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Wikipedia claims to have over a million articles. Every time I look something up on Wikipedia--no matter how tiny or obscure--there's always an entry. Either their claim is too low or the quantity of one million is far greater than I can ever imagine.

You're never supposed to discuss religion and politics in the company of strangers. Someone asked me today about religion and it was hard for me to give a concrete answer--I probably came off as a rambling idiot. It's not that I don't believe in God--I just don't car organized religions and churches of any form. But it's not like I was always that way--if anything, I warmed up to the idea.

I used to firmly believe in science--things that are tangible and I can prove or see. I always despised the idea of blind faith: I like things I know I can believe in. I always used to think religion was used to explain things people didn't understand and advances in science can now help explain the unexplained.

And the biggest beef I had: which one is right? Greek mythology was a religion and people believed in it but today we know they're just stories. The American Indians believe in numerous gods amongst the trees and animals. Muslims believe in Allah; Buddhists believe karma. Jew and Christians believe in God but debate the legitimacy of Christ. Baptists, Catholics, and Protestants agree on the basic stories but differ in practices and beliefs. There are so many different religions and types--and we didn't even come close to mentioning all the religious denominations.

So if there is an ever presence super being, what religion is His? And does everyone who picks the wrong one go to hell--or at least His version of hell. It almost seems unfair--the odds are stacked against you for picking the right one. Not to mention most people don't "pick" their religion--they just practice whatever religion they grew up in.

But as I get older, I feel there has to be some sorta god out there. When there's evil as wicked as Osama bin Laden, sniper serial killers, and parents who throw their unwanted babies in the trash, there has to be a god just to balance it out. I hate to live in a world where there isn't a superior presence protecting us in some way.

I realized instead of trying to figure out which religion was "right" why not accept the fact that they all are? Most religions have the same basic principles. Be kind to your fellow man and respect those around you (I can do that). I've come to believe that no spirituality is "right." That perhaps they are all derived from the same presence. There's someone--something out there looking over all of us. He goes by many names and the message is always the same--one filled with love. I've learned to respect all religions* and all rabbis, priests, and ministers. But I think the key is to recognize that people have are free to chose to practice whether they want to or not--whichever religion they may choose. I hate folks who insist that their religion is right and if you don't accept their savoir you are destined to suffer for an eternity (yes, I'm talking to you Christians). It's about respect and goodwill. I believe if I live a good life, the big guy upstairs will take care of me--whatever his name may be.

*Except Canadians.

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