I do not currently subscribe to any particular religion, but I definitely do not deny the existence of God.
Don't get me wrong; I think religion is a beautiful thing. I know of no religion (occults don't count, obviously) that preaches to its followers to do bad things. If, in fact, horrible things were done in the name of religion, then I maintain that it is because the religion was interpreted wrongly.
I think the ability to believe in God(s) takes a lot of bravery and faith. I mean, take me, for example. I hesitate at "choosing" a God to believe in because I am terrified I'll choose the wrong one and be punished for it in the afterlife. I am staggered by fear. I do not have that blind faith, that bone-deep bravery. Yet.
Giving yourself over to God is rewarding as it grants the believer with a sense of peace, taking away much of the sting of fear and grief. How many have turned to God to heal the wounds of tragedy and death?
Also, the believer will have a sense of certainty: justice is promised. You see, (and I do not say this with any sarcam) all unfairness and tragedy can be undone:
-->those who suffer will get their share of joy and rewards at some point, and if not, they will after death.
-->those who perpetuate evil will be damned--again, if not during their time on earth, then during their time on the other side.
I suspect that perhaps, just perhaps, this was thought up to help us cope with the social/economic/everything-else disparities and lack of justice we see every day. How else would we mere humans deal with such a sense of unfairness? Bitterness, depression, jealousy would consume us, swallow us whole. Not that it doesn't happen anyway, but I think that believing in God makes a difference.
Now here's the real point of discussion. I don't want to choose a religion because it appears to me that religion makes hypocrites of its believers. And if there is one thing I hate, it's hypocrites. So it makes sense that if I can prevent myself from becoming something I hate, I should not prescribe to any one religion until I know for sure I can do justice by it.
You can't even say that the hypocrites don't count as believers because they're "bad people". That would mean that the world is flooded with "bad people". Which I refuse to accept.
Perhaps this happens because the rules set out by religions are just too difficult to follow. Perhaps the expectations are just too high. An if this is the case, then by a short stretch, you could even say that religion breeds hypocrites because you just can't hope to live up to its doctrine--so you just stop trying; you close one eye to your so-called sins; you interpret it so it suits you and your tastes; you do it all and hope that just because you are basically a good person, you will be Forgiven.
If I were to say it harshly, religion sets you up for failure. Few people would be able to live up the the expectations set out, purely because they are human. We are flawed, we are dark and twisted, we have desires that grip us by the throat.
You are a staunch Catholic who goes to Church every weekend and takes part in the church's youth groups; you even (apparently) can speak in tongue, but you suffer from vanity in the excess and you wish all dark-skinned people would just become extinct, the mongrels.
You hypocrite.
You are a Muslim who will not touch dogs or eat anything not declared halal, but oh, you love your wine, and you need to have sex daily with your boyfriend-of-the-moment.
You hypocrite.
You are a Buddhist who burns incense daily, and gives generously to charity; you visit your sick parents often, but you are a gambler who prostitutes his wife to pay his debts.
You hypocrite.
You are a Christian who converted to impress your new Christian boyfriend; you think it's all bull but you tell everyone about your newfound spirituality, about how the Lord brought you back to the fold by giving you your boyfriend. Your boyfriend, on the other hand, is chuffed: it's less of a sin to have pre-marital sex with a fellow Christian than to have pre-marital sex with a heathen.
You hypocrites.
All those scenarios...they're different from being human, making mistakes, and trying to better ourselves, feeling remorse for doing something you shouldn't have. People like the ones I described, they continually live in a state where they make a farce of the belief! When I think of people who flaunt such hypocrisy and indifference in the face something as sacred as religion, it makes me angry, it makes me sick. Don't call yourself a Buddhist, a Muslim, a Catholic, whatever. Don't do it if you happily, conveniently, practise only the aspects you are willing to practise, if you interpret the rules so they suit your lifestyle. Don't sully the belief with your name. Not if you feel no remorse, not if you do not believe you are living in a state you should not be living in, or if you don't think you have done something you should not have.
Maybe religion should just be taken out of the equation altogether. It would definitely be easier to be ourselves. Just wallow in our failings, our prejudices. Just bungle along in life with no restrictions, no judgements, no Judgement Day. But I can't honestly say I think that is going to make things better. That--suggesting that religion should be abandoned--is just my cynical side talking. Because when you think about it, when you look harder and don't get too upset by the hypocrites out there, you find alot of people who are genuine. They do alot of good in their own ways. They believe with their whole heart. And they practise with their whole soul.
But hang on. I'm NOT saying that I think everyone should be conservative if they want to practise religion. Let me get that straight right now. I'm not saying like all Christians need to be bible-thumpers yelling about Judgement Day and jealous gods. I'm just saying that if people want to practise religion, they should be more conscientous. Moderation is great. But moderation isn't spitting on the most fundamental rules and laughing it off.
Oh but there I go, passing judgement where I have no right to pass. I know this: I am biased. My opinions in this matter are purely from my OWN set of morals, from how I separate "human follies" from "hypocrisy". Why is it, for example, that I think a Muslim is merely adapting to a modern world when she eats pork-free food that isn't necessarily declared halal, but I then condemn another if she sleeps around? I have no damned right to think these things, but I do. I am not some paragon of perfection, but I condemn perfect strangers as if I were better than them.
And if it's a cherished friend who is guilty of only being a "part-time practiser", I justify it. I don't sneer at them. I make excuses for them. I become hypocritical myself, with regards to my stance on religion. And that is a major prejudice on my part that has to get fixed.
