| Since man was hiding in caves he has looked to | | | | not alone. That death is not the end. Man's |
| the heavens and thought of some-thing greater | | | | perpetual fear of non-existence, is just one of the |
| than him/her self. There has been an in-stinctual | | | | central driving forces, for the "staying power" of |
| drive toward wor-ship of a deity, or idol. It has | | | | religion. Another is the ability of religious principles |
| been ingrained in our society, and in our psyche. | | | | to guide society when things seem as though |
| But in todays world where man has the intellect, | | | | they are lost and hopeless. |
| and the moral fortitude that he was lacking in the | | | | Although, religion can become an obsession to |
| dark ages, is religion still viable as a means of | | | | those that are desperate for an outside force to |
| ethical measure? | | | | somehow magically give them material goods, or |
| There has been a debate between sci-ence and | | | | fix their "broken" lives. In most cases it merely |
| religion for as long as man has examined his | | | | provides a source of comfort and tranquility. |
| sur-roundings and the first criti-cal thought was | | | | Something greatly needed in all of our lives. |
| expressed. The age old question of "Why are we | | | | It is when we look to God to "take away our |
| hear" has been pondered and mulled over for | | | | short comings" that we end up disappointed and |
| generations, and yet with all the advancements of | | | | confused. When we realize that after dutiful |
| humanity and thousands of years of evolution, | | | | prayer, and adherence to the principles of our |
| the answer still eludes us. Sure, there are | | | | chosen faith, that we are still left with the very |
| philosophical assumptions, but nothing in the way | | | | same person we started with. There is a very |
| of concrete evidence. Through-out history there | | | | good reason for that. |
| are innumerable examples of the ability of religion | | | | God, it seems, does not "fix" people. Nor does he |
| to divide and isolate certain segments of the | | | | she/it make us rich or good looking. He doesn't |
| population. There have been religious implications in | | | | augment our character or make us popular. I |
| almost every war ever fought.The blood that has | | | | have never seen anyone who be-came a better |
| been shed in the name of God could fill oceans. | | | | person, do it through prayer alone. Faith can do |
| Yet, man still clings to the idea of an all knowing all | | | | wonderful things for some people. It allows them |
| loving and all seeing spiritual entity. Why, in the | | | | to compartmentalize their life and gain some |
| face of all that has been wrought in faith's name, | | | | measure of peace.That measure is why, In my |
| is this the case? | | | | opinion, we still require the spiritual aspect of our |
| Religion is not about what man has portrayed it to | | | | lives. Is that spirituality necessarily embodied in |
| be. It is man's acknowledgement that he/she is | | | | religion? That is for you to decide for yourself. |