You could waste a whole life trying to understand these infinite mysteries. and therein lies the great pity of it all. So many good, kind, caring people pondering the imponderable, carrying huge burdens of guilt, calling themselves sinners. So many of mankind's greatest brains devoted to interpreting & reinterpreting the 'sacred' writings. So many families, communities and countries torn apart because of small differences in doctrine.
Have you ever pondered what benefits religion bestows on god-fearing people. No one on this thread has been able to articulate any tangible benefit. Now ponder if there might be benefits that accrue to unscrupulous, greedy, self serving people who set themselves above the ordinary people - our rulers, tyrants, global conglomerates, warmongers and the like - in promoting the idea of a supreme being - he/she who must be obeyed - who is omnipresent, whose dictates permeate every aspect of life, who is promoted in state schools. Then add this GOD into the mix e.g God, Queen & Country, and any sin, minor misdemeanour, or big crime committed is punishable by penalties ranging from fines to eternal damnation, the latter even if the sin or crime has not been detected. That's the stick - the carrot is the promise of pie in the sky when you die.
Thankfully, in the West the majority of people have begun to think for themselves, to question the status quo, to conclude there is no God (or none worth following) or simply to be totally disinterested in the whole concept but willing to sing the odd hymn at a wedding or funeral. In the Middle East currently we have a modern manifestation of this powerful mix of control by state/dictatorship allied with religion.
Sorry this is so long and heavy but contrary to the views expressed in many of the posts on this thread I do not usually give much thought to matters religious other than to note their political impact on world events. I do not even have a label (agnostic, atheist, whatever) as I do not classify myself this way, nor an ethos other than the basic 'do as little harm and as much good as you can.' But the thread caught my attention and I felt the urge to put my thoughts down. I do not intend to contradict, argue, upset anyone - each to their own - but it pains me to see good people struggling to reconcile their upbringing v current beliefs/lack of belief.
