179 - Faith without church

Sometimes somebody writes something that you think to yourself, "those are my thoughts exactly!" You just never bothered to assemble them in one spot in your brain and write them down. John has hit the nail on the head in his editorial in the Post-Dispatch.


Faith without church

The story "Number of nonbelievers is on the rise in Europe, U.S." (Sept. 16) was about people losing their faith in God because of the radical fundamentalism of certain religious leaders and sects, with the Islamic jihadists being the most obvious current example. A religion, a church and a creed are not required to believe in God or to lead a righteous life.

A church or organized religion merely is one group's set of instructions on how to lead a moral life. It is a dogma created by men that, regardless of its original intent, too often has become a tool to promote that church's worldview. History is replete with pogroms, crusades, religious wars and simple intolerance driven by religious beliefs. Too many religions have become all about wielding power, whether through telling people what to believe or in killing those who don't believe.

Any belief in God, Allah, Yahweh, Buddha or even Zeus or Jupiter is the most intensely personal experience that you ever will have — or not have. The whole purpose of any moral philosophy, be it religious or secular, is to help us live lives that are purposeful and good. Following the Golden Rule — do unto others as you would have them do unto you — always has worked for me. Either way, it is up to the individual, not some self- or church-appointed human who claims to speak for the Almighty.

John xxxxxxxx| St. Louis

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