I believe in God because I can't not believe in God. I grew up with this belief surrounding me and now that I am grown and able to question my beliefs and my environment, I have found that I cannot function in a world without something bigger than myself to govern it. Call it a failing, but I consider it a strength because I believe religion has served a useful and sometimes necessary function in society. It gives hope during tragedies and catastrophes; provides an answer for unknown mysteries such and death and sacrificial love; it creates unity within cultures and a set of unified moral codes to live by; it allows one to live without having to constantly reassess the basic tenets of the world around you; it creates hope where there is none; answers unanswerable questions; provides a means to ponder the mysteries of life; and helps me to feel that I'm not alone in the world. That some being understands my thoughts and struggles perfectly and cares enough about me to attend to them. That's why I believe there is a God; and to anybody that disagrees I respect and admire your position, because I know I don't have the strength to live without my belief.
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PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce
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