>We also
>need to keep in mind that
>assorted
religious beliefs
>have absolutely nothing to do
>with whether or not god
>exists. If s/he/it does exist,
>she may be nothing like
>*anything* humans have
>imagined.


Completely and totally agree with you. I have my own odd spiritual background, that (I think) has given me a different twist on God.
I was raised some mixture of atheist/pagan. I rebelled at 15 and joined the Episcopalian church (and that was a wonderful experience. Sometimes I still miss my old church - and I am sure I would go back sometimes except that it is in North Carolina). I came back to paganism around 18 - now more pagan that atheist. I have intense connections from my past life with catholicism....So my conclusion is that our belief systems are all true. An atheist believe that there is no God - so there is no God. Muslims belive in Allah - so there is Allah. Christians believe they will go to heaven when they die - so they will go to heaven. I believe in reincarnation - so I will be reincarnated. There is no way to say who is right and who is wrong in any of this. We cannot prove God or Satan or total Chaos. So if a belief comforts someone (and they are not harming others from a place of that belief) I am all for whatever they want to belive in.
I think that the center of the Pagan doctrine of behavior makes more sense than any other rules and regulations I have read.

"And thou harm none, do as thou will."

I think that makes sense. Of course, we are going to end up harming some one, some animal, some plant, sooner or later...but living from a place of trying consciously to "harm none" seems (to me) to make a big difference.