Our faith should be expressed in working toward a better planet for our children and not the selfish, juvenile hope for a better afterlife for ourselves. I don't think anyone is going to Hell because it only exists in the minds of people who wish ill-will on others.
- Greg Graffin, PhD, lead singer of Bad Religion
The above-referenced quote eloquently sums up how I feel about faith. I have always maintained that I believe in the basic foundations of Christianity: charity (read: supporting and/or helping others in need - volunteering or otherwise), respect for others (read: acknowledging that others have a difference of opinion, be of a different creed, religion, race or orientation - but it doesn't necessarily mean they're evil or damned for eternity) and the "golden rule" (read: I hope I don't have to explain this). However, I don't believe current evolution of Christianity (rather, I feel it's regressed a few centuries, nor to I support its doctrine and the organization it has become.
Thus, I question my own religious (or lack of) beliefs on a fairly regular basis. Even as a teenager, I questioned the purpose of going to church - which would explain why I went to the mall instead. To use the cliche: going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than sitting in a garage makes you a car. I feel many people use attending church to profess their faith and to validate that they are a good person. It begs the question: why must one go to a service to profess one's faith? Shouldn't one do something worthwhile for humanity rather than recite a creed in a church pew? (honestly, that seems somewhat cult-like to me).
A couple years ago, I posed the following, somewhat related scenario to my friend who is a professor of theology (for sake of argument, Jesus did exist):
Let's say I have one hour per week to spare. I can either go to church or volunteer in my community. What would Jesus prefer me to do?
Her response: Jesus would want you to volunteer.
Mind you, this is not why I have been involved in a volunteer organization for nearly two decades. Although I have told my parents more than once, "some people go to church, I go to Circle K/Kiwanis". Dad has accepted this; Mom is waiting for me to attend church again.
Now, I never got anything out of going to church (I think that's glaringly apparent). However, volunteering is quite the opposite - helping those in need, fostering support for our fellow humans (and animals), working for the common/greater good and perhaps leaving the planet in better shape than when I got here.
If you want to label that "faith", that's how I choose to express it.
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