things i think

Bill: "If you're gonna pick all the raisins out, why buy Raisin Bran?
Mario: "For the bread."

while i see mario's side too, i'm with bill. never understood how religious people, especially those who quote from the bible right and left as reasons why we should/shouldn't do things, can't see the contradictory nature of their statements. either you take it all, or you don't, right? but not with the so-called cafeteria catholicism and its protestant, etc counterparts.

it just surprises me that people have such strong beliefs in certain parts of their "religion" but then completely disavow or ignore other aspects they don't feel represent them. ok, i can accept that there are going to be different opinions about issues, and that your view may not go in line with your religion's, but shouldn't that be a bigger problem than just something you ignore?

i don't feel i'm really getting my point across here, but i always have problems explaining myself on things like this. what it boils down to is that i have issues with religious people who do things because of their religion, but then don't pay attention to other aspects of it. religion to me seems more of an all or nothing. faith, on the other hand, is not like that. something many people don't seem to realize is that you can have faith without religion. and, quite importantly, faith is separate from religion. one does influence the other, in both ways really, but they are not the same thing.

so really, religion to me boils down to seeming like just another way to group yourself with others of similar views. which is fine, but don't go calling that some mandate from god to do things a certain way and spout off on how people who disagree are going to hell.