zbusc I believer in a creator - the precise details and the way he wants us to venerate him are not known to me, I, however, believe that religion (of any kind, which has moral values at its prime command to its followers) has an important part to play in keeping human societies stable and 'good'.
Hence I do not denigrate, despise, or otherwise treat believers of any kind with disrespect. My very own version of my religiosity is simple and never-ending wonderment, gratitude and joy at and in what the natural world has to offer and giving respect to all living things (and trying to become vegetarian atm).
I even read with some amusement - and not often - the intellectual exercises as depicted on here of guessing what so and so meant in some ancient book, which has been translated and interpreted according to the needs of its historical times - and these days remind me of a dry and crusty piece of bread people are still trying to get some nourishment out of.
Those fabled truths, which - may - yes I admit 'may' - have been an original divine revelation to a sensitive individual, but were subsequently used as an instrument to guide and lead various tribes, peoples (who themselves were rarely particular in observing those same rules as regards to 'subjects' which they often happily killed, subjugated etc. etc.) into a state thinking themselves as the only 'possessor of the book' and wisdom, thus committing IMO the mortal sin of pride, which then allowed them to look down on those benighted enough not wishing to be converted, and often rewarding them with slavery, or death.
Nowadays, having tolerated upbringing by the Catholic Church, later sieges by 'nice' people from the Mormon belief and done a bit of analysis of the Muslim religion, I can only conclude that the fervent believers in particular punishment - perhaps for all of 'bad' mankind, but in particular for unbelievers, have some wicked wish-fulfillment in their hearts, which they should examine. It seems that the only good non-believer is a dead one who will roast in hell for eternity.
