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My Religion MAG

By Anonymous

I have a magnet on my mirror stating, “Life is not about finding yourself – life is about creating yourself.” This is the statement I live by.

Many people do not believe me when I say I am an atheist. They don’t understand that I simply do not believe in any sort of god or afterlife. I also do not believe in the devil, in angels, or in souls. I believe in myself and the strength I have gained through the help of my parents, teachers, and friends – and my own hard work.

I am not going to try to dissuade anyone from his or her own opinions either. I know that people enjoy having religion in their lives; some need their faith to help them through hard times. And some do not want the responsibility of their misfortunes weighing down on their shoulders.

I do. I abhor the idea of fate – that everything is already planned out and you have no control to change anything. If you believe in fate, when bad things happen, it is not your fault; it’s just fate. When my life is not going well, I know that it is no one’s fault but my own. When I do well in school, when I fall in love, it is not fate and we are not soul mates. I worked hard and paid attention and did the homework. My love and I simply love each other – that is all it is, and for me that is all it needs to be.

For some, life is overwhelming. How can anyone be successful and happy in such a difficult, horrible world? They need someone to help them, someone to guide them, and someone to have faith in to make sure things get better. Placing my success and happiness in another’s hands breaks my heart. I need to be successful because of my efforts. I must be responsible for my own happiness. That is what I need from my religion.

Who will ever know what the truth really is? All I know is in the same way that some have full faith and trust in God to give them hope, I need to believe I am on my own to be truly happy – for how can I create myself if I spend my entire life just looking?

© Anonymous

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JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 764 comments.

BVBlover BRONZE said...
on May. 29 2011 at 11:01 am
BVBlover BRONZE, Glasgow, Other
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i have said before i am an aithiest but i am not against religion i just don't think that we are ruled by a devine being. I understand that while religion can be comforting it has no real basis that anyone can prove
BVBlover BRONZE said...
on May. 29 2011 at 10:50 am
BVBlover BRONZE, Glasgow, Other
4 articles 0 photos 9 comments
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can i just make the comment that the big bang and science is not crud because:

1- there is proof the big bang existed it still echoes 5million years later and

2- science is a great way of explaining how and why things happen

do you have any proof that G.O.D created everything....

it seems that religion is all about beliving something with no actual basis except from a book.

I'm not trying to slag anybody for their religion, I personally are aithiest and my mother won't accept it and makes me go to church which is rather unfair. 

