I believe in a supreme force – but religion is a waste of time

There is an interesting and distinctly irreverent author by the name of Steve Pavlina, who writes about the exponential increase in knowledge. His ideas resonate strongly with my views.

I should explain more of who I am. I am the son of a dysfunctional Jewish family. (My father regards himself as a solid believer, but my mother is and was not so sure about the whole schmeer). I went to religion school every Saturday from age 7. By the time I was 11, I was additionally attending Hebrew school two more sessions/week, in order to read from the Torah at my Bar Mitzvah.

After that my parents somehow coerced me into taking weekly afternoon classes from age 13 to 16 so I could be “confirmed” in the “American Reform Congregation”. I can’t remember how they managed to make me go. Maybe I was threatened with being sent to the homeless shelter in Camden NJ, which was enough of a scare for any 14 year old.

There is more. Since I attended a Quaker high school, I was required to take 2 more year-long courses in the ‘Christian’ way, as it is understood by the Society of Friends. I learned all about the idea that God sent Jesus to teach us the truth of HIS love and all that rubbish. I took it in so I could debate with people (who I usually didn’t like) who want me to give up my ideas and embrace theirs.

Steve Pavlina summarizes what is wrong with religion and so-called “faith” in his
10 reasons you should never have a religion.

Warning: it may offend some sensibilities.
an