My friend had me read an entry she had posted here on live journal, and I thought I'd reply to what she said. Although I do believe in God, I don't fall into that stereotypical Christian (more specifically, Catholic) who thinks that if you don't go to church every Sunday you're going to hell, or that if you don't believ at all that you have no soul or good morals. That's just ridiculous.  My dad doesn't go to church, and does that mean I think he's going to hell? OF COURSE NOT; that's complete bulls**t.

I think religious people, as well as atheists, have gotten a bad rap. Some think of religious people as waving their finger in your face, saying: "You WILL believe in God, dammit!" And some think of atheists as waving their finger in your face, saying: "You will NOT believe in God, dammit!"  Both groups have been tagged with the "i'm right, you're wrong" impression, and although I do believe in God, that doesn't mean I'll do what I stated above, or that I'm even right; I just know how I feel. The reason why I do believe is this: I've grown up going to church every Sunday, and I've come to believe that life is, I don't mean to sound cliche, so precious that I don't think we die and nothing happens.  To me, there's so much more to life, than just living, if that even makes sense. But, that's my faith.  It doesn't have to be yours. Hell, I could be wrong, but until then, I'm going to continue believing what I do.  Because I believe that doesn't mean I'm naive, and if you don't believe, that doesn't mean you're pompous or have no hope in life.

Everyone, at some point, has questioned their beliefs.  It's almost impossible not to.  Now for all the bad in this world, I can't explain why there is such horrible things as terrorism and shootings and crimes and rape.  Who could? Some may say, "How can you still believe in Him? Why would God let all these terrible things happen?" To a point, I think bad people do these things...not God.  

Ben Stein recited the following: "Billy Graham' daughter was interviewed on the Early Show, and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" (regarding Katrina).  Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?" 

I don't believe in Hell. I'm pro-choice. I think gay people should be able to get married. I don't believe every single Bible story.  These are some things to show that believing doesn't necessarily mean believing in, or following, everything.  The Bible, as my friend and I were discussing, is a more of a means as presenting a guideline for how to live your life, or how you maybe could lead your life. However, I don't think the only way to have good morale is to read or be familiar with the Bible, or to be able to recite "The Our Father" at a moment's notice. 

I'm willing to accept the fact that I could be wrong. But if you don't believe, you should be willing to accept the fact that you could be wrong, too. I'm open to hearing what others have to say, but that doesn't mean my beliefs will change.  

One question I have to ask is this: Is it so bad that I believe? Is it? 
I can't fathom why some think it is.