Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!genrad!decvax!harpo!floyd!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!tekmdp!dadla!dadla-b!hutch From: hutch@dadla-b.UUCP Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Re: I Hate Religion Message-ID: <469@dadla-b.UUCP> Date: Wed, 15-Jun-83 13:36:25 EDT Article-I.D.: dadla-b.469 Posted: Wed Jun 15 13:36:25 1983 Date-Received: Fri, 17-Jun-83 05:49:08 EDT Lines: 22 Mark, you are right as far as you go, but the fact is, "religion" as you described it is a necessary thing for most people. Say that I am reborn. Then, how am I to retain that gift of new life? What am I to do when I am tempted to lapse back into old habits? There has to be a way to develop the strength to resist the lapse. This can most easily and reliably be done by joining with others who are also in possession of this gift. Furthermore, what am I to do now that I find that the "still small voice" has instructed me to join together with these very people? Humans have social patterns of interaction, if we didn't we wouldn't be (sane) humans. By formalizing our habits of worship and celebration of the new life we are given, we can not only strengthen our ability to listen to that "voice within" but we can also make the truths which have given this new life to us, more visible and accessible to others so that THEY can also gain the gift. So please, don't condemn religion, organised or otherwise. If it does things you don't like, change it. If there are people in it who do things you feel are wrong, confront them and work to remedy their actions. Steve Hutchison Tektronix Logic Analyzers