Structures of Faith...

I read once that religion was created because man needed hope and without hope man could not go forward.

There are many similarities in the religions and yet wars are fought over their supremacy of one over another; prejudices are formed; blood lines protected and marriages denied based on religion. The biggest wrong I find with organized religion is the hate generated by something designed to uplift and inspire. And, it isn't the religion itself; it's the individuals who twist it to become what they need it to be and influence others with their manipulations.

You can always detect those individuals who are truly spiritual and it's inspiring to witness their peace, acceptance, and understanding. These individuals are the ones who impact you and make you wish to emulate them and strive to perfect your own personal connection.

As for myself, when I sit quietly and take in all that exists within this world of ours and can appreciate the smallest item to the infinite wonder of it all, I become grounded, peaceful, and awed at the same time. The logical part of me says that it is possible that all of this started with the first splitting of an atom. The hopeful part of me wishes for there to be more.

It comes down to a matter of belief. What we choose to believe and where we take it. It is more comforting for us as humans to believe that this is not all there is. We can choose to believe in a heaven, reincarnation, a never-ending revolving door of energy......but it comes down to what works for us as individuals striving to make it from one day to the next.

We can say that organized religion was created to control the masses. Perhaps that is correct. Where would we be but in chaos if some guidelines for acceptable behavior were not established? But then again, legal guidelines perform the same function. Could we easily be a policed state totally separate from religion and be the same?