Posted by Hal Phillips at 199.79.168.252 on January 21, 2003 at 14:30:10:
In Reply to: POLL posted by Gabe S. on January 20, 2003 at 22:32:13:
: Are you a religious person?
Not in the least. I tend to have a very negative view of religion. I'm as tolerant as can be of other people's rights to believe whatever they want and practice any religion, but personally, I just think religion is stupid.
That said, DOGMA made me wish I could believe in God. Seems kinda cool.
: If so what religion do you practice?
For what it's worth, I was born and raised a Jew.
: If not, why?
I just don't get anything out of it. I've said before that I don't feel like I revoked Judaism, so much as I feel like I never really WAS a Jew. I went through the motions because Mommy and Daddy told me to. I said silly little holiday blessings and didn't know what they meant or why they mattered. I was told that I was a Jew, and I bought it. Once I got old enough to question these things, I realized that I had never really BELIEVED any of it. The time came to put up or shut up, and after examining what did or didn't make sense to me, I decided to shut up where religion is concerned.
If anything, I have a great deal of faith in humans-- not in a god or in a religion, but it's faith just the same. I believe that we are strong, that we can conquer our problems through the incredible power which every one of us has to control our lives and affect the world. And I believe that we don't need mystical boogeymen to help us do so. I'm one hardcore atheist, I guess...
I do think religions, gods, etc. can be useful as tools, from time to time-- but only with the understanding that it's us using them, not the other way around.
: Have you ever questioned your faith?
Absolutely. I spent a good portion of my teen years doing that. That's how I got from Judaism to anti-religious atheism in ten easy steps.
: Was there a particular moment or event that sparked your questioning?
Not really. I think it was more just a case of becoming a teenager and questioning everything I had previously just accepted.
When I was a kid and went to Judaism classes once or twice a week after school at a local temple, one professor-- sixth grade, maybe?-- taught us that theists believe in a god in some form, atheists believe that there is no god, and agnostics don't know the answer, but are still searching. Me being Logic-Boy, I picked up on an unmentioned fourth possibility: "What if someone doesn't know the answer and ISN'T searching, like maybe the person just doesn't care? What are THEY called?" His reply: "Idiots." That always bothered me. Today, I suppose I'm technically an agnostic 'cause I don't want to rule anything out-- although God's fictitious nature seems likely enough that I'd bet money on it-- and I'm not searching, 'cause I don't care. Offer me hard proof, and sure, I'm curious-- but until then, I have better things to do. God or not, I have a life to live. I like to think that I'm proving my old teacher wrong.