Mr. Bobert: You sure kin git to the heart of the matter. I hadn't read this thread until this morning because for me, religion is a personal relationship with God, and theology/tenets/doctrines serve the function of deepening that relationship. You could read every religious writing that has ever been created and it would mean nothing if you don't have a personal relationship with God. And, if you try to understand God by judging how people who claim to know Him act, you're missing the point. It is always interesting to me how the back-biters, back-sliders, hypocrites and self-servers who call themselves Christians, Muslims or Jews are cited as proof of the falacy of their religion, not those whose lives have been transformed by their faith, who are sincerely trying to live a loving, honest life. Some of the most admirable people I have ever had the honor to know are Atheists, and I've known some Christians who I make every effort to avoid because of their hypocrisy and mean-spirited-ness. I don't confuse their actions with the validity of their religion. Whether it's Christianity, Islam or Judaism (or Taoism) the only way to understand the religion is to go to the source, not the practitioners.

Christ is not a historical figure to me, or someone I read about in a book that has many obvious contradictions and myths. He is not someone I can "prove" to anyone else. Or would I try. I have enough trouble trying to live his teachings. I also believe that even those who say that God is a fig newton(thank you Pogo) of our imagination still have faith. I don't think that it's possible to live without faith in something... maybe not God, but something that makes life worth living.

I believe that Christ is the Son of God, and try to follow his teachings. I go to him as the source of my faith, and accept or reject any teachings of formal religion that I feel contradict his word. I can only speak for myself. Isn't that what we all do?

I do believe that there is a core of faith common to all religions. Those who don't believe in any religion still know the truth of those beliefs... striving to be respectful and loving of others and live a life that is honest and compassionate.

I also agree with you, Bobert, that God does not cause suffering. The most eloquent argument on that subject is in a wonderful book, Why Bad Things Happen To Good People by Harold Kushner. My copy has an inscription inside the cover from a dear friend who gave it to me many years ago. He is an Athiest.

As he would say, "Ain't life grand?"

Jerry