h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello John,

I read your page, quite by accident, and I thought I'd air my views on religion for you, as you asked.

At the moment, I would say I am still an agnostic. With the number of religions on the market today, it seems very difficult to pick one to follow. I don't see why Christianity should be right rather than the Greek Gods, just because Christianity is a more recent religion. Most people, I don't doubt, follow their chosen religion because of their upbringing, and it has been drilled into them from an early age to think what they do about (excuse the phrase) life, the universe and everything.

Some people have said that I have unusual views on religion, but I thought you might like to hear them. I don't, actually believe in the stories told about religious characters. In my mind, stories about these prophets have been made up, to put across a message. The message itself being more important than the actual story, but by telling a story about it, people will be more likely to listen to it.

The Bible, for example, is full of messages, and morals, which I do attempt to follow. In my mind, the story of Jesus is there to explain the morals to people. The same is true for Budhism, the tale of Prince Sidatra is there to explain the morals, and so they can be understandable to a wider audience. And is not meant to be taken litterally.

We already suspect that the universe was not created by a thought from God, but by a Big Bang, and that it was evolution that made up where we are today, not Adam and his friend Eve. These stories are there, partly as an attempt to explain, but also as moral stories.

I also, don't doubt, that there is something inherent in humans, that makes them wish for a greater being than them. Someone else to shoulder the responsibilty.

As someone once said, "If God didn't exist, humans would have to make him up."

With so many different, conflicting religions, I can't see how one is right above another. Religions that people disbelieve, or don't follow are usually because they were not brought up with them. I'm sure if you and I were brought up strongly worshipping the Roman Gods we wouldn't hesitate to follow them.

However, I am not completely ruling out the existance of a supernatural being. By his nature, a God would be beyond the comprehension of a human brain. Just because we can not explain their existance by logical human explanations doesn't mean they don't exist. Their existance is meant to be beyond our comprehension, which is why I do not follow people who given rational arguments for the existance or non-existance of God.

Please reply to this message, if just to say you've read it, as I'm new here, and knowing me have probably posted this in the "101 things to do with spoons" page or something.

All the best

-Steven