BeautifulWords BRONZE said...
on May. 29 2011 at 3:02 am
BeautifulWords BRONZE, PHOENIX, Arizona
1 article 0 photos 1 comment
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I read this article and I felt a sadness. Sadness because I know that one day you will wake up and realize that you are alone, and not as powerful as you thought. We like to believe that we are in control, but in reality, is it us that makes the sun rise, the rain fall? Is it us that give life and take it away? I am not trying to change your opinion, because you are entitled to it. But when your life is spinning out of control and you have nothing to hold onto, will yourself be enough?
Sky.. BRONZE said...
on May. 14 2011 at 11:29 pm
Sky.. BRONZE, Manteca, California
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This is sad. I think people that cannot believe in anything are more lost than those who do belive in something that most might consider morally wrong. I would rather be wrong than lost any day. I mean, if you can't even belive in something as simple as who or what created you, then is what you think you know really important at all? What's the point of anything if you don't believe in anything in the first place?
Free- GOLD said...
on May. 14 2011 at 9:32 pm
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Interesting and honest view point, but it depresses me. well-written though
AliBali BRONZE said...
on May. 14 2011 at 4:24 pm
AliBali BRONZE, Bremerton, Washington
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I love how you can boldy state your opinion without fear, and I can clearly understand it! That is how I feel a lot of the time. My best friends are all religious and go to youth group, and I've gone with them a couple of times, but everything that they say there just doesn't click with me. I believe in just nature itself and trying hard to be the best that you can be!
Kareebear. said...
on May. 11 2011 at 3:57 pm
love the fact that you are not afraid to write what you believe and say what you have to say . i commend you for that. i also liked some of the things you had to say too . but i disagree with you at points. i am a christian. and sometimes i believe fate brings some ppl together and makes some things happen but i also think that believing in God or any higher power is not just for relying on it or to find yourself or just using it . its much more than that . you can have happiness in this world. i just think that it is through God in which you can have total happiness . But i do like this article. =)
HannahsEvolving SILVER said...
on May. 4 2011 at 4:56 pm
HannahsEvolving SILVER, Crestwood, Kentucky
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Amazing post! i agree (:
HisAmbassador BRONZE said...
on Apr. 25 2011 at 9:09 pm
HisAmbassador BRONZE, Frederick, Michigan
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I understand what you are saying and to tell you the truth, Yes i am trying to show them God's love and His truth. It is out of love not bragging saying i am right. We are each a sinner and i want to see each person enjoy God's love
Tabansi BRONZE said...
on Apr. 25 2011 at 7:19 pm
Tabansi BRONZE, JACKSON, New Jersey
2 articles 0 photos 12 comments
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I know that your entitled to your opinion, as I am to mine, but it just sounds like your subliminally trying to get this person, and any other person, to switch from their religion, or non-religion, to yours, just because you feel that that is the correct way to live. What works for you most certaintly does not work for everybody.
Bones96 BRONZE said...
on Apr. 22 2011 at 8:51 pm
Bones96 BRONZE, Charlotte, North Carolina
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I really like your post. I agree with what your saying, good job! :) 
FatesMistake13 said...
on Apr. 22 2011 at 5:22 pm
FatesMistake13, Springerville, Arizona
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i think its because the people who first believed in god couldnt comprehend the person(thing) who they believed made everything to be a woman when women were practically property.
dolphin13 BRONZE said...
on Mar. 31 2011 at 6:15 pm
dolphin13 BRONZE, North St. Paul, Minnesota
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I understand how you want to have control of your life, but really how can anyone say that they control the good and bad in their life when no one is conscious of their own heart beat. In a minute a heart can stop, a stroke could occur, tumors can build up, and multiple other injuries could occur. That is why I believe in God. I see the sunrise, the sunset, the Grand Canyon, the mountains, the variety of animals, and my one body functioning with little control on my part. This makes me realize that God exists and he cares about all of us.  
jennaberry said...
on Mar. 18 2011 at 7:46 am
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What was life like before your birth?  I imagine it's the same after death. :)
LiquidSilver BRONZE said...
on Mar. 17 2011 at 7:06 pm
LiquidSilver BRONZE, Marshalltown, Iowa
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Sarah,

As a Christian, I want to tell you something. God does exist, as does Satan. Please, do not listen to the ideas that God doesn't exist and neither do souls, demons, or the Devil. They are all very real. 

I want you to know this for your safety. Satan wants you to think that God doesn't exist, neither does Heaven nor Hell. Do not listen to his lies! Please!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, and whomever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16. God is telling us that He wants us to be in Heaven with him when we die, or when Jesus comes again. Please, at least consider what I have told you. Even though I hardly know you, I want you to be safe when you die. I want you to be saved.

Thanks for reading.

Marnina said...
on Mar. 16 2011 at 7:45 pm
Marnina, Eugene, Oregon
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I'm not an atheist but, whenever I say I went to church or say i'm religious they assume i'm a Christian.
maddiefacecupcake SILVER said...
on Mar. 16 2011 at 5:22 pm
maddiefacecupcake SILVER, Hamburg, New York
5 articles 0 photos 8 comments

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pardon me, but that's such an ignorant and rediculous thing to say. if someone as yourself claims that religion confines and is too judgemental, you are rather hypocrytical. religion is NOT an excuse for bad behavior, even though many people abuse this concept, but a relationship with a god that millions of people trust and hold dear. even if religion is just a way to explain the world, as was the sole reason in beginning years, it still helps people get through the day. yeah, some people NEED hope and trust in something maybe they can't explain. I don't care if YOU don't believe in it, but don't patronize those who do.
nefariouslyme said...
on Mar. 13 2011 at 4:29 pm
nefariouslyme, Richland, Michigan
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I am truly happy, and I don't need a faith in God for that. I'm not offended that someone wants me to  be happier, I'm offended that someone is trying to get me to follow their ways when I have already made my own decision, and I made it perfectly clear to that person.
asdfjikl said...
on Mar. 12 2011 at 9:37 pm
asdfjikl, Oakdale, Pennsylvania
0 articles 0 photos 7 comments
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YES! Tolerance, for sure!
Bren_Bren BRONZE said...
on Mar. 10 2011 at 11:16 pm
Bren_Bren BRONZE, Memphis, Tennessee
3 articles 0 photos 19 comments

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I really do agree with you because every one has thier own opinion