Finally a believer that isn't a religious nut! I agree with you - you don't need all the rituals of religion - just believing in God is more real than any of that. And I must commend you on your style - essays on personal beliefs tend to become mindless rants - and this one hasn't. Structure, arguments - it's all there, making it into, not only a thought provoking piece but into an example of a great essay!-Write on!

i'm glad somebody wrote this

WOW! you are really philosophical, non? I really like it, and I know exactly what you mean. (this seems to be happening a lot) I too have trouble identifying with religion, and the result is that every time I go to synaguoge, it only depresses me. Granted, I did have a Bat Mitzvah (yes, it is fun to capatilize random things that relate to God) and yet, I feel no real connection to the congregation. It is true that God will redeem you if you choose the path that is right for you.

i couldn't have said it better myself. you make some really, really good points, you state what your saying clearly, you have proof to back it up and this piece shows that you actually thought about what your writing. i honestly can say i found nothing wrong with it, good job, and i mean it.

Well done. I love the basic idea of this. When people say that they are not religious, people assume "atheist", which make me kind of mad. It is perfectly possible to not beleive in organized religion and yet not be an atheist. I like the way that you brought this out.

good points...similar to my idea of religion, but you commented on my racism thing and i want to respond. basically, it was a response to a real life event. If people did react to merely a few spoken words that would be retarded. But the girl I speak of receives showers of hate speech all the time. It never is just a few words. That's the point. yes, its idealistic, the words that i've written, but i'm also realistic. its an aspiration i wish all people to have and i know that will never happen. but i figured sharing it and touching a few lives woudlnt' hurt. fat chance i will affect the world, to use your words()) but i can try. and anyway, i know what you mean about religion. thats why i go to church..and i read the bible and interpret it myself. but the most important thing to realize i think is that it was written by man, however divinely inspired they were. but thats a very valid point that many hard core 'religious' christians promote their religion as the only way to heaven but i don't think thats true. anywho, i'm on my study break for finals. so i'll chat with you laters. ~Lisa~ ps, aim name is pixy308

if only there were more church goers out there who had a similar outlook as you. my belief about "god" is like yours except not as thought out i suppose. as in i havent developed a hate for religion, i just think it is awfully contridicting due to the people who practise it. what really pisses me off is the world "holy" its been kind of watered down over the years, but it really still is infiriating...worse so than religious, for me.
good work, kudos!

I agree. I am also a Christian. But I feel that I need to say, the Bible also says that to love the Lord your God is the first and greatest commandment, and the second one like it: to love your neighbor as yourself.
I am not only your neighbor, but your sister in Christ, Stephen. But I am surprised to find out you also follow Christ because of the angry review you left me on "Even Today."
I never once claimed in that essay that all of America was racist because of that incident. And I do agree that whites are often discriminated against, as well. My essay is not a call to another Civil Rights movement. If you are already aware of the problems of discrimination, the essay is not meant for you. I also used to think, "Why the big deal over racism? It's always going to happen, everywhere, so why fuss about it?" But the problem with this kind of mentality is that nothing, then, would ever get done. If Martin Luther King and the other Civil Rights leaders had thought this way, blacks in America might still be sitting only in the back of public buses. And even today, I believe there is a possibility of regress.
Your writing indicates that you are quite well-spoken and intelligent for someone your age. I do thank you for your thoughtful review, and I pray that God will continue to teach you how to speak the truth in love, always.

so in other words, you're against organized religion but you're still spiritual. Also remember that not all religions are based on tradition and reverence for one almighty being. Buddhism and many New Age religions aren't strict or monotheistic like Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, the top three and most influential religions.

Very well-written essay. I'll keep my distance from commenting on your views of religion and God; I believe everyone is entitled to their own without contestation from others. However, you did arrive at your point directly and spelled it out without becoming too redundant. I must say categorising followers of religion as "mindless sheep" is a bit harsh, though. Many followers of religion are very open to ideas outside their faith. But I said I wouldn't comment on your views of religion, so I won't. I will say that this essay displays a whole lot of talent. Keep up the good work!
-Raven Oghma

i find this essay quite fascinating.
i have a couple questions for you. first, what version of the bible do you adhere to? i ask this for several reasons.
im sure you are aware of all the mutations that literature goes through as culture changes through history, and saying that the bible is immune to the fallacies of human translation and culture is probably unrealistic. if you use only your own system of ethics adn the bible to codify your spiritual beliefs, how do you incorporate recent discoveries such as books not included in the bible?
the bible may or may not be inspired by god, but regardless, it has changed since its original recording. how do you deal with that? it would be interesting, becuase what if what god originally inspired to be written down has been changed by the very religious structures you so dispise so that by now what we have is somehow warped? i mean no offense by that, merely a ...hypothetical situation.
cheers
-tresparadise

I agree in some aspects. I think people are way too hard on each other because of religion.
But I don't think it's such a horrible thing to have traditions and different denominations. I'm Catholic, and I enjoy being Catholic, but I'm open minded enough to have my own faith without listening to other people. I just feel the denominations are there because people learn about God in different ways. For me, Catholicism helps me learn. When I'm doing communion or celebrating Lent, I always think of Jesus, and know that I'm doing something for Him-not because I have to, but because I want to.
Good thoughts, though. Very interesting essay.

Yoiu essay is quite good, however I did find some contradictory points.
You say you are not a fllower of any religion, yet you believe in Jesus as the son of God, andthe Bible as the inspired word of God. Then that makes you Christian. If you truly did not belong ot any religion, then you would NOT believe in ANY Holy book - for tht involves religion.
CHRISTIANITY teaches that the Bible is the inspired word of God. other religions do not. If you are not a Christian, how can you believe this? You are still following Christian beliefs!
If you did not belong to any religion, why not follow every single holy book? or none at all.
Clear up your ideas!

So, according to your beliefs, are all the other "sheep" going to hell for all their religious excentricities? Just curious. Personally, I think you are sounding a bit arrogant if you think your BELIEFS are the right way, not that you said they were, that's how I interpreted it. And as for those of us that are trying to ask questions and are "missing the point", I think YOU do not see the big picture: many of us NEED conclusive, logical answers to questions asked, or else we have NO reason to believe. As a Darwinist, an Atheist, and an Anti-Christ (interesting combonation, I know) I find that if you just need to belive you are not actually having a faith of any sort. Faith is upheld by not just blind trust but also by beliefs, morals, and integrities. In the end, I find that your essay may nee dsome fine tuning, but then again it is just your opinions.

I suppose the technical word is deist (sp?), though I might be wrong.
I find that most religions have a roughly equal ratio of BS to sense, and that I'll just have to make up my own code of ethics as I go along.