The prevailing definition of religion in this thread involves the obedient acceptance of a doctrinal and moral code, and little more than that. If that's what religion was all about, I'd want no part of it. I could make better money being a Republican.

I suppose I might believe in hellfire, but I think it's reserved for a select few. And no, I don't think God sacrificed his son. That's not how it works. Jesus died because he was betrayed by self-serving, self-righteous sons-of-bitches - probably people who felt threatened by his integrity.

I suppose what's important to me about my religious faith is something that's almost impossible to explain. It's a way of life, steeped in a rich tradition, based on wonderful stories (myths?) that have a lot of meaning to me. It's something that give depth and richness to my life, and helps me make sense of life.

I have a lot of respect for the wisdom and tradition and moral viewpoints of my Catholic Church, but I don't obey anybody. Jesus Christ is interwoven into all this is a way that is sacred to me, but not in a way I can really explain to somebody with a cynical perspective. I suppose what I can say is that if people look at me and see that my life makes sense to them, then maybe my religious creed will make sense to them.

I teach people who have chosen to explore the Catholic faith, and I get a lot of enjoyment out of doing that. But people have to make that choice to explore before I'll teach them much of anything - I see no value in going around trying to convince nonbelievers that they ought to believe.

I get a lot of flak from the neoconservatives about my approach to the Catholic faith, but I'm convinced that my open-minded approach is far more orthodox than theirs. They can't understand my rejection of their demand for my obedient acceptance of a doctrinal and moral code - but to me, that's not what faith is all about.

-Joe Offer-