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Apr. 25, 2005 Belief in God is not a matter of serious study and examination of empirical evidence; religious faith is almost always determined by one's upbringing. Most Americans end up as disciples of the same religion as their parents. As a child I wasn't a Roman Catholic because I had done a study of "Comparative Religions" and concluded that Catholicism made the most sense; I was a Roman Catholic because my parents were Roman Catholics. As an adult I started to think for myself and realized that the Pope was not infallible; Mary was not a Virgin and Jesus Christ did not walk on water or perform any other miracles that defied physics and common sense. Catholicism as well as other religions are not based on fact, but on faith. Many Christians as well as adherents of other religions have tried to bring me back to a belief in a higher power by urging me to take a "leap of faith". A "leap of faith" by its very nature excludes the exercise of your intellect. To take a "leap of faith" you must shut down your brain and open your mind to all sorts of superstition. Never mind that the Bible is full of inaccuracies and inconsistencies -- just trust in Jesus Christ to save you. A "leap of faith" leaves you open to serious injury. When you take a flying leap, you may hurt yourself when you land. Indeed, when truth seekers take a "leap of faith" and become Mormons, evangelicals or Jehovah's Witnesses, they often become shattered, fragile husks of their former selves. When you take a "leap of faith" and walk down an aisle and make a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ, the public nature of your act makes it unlikely that you will soon recant. You may eventually come to realize that your new religion is all a bunch of baloney, but you will be too embarrassed to admit your mistake. When you make a "leap of faith", you are making a jump from one place to another. Unfortunately, when "sinners" take a "leap of faith" and become born-again Christians, they leave behind their friends and family. They have leaped away from their old way of life, and are too holy to associate with those they left behind. A "leap of faith" is like a high induced by drugs, it doesn't last very long, and you will soon crash back to earth. Man wasn't meant to fly, when you take a flying leap, you will soon come back to reality. If you base your belief system on an irrational leap of faith, your foundation will eventually crumble -- leaving you feeling empty and lost. So, dear Christian brothers and sisters, I will decline your invitation to take a "leap of faith". I am content and satisfied in my state of unbelief. ------------ About the author: Robert Paul Reyes is a columnist for the Lynchburg Ledger. Email: rreyes4966@aol.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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