except sometimes when I come across mean-spirited comments from some religious nutjob (not you), and I think, this person must be possessed by the devil! But seriously, to me, believing in all that mythology is akin to believing in the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus. I suspect that religion is a case of wishful thinking that grew out of fear of the unknown. And hey, there's a lot to be afraid of! It's perfectly understandable. I don't think the tainted peanut butter thing had to do with either God or Satan. It was a matter of mismanagement on the part of an unethical company, and whoever ate the stuff and got sick or died was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I believe we are responsible for our own lives (although sh*t happens out of the blue, as with the peanut butter poisoning, as with Natasha Richardson, and there's nothing much we can do about The Fickle Finger of Fate). But I don't think "God", or "Satan" for that matter, have anything to do with the good, the bad, and the ugly of life. And although I have often enjoyed toying with the ideas of karma and reincarnation, the mechanics of that particular Eastern belief system seem highly suspect too. BTW, I for one wouldn't want to be stuck in utopia (or Paradise). Perfection is boring! But there's a middle path between utopia and hell that's a lot more interesting, and we have it right here on Planet Earth. Unfortunately, the world nowadays is slipping and sliding more towards the hell side, but it'll tilt the other way eventually. That's just my take on it, as an agnostic. You're certainly entitled to yours.

or higher power, or universal spirit, or whatever you want to call it. Which doesn't mean that you can't make your own life ethical and moral and sensible, and, in fact, in the absence of "God" I would have to say that it behooves us all to practice good ethics, just so we can all get along fairly peacefully while we're on the planet. Unfortunately, many don't do that, and often it's the religious zealots who are the worst culprits. Ironic but true.

I go into the cell phone place and I get a choice between two contracts. I really don’t understand the contracts and so I just sign the first one. The next month I get the bill and I see it is very high. I call in and they say, "Oh under this contract, there are huge penalties for unauthorized services, plus you went over you minutes. And you signed the contract so you’re stuck for the next 1500 years." I think, "Oh I hate these guys, they suckered me, and are so mean." But, I realize I did sign it, and they are dealing with me according to the contract I signed. So, after 1500 years, the contract ends. So, I go back in and look at their other options. I see there is a second option and I think I like it. I read this one real close and decide to sign it. I find it is more expensive per month but nothing like the first contract that limited my options. So, I get my bill and I pay way less per month because I don't have all the extra charges. Then in the next month's bill, I get an invite to the company picnic. I am astonished and go. I find that these people aren't so bad and I kind of like this new contract. I think, 'Wow these people don't act the same as when I had the Old Covenant with them, even the boss seems different. So, one day I go to the boss because I have a direct line to him now under this New Covenant and say, "Ummm... I think you may not be keeping some of your obligations." And as we talk he informs me that I am confusing the Two Covenants and his obligations are not the same under the New Covenant I have with Him. He also mentions that a lot of his customers and even his closest family members make this mistake. But, that covenant is still available if I want to sign it. I think back and say, "Oh, no thank you I stick with this one." The End. So, Israel signed a covenant that had huge penalties for breaking that covenant, but there where ways of forgiving those penalties through sacrifices. Now, the gentiles where offered a contract that basically says, as you treat others I will treat you. If you forgive, I will forgive. If you love others, I will show my great love to you. If you judge, you will be judged. For it says, Give and it will be given to you press down and overflowing will I pour into your lap. It's almost like multiplication. As we give it is multiplied to us. Now, a lot of Christians use this for wealth and self centered reasons, but I think these are shallow application. Some Christians try to control others by fear of hell, and so they are away trying to control their lives and the lives of others because they are running scared from the fires of hell that they feel are closing in on them fast. I tend to figure that I am worthy of hell and so my life is forfeit and so that frees me to just love others with out that fear; weird paradox. But anyway these are just thoughts from one struggling searcher for actual truth to another… For more articles by this author click here