There is a mini debate going on on one of my boards about church. A member is visiting her mom and her mom mentioned church. She is no longer religous and feels uncomfortable about going. It's pretty divided, some say you shouldn't go if you don't believe, and other say just do it for your mom's sake.

It's always interesting to me how people feel, which has brought my religious questions to the forefront.

Why am I against church so much?

I mean, there are the obvious reasons, like their view on gays, and the womans right to do what she wants with her body, but I think the defining moment for me was about 7 years ago. I was pregnant with Aislinn, and Tony and I went to Washington DC to sightsee. We went to one of the Smithsonians and there was and exhibit about religion. Up until this point, I was just to lazy to go to church. I liked sleeping in, and in Norfolk and surrounding areas, there weren't that many Catholic churches, which seemed odd to me, growing up in a predominently Catholic city, where you couldn't go a mile without hitting a Catholic church. Anyway, I was reading this thing about the Vatican. I read a study that was done that said 75% of Catholics thought that using some form of birth control was acceptable, yet the Pope declared it wrong, therefore, in order to be a good Catholic you weren't allowed to use them. I always thought I was in the minority about that. I just assumed Catholics didn't use BC and that was that, and I was going to burn in hell for all eternity. To see it in black and white, that YES, they'd love to use birth control, and then for ONE man, ONE man who never had a wife or children, or anything to say no, and that it is so. Well, that just sat wrong with me.

That was when my views changed... drastically.

For a long time, I probably went to far to the other side. I always believed in God, but I railed against organized relgion. As time as worn on, I can see the postives of church. Instant community, bringing hope to all those that go etc. Yet, for me, it's still not something I feel comfortable with just yet.

I haven't tried to push religion on my kids. We talk about God sure, and we have had discussions about Jesus. Aislinn is very interested in it, which has made me want to expose her in some way, but I'm not sure how I want to do that just yet, especially in a way that makes ME feel comfortable. I just don't believe the bible is still something we can follow to the book. It brings a good message sure, but in my opinion there is only one thing you need to know from teh bible to live a good and just life.

"Treat others the way you would want to be treated"

Plain and simple. All religions have this rule, and to me, that is all that matters. One common theme to that each of them have running through them. Plainly put, Be Nice.

There, now you all owe me money since I've shown you the way. Be nice people. That's it. I'll take my Cadillac and heavily armed compound out in teh country now.