This is the biggest problem I have with religion. One of the basic tenets of many religions is the idea that if you do not believe in the religion, you are going to hell. This is true in almost every western religion I have ever learned about.

How better to accentuate differences than to say "If you do not believe what I believe, you are inherently evil and are going to burn for eternity in the Dark Lord's lake of fire."

In addition, the basic canon for Christian religions in the Bible. People say they do whatever the Bible says, but at the same time, very few of these people have actually read the book cover to cover. If they had, they would miss some very important things they are claiming to base their life upon. For example, the idea put forth in the book of Leviticus that says if you take the name of the lord in vain, you must be stoned to death by the people in your town. The book of Exodus is particularly sweet as well, when it says that you must pay a fine if you beat one of your slaves to death, but only if he or she dies immediately; if you beat the person to within an inch if their life and dies a few days later, it is ok, because the person is your property.

I cannot in good conscience base my life upon a book that has such things written in it. And there are plenty more examples. (Death for eating shellfish? Beg your pardon?) I think religion can be good, but it has to be taught in the right way, and teaching the above ideals that were set out in the Bible is not the right way.

Britt