God is: but you don’t have to believe what I believe

Listen to this article

I talk to someone no one else can see. I believe this person has more control of my life than I do. If I told this to a shrink I’d be diagnosed with schizophrenia or some other mental illness but billions of other people do this also and some believe this person is angry and blame him when their loved ones fall ill and are not cured. With this passing of Easter I thought I’d talk about God and religion.

Puppies Christine was fostering until they were adopted. (Photo provided by Christine Smith)
Puppies Christine was fostering until they were adopted.
(Photo provided by Christine Smith)

Every time there is some catastrophic event people ask how can a loving God allow this to happen without understanding if people didn’t get cancer, if tsunamis didn’t happen, if people didn’t die every day from disease in third world countries our world would quickly become over populated and not be able to sustain us. God has nothing to do with the human body getting illness or people snapping and shooting up schools.

People love to blame the devil for tempting them when they are caught doing something embarrassing. They are only a mere mortal tempted by an all powerful being who’s goal is to make us do bad things, so they aren’t to blame right? I think religion made up the idea of the devil. No one forces us to cheat on our spouses, steal or murder. Blaming a devil is the coward’s way out, shifting blame from their own choices to someone stronger than they are. I don’t believe a devil exists. Just because there is an all good God doesn’t mean there needs to be an opposite all bad God.

I’ve heard so many people say they do charity work because they need the blessings in heaven. I believe this is one of the stupidest things I’ve heard. God is not sitting around with a note pad writing down every time John Doe does something for selfish reasons thinking he’ll be rewarded. We are supposed to help others because we are good people and it is rewarding to know you were able to help those less fortunate than you.

I spoke with a wonderful girl on Facebook about her beliefs as an Atheist. She is an animal person like myself and I really enjoyed speaking with her. I have to give Atheists who are good people more credit then people who are good out of the fear of punishment in the afterlife. If someone is a good person, solely because they know what is right and what is wrong, why do so many people lump atheists in with devil worshipers?

Do atheists have the same rights as theists?

Shannon Morgan is an atheist. The Motor Vehicle Commission of New Jersey denied her request to get a vanity plate reading 8THEIST. The commission said the plate “may carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency.”  It’s indecent to only believe in evolution?

Dinosaurs first roamed the Earth 245 million years ago. We did evolve. The first form of humans evolved 2.3 million years ago. Scientists cannot be certain how life began. I believe God created life. I don’t believe we need to fear God like the King James version of the bible states. The stories in the Bible were written to the best of the peoples understanding at the time; am I to believe King James knew how to better control people with the threat of fiery pits of hell if you don’t obey his laws?

More people were killed in the name of religion than any other cause. Why do we believe if people don’t think the way we do they deserve punishment?  I believe all God wants from us is to make the most the life we were given. I don’t believe Jesus cares if you’re Jewish and don’t believe he is the son of God. He just wants his children to enjoy the planet he made for them and will be excited to see his children again.  I don’t believe Jesus has an ego and will be angry for not believing he is the son of God. There is no right religion. Only what works best for each of us.

Photo is screen shot from YouTube video
Photo is screen shot from YouTube video

If we believed like atheists do, that our only time we have is here on Earth, I think we’d spend much less time focused on what others are doing with their lives and try to make the most of the time we have here.

Lets learn from Jesus. He did the most he could with his life, loved everyone equally and passed too soon. We never know when our time is up. We’ll never look back and wish we spent more time judging people for having different beliefs from us. We can learn a lot from people who think differently.

Earlier this week I signed up to be an organ donor. I highly recommend others to do so also. When I’m on my deathbed I can’t think of a more comforting thought than knowing I’ll be able to give life to others. I hope that more people will consider it. And I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!