May I have Your Attention Please!

[Tak]

Originally Posted by {YBBS}Sage

I meant science.

Atheism as a religion.... lol.

Having something as a religion doesn't necessarily involve gods and goddesses. It's just a set of values to live your life by. And, choosing to commit to the belief that there is no 'greater being' requires just as much effort as believing that there is one. Religion and divinity aren't co-dependant.

Which (and Sage, this is by no means a personal attack nor is it directed at you, your post just got me thinking) brings up a curiosity question. Who believes in their religion out of 'fear', whatever that fear may be?

Mostly, it seems to be an 'old school' view of religion that brings this on, but be it fear of going to hell, fear of dying and finding out there is/isn't *insert whatever here*, fear of being 'left out'?

I had a curious conversation at work the other day, one of the older ladies in my department was absolutely disgusted that her daughter decided *not* to have their child Baptised. Her daughter said that when the time was right and her child was mature enough to make that decision on her own, then she would let whatever she wanted to happen happen. My coworker was going on about how that poor child's soul would be lost and such. I asked her why she thought that, we got on with the topic, and *fast forwarding* she said that she couldn't stand the thought of not being with family and loved ones in heaven. When asked if she believed in hell, she said no, so I asked why would she feel so strongly about not letting that child as a human being decide how she lives her own spiritual life? She stumbled a bit, and I (and others) got the impression she was believing in her religion out of fear. She didn't believe in hell, but believed in god and heaven and following 'the rules' as a 'just in case'.


Thoughts? I don't want this to turn into a discussion about my coworker's choice and opinions (partly because the pronoun usage already has me lost! ) but I offered that up as a for-example.

*sits back with a cigar and a drink* Discuss!