solution is found.
-I am not sure whether or not god/gods exist.  I think it'd have to be proven to me somehow before I'd really believe.  I guess I'm too much of a scientist and undeniable proof would have to be in front of me.  I have never been able to make a leap of faith and accept something without rigorous questioning/experimentation.
-I do not believe my conduct should be governed by commandments or anyone that's not me.  That doesn't mean I don't have a moral code.  I'd say I'm actually a really moral person.  I live by the rule: treat others the way you want to be treated yourself.  It works well.
-I believe in working hard for what I want in this life rather than living a simple life and expecting rewards in the next.  I have never stepped on anyone's back to get to where I am, but I somewhat enjoy being successful.
-As humans, I believe we should strive to improve the quality of life for others, and to help bring some joy into your friends and family member's lives. 
 
Here we go...
-Most Christians tend to think that societies ill's are caused by people without religious beliefs (atheists).  Do you think this is true?  Given what you know about me, do you think I am an bad person because I don't have a belief in god(s)?  Just about everyday, I see Christians being hypocrites about the beliefs they claim to hold most dear.  They get their girlfriends pregnant out of wedlock, they have affairs, they act pious just to look good for others, but they don't really care about it, they steal, they cheat, they stab others in the back so they can get a few inches ahead, they're greedy, they're uncourteous, they're apathetic, they're judgmental.  It just really disturbs me seeing all that.  I see this happening more often with Christians than I do non-Christians.  Granted, we are all humans with our flaws, frailties, our strengths, but I honestly see these acts occur a lot less frequently with the Hindu's, the Buddhists, and the atheists that I have known. 
 
I think people account for their actions a lot less than they used to.  People are suing for everything, they believe that television, movies, video games are the cause of ills in society.  Instead of taking a look at the root of a problem, they'll assume that games like Doom caused the Columbine shootings.  They'll assume that violence in music and movies are why so many people are murdered each year.  People don't want to get their hands dirty to fix anything anymore.  They assume atheists are responsible for some of these actions as well. 
 
Well, I'm sure this is enough to put you asleep already, but what do you think?  I've become interested in studying religion (from an outsider's view).  Your opinion has always been valued with me. 


This was my list of religious matches from the quiz.

The quiz can be taken at http://www.selectsmart.com/RELIGION/

 

 

 

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