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OK, I'll jump in! I was raised Catholic but am firmly in the Agnostic camp these days. The easiest way for me to explain it is I don't believe in RELIGION. I think the movie Dogma does a tragically good job of explaining what's wrong with organized religion.
I took a couple religion courses in college (taught by a Rabbi who was one of the most popular professors there) and really enjoyed them but they probably were a big cause of me dumping religion as a practice. The more I learned about the bible the more I felt like it's simply a work of fiction, is in general not a manual for a good life (even though that's what we're told), stole so fast and loose from older religions that it's laughable and has been modified too many times for political reasons to be trusted. By the time I'd reached my late 20's the writing was pretty much on the wall for me, and after meeting my husband, the son and grandson of THREE evangelical ministers (2 were the bad kind; one actually believed in helping people less fortunate), it became very easy to quit the pretense of belief in dogma. Yes, he's everything you'd expect - took drugs, in a punk band, dropped out of high school, etc. etc. If I'd have met him as a younger man there isn't a chance I'd have looked twice at him; well, except for his awesome rock star hair.
Interestingly, I work for an organization now that teaches the culture of the Emirates, and among that is the religion. So I know quite a bit about Islam. I have come to respect some parts of it, but again, most of the dogma is retarded and based in something important from 1600 years ago. The reason, for instance, that you don't eat pork is because you'll get trichinosis and die. Nobody has died of trichinosis in a seriously long time and I think that rule could be eliminated, but they can't because GOD told them so, 1600 years ago when there was no refrigeration and they lived in the desert.
So what DO I believe? And yes, there are several disconnects here, and I'm ok with that. I don't have to understand why these things resonate with me; they just do.
I believe in reincarnation, along the Buddhist principles of continuing on a path toward enlightenment. It helps me accept why some people who've never done anything bad to anyone seem to be constantly punished.
I believe that Ganesh is the cutest god, and the easiest to please (all you have to do is feed him).
I believe "god" is the spiritual life force in us, and is responsible for the Big Bang.
I believe evolution is real and people who don't believe this are seriously pathetic.
I believe being good is better than being strong
I believe going to church does not make you good
I believe any religion that focuses on negativity or punishment should be avoided at all cost. Do you go to church to feel better or to avoid going to hell?
I believe Catholicism is polytheism, which is fine with me. I think this is probably why non-Catholic christians probably see it as non-christian.
I believe everyone should have a day of rest.
I believe every marriage should start with a marriage contract, like that used in Islam.
I believe the world would probably be a better place without organized religion.
I believe in angels and ghosts but I have some work ahead of me to clarify that position.
I believe the incredible focus on christian based religion in US politics right now is to the detriment of the society as a whole. These people who think the founders were all christian are sorely mistaken and they are hurting everyone as a result. (cutting to the chase, UU and Deism are not christian)
And I was going to make a crack about the designated hitter, but I'll skip it. Suffice it to say I think it's the woosy way out. Man up and grab a bat!
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