An article on the Brave New Traveler website led me to solve the religion problem in time for the holiday season, 2009:
Proving Faith: Searching for Answers from God
Good article Joel, but I agree with Jordan more.
Firstly, your use of God in the masculine; I'm surprised Christine hasn't pulled you up on that! I believe the monotheistic religions, although they may have had good origins, have been used through their interpretations to control large amounts of people, and especially women. If the male prophets and propagandists had portrayed a female god I'd be more inclined to believe in them, but a god in their own image who believes women should be subservient is a bit convenient!!
I'm an agnostic pantheistic pagan, and want to believe in something, whether it's a heaven or reincarnation, but I don't know, and don't think I will ever know.
I think faith can be a filler for our frustation at our inability to know everything about ourselves, life and the world; and what happens when we die.
