I'm a cradle Lutheran and cultural Christian but I've thought for many many years that I'm a "religion" of one, because I really don't think anyone else believes exactly as I do. And I don't want anyone telling me what to believe, but, believe me, I know right from wrong. And I see a lot of religious people being unkind and immoral.

I don't have a god problem...but I DO have a major organized religion problem -- ALL of them, not just Christian. And I also have a major problem with some Christian denominations usurping the descriptive "Christian", and being wildly intolerant of anyone who doesn't believe exactly as they do. I think they give Christianity a bad name and are far from what we know of Christ's teachings. (Remember, the EARLIEST manuscripts we have of books now included in the New Testament are from 400 years AFTER the time of the historical Jesus and his disciples.

Simple statement: You don't have to be religious or have religious beliefs to be moral.

Here's a story (or a parable, if you will) --
Go With God
Planet Proctor
Compiled by Phil Proctor
Funny Times, July 2010

"I was walking across a bridge one day and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said, "Stop! Don't do it!"

"Why shouldn't I?" he said. "Well, there's so much to live for!" I said. He said, "Like what?" I said, "Well…are you religious or an atheist?" He said, "Religious." I said, "Me, too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?" He said, "Christian." I said, "Me, too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?" He said, "Protestant." I said, "Me, too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?" He said, "Baptist."

"Wow!" I said, "Me, too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?" He said, "Baptist Church of God."

"Me, too!" I said. "Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you reformed Baptist Church of God?" He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God."

I said, "Me, too! Are you reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?"

He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!"

I said, "Die, heretic scum!" and pushed him off.