Well, I'm just a college student right now, and I don't pretend to know everything about religion. I'm in a Religions of the World course this semester and have learned a lot.

From what I understand, to my current knowledge, I tend to find that all religions say two distinct things to people. People are easily manipulated, and How to be a "Good Person".

It seems people like to belong, to feel safe, I guess you could say. They feel like they have to have the answers to everything to feel a sense of security. So they pick an ideology or religion and think their problems are solved.

I wasn't raised by any religion, but I feel like I am a good person. I don't hate anyone, I don't harm something/someone for any reason, I believe in peace and mindfulness.

I don't pretend like I know everything, I admit i'm still learning about life, and am very thankful I was given to oppurtunity to attend college. I've learned so many things so far and have begun to formulate my own ideals, which, ultimately, everyone should have that option provided to them.

I've begun to think, attaching your mind to a single ideal is not healthy for one's intellectual growth. It is impossible to know "everything", the minute you commit yourself to a single ideology or train of thought, you narrow any sort of intellectual growth potential. That's not to say you won't learn, but in my opinion, you don't learn as much, you put on a pair of glasses that narrow your viewpoint of life.

However, having not grown up and never been a religious person, in terms of current western culture, my opinions only hold so much weight when talking about such issues. Maybe I'll start a thread similar to this one at the end of the semester and see how far i've come intellectually on this matter.