Walking the Middle: An Agnostics View on Life, the Universe, and Everything

Before Christianity, before monotheistic religions had the wide following of today’s world, there was a man. His name was Lucretius, and ancient philosopher and one of the earliest advocates for the then theory of atoms. This being before the current religion of popularity would allow such thoughts.

Among talking of his thoughts on the origins of mankind and religion (and its immorality), he had many interesting arguments against religion. One of which being the story of Iphigenia and her sacrifice to insure the safe passage of her father’s fleet. Of course none of our modern religions have such violent histories (please note the heavy sarcasm).

But of all his arguments I have read thus far, there is one that is very interesting. Even more so when you consider the world this argument originated in.

“If out of nothing things sprang into life, then every species from all...

In this work, I cannot speak for all atheists and I cannot speak for all theists. I am neither, and I cannot claim to know everything about them. But I have observed both sides for many years, enough time I think to form a valid opinion.

Theists believe in one or many gods, and as a generally rule they dedicate their lives in service to their deities in whatever way that particular God commands. All theists believe theirs is the “one true” religion and all others are manmade fakes.

Most religions function on the idea of an afterlife that will either reward or punish you for your conduct on earth. They are judged based on their adherence to a moral code as dictated by their God.

Atheists, by definition, believe in precisely the opposite. They do not believe in any form of a higher power, nor do...

(For those who are new to this blog, please read 'Preface to the Journey' before continuing) 

God is many things in the Christian Bible, vengeful, angry, jealous, curious, imperfect (though never faulted for it), and generally just a big chaotic mess. Yet the one thing that is consistent, God has been a liar from the beginning.

"From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die." Genesis 2:16-17

Thus Adam and Eve wandered in the garden tending to it as was their duty from God, two of the first humans with no concept of good and evil or right and wrong. Until that one day when Eve got talking to a serpent.

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast...

(For those new to this blog, please read 'Preface to the Journey' before continuing)

Years ago I once called myself a Christian. I went to church, I prayed, and I did my best to believe in Jesus Christ who apparently was my Savior.

I was somewhere between nine and eleven years old, and one of my best friends had invited me to go to church with her family as mine did not practice any religion at all.

My mother, who tried to expose me to all kinds of faith, agreed. Having only gone to Methodist and Nazarene churches, she thought it would be good for me to experience a Baptist church.

I don't remember much from any church before. But when it comes to the year I spent at Spears Corner Baptist, I could live a hundred years and still recall every detail of that place.

(For those who are new to this blog, please read 'Preface to the Journey' before continuing)

When I was a kid we played a game called Telephone. About five to fifteen of us would stand in a line with our backs to the wall, and someone on one of the ends would whisper something to the next kid in line. Whatever they said would then get passed down the line until it reached the other end.

The thing is though, no matter how many kids were lined up, the message always changed by the time it reached the end. One can never know if it was only that something got misheard along the way, or if some jerk in line deliberately changed it for his own amusement.

I can't help but apply this to my views on religion. Christianity in particular believes their holy book the...