Or perhaps "Lack of beliefs" would be a more fitting title...
[b]Religion:[/b] I don't believe in God. I don't believe we as a species, or any species on earth, or the mountains, lakes, rocks, and seashells were created by any sort of supreme being.
I don't believe God decided one day to create a universe of creatures giving humans (made in His image) free will, yet, being that He is omniscient, knowing the outcome of the course of all humanity.
I don't believe there is any true religion, as there are too many that claim that their's is just that. I don't believe any religion is realistic.
I believe religion functions as a social tool. I believe religion was created to provide answers to difficult questions- the questions of how and why we are here and what happens when we die. I believe that spirituality serves to help us cope with difficult situations, but does not provide any real answers.
I believe that we, as a society, as a group, may never be able to definitively answer such questions as the nature of existence, the function of life, and the outcome of death.
[b]Morality:[/b] I don't believe that humans are inclined to sin, and only sin, unless there is an active belief in God and a strict moral code enforced and followed. I don't believe an absolute moral code can exist, and I certainly don't believe God can impose an absolute moral code.
I believe that we have free will and have the ability to make our own decisions. I believe we have the ability to distinguish between right and wrong without the direction of an absolute moral code, or ethical standards dictated by God. I believe that humanity is not savage or barbaric by nature. I believe in humanity's ability to act morally regardless of a belief in religion.
[b]Love:[/b] I don't believe in committing to love, in the romantic sense, another person forever. I don't believe in marriage. I don't believe that commitment, as forced by marriage, fosters true love, but instead has the potential to invalidate love.
I believe in true love. I believe in loving out of love's sake and not out of some sense of duty, obligation, or false sense of love. I believe that one can commit to care about someone forever, but cannot realistically commit to [b]be in love[/b] with another person forever. I believe that it is more important to focus on love being true than it is to simply seek comfort in a union with another person.
[b]Miscellaneous:[/b] I don't believe in destiny. I don't believe things happen for a reason beyond our control. I don't believe in fate. I don't believe our future is dictated by any force- other than our own actions. I don't believe in astrology, psychics, tarot, karma, or anything else that emphasizes a lack of human control.
I believe that each individual creates his or her own future. I believe in individual accountability. I believe we all decide what meaning our life has. I believe that we must all take responsibility for our own lives and not place blame on others, and not place the responsibility on anyone else- including God.
I believe I am idealistic, but not unrealistic.
posted by: sporadic (reply)
post date: 12.09.03 (6:56 pm)
Well, Christianity is technically a religion but it focuses more on each individual's relationship with God.
Reply to: sporadic
Umm.. ok, what does that have to do with anything?
posted by: Octo6er (reply)
post date: 12.16.03 (12:07 pm)
Great Blog post. I feel exactly the same way about these subjects. It's nice to know that I'm not the only person out there with this type of outlook..
"Tragically, a nation that was created by intellectuals and visionaries has now been completely taken over by venal corporate gangsters, delusional Christian fruitcakes and hopelessly shallow Texas shit-kickers." -Tom Robbins
