We all want to be the person we know ourselves to be, and for others to recognise this and treat us with respect. We want to live without being dominated by fear, to enjoy good relationships, and to have a secure place in our society. No one is better than anyone else by virtue of their beliefs.
When we are able to be the person we know ourselves to be, without vanity or self-pity, we have the wonderful experience of feeling at home with everything that exists. Some people describe this in religious terms, some in terms of nature, but, whatever, we do not feel the need to have a religion tell us what we should believe.
My thoughts exactly. I’m not religious, but I do believe in God… not necessarily the way my religion paints Him to be. – but ultimately, I believe in the existence of a higher being.
BUT, I’m also a skeptic – in the sense that I accept that I don’t know anything for certain – which I think is the fundamental issue between the “extremes” of religious and non-religious. The former always seem so sure, with no exception. I guess that’s fine for the most part, but when it starts affecting their relationships with fellow humans in an unreasonable way, thats when it’s not – that’s why Religion has no place in government – because it’s bound to hit that wall if you tried integrating the two.
As implicitly stated in the TED video I posted a while back. It does NOT take a “belief system” to establish healthy morals or perspective. Most of humanity, regardless of race, culture, or creed, are in solidarity when it comes to what’s fair and just.