Same but with my parents, I was forced to go to church. Ended up same cozy place as @Victork2 too, and luckily we didn’t baptize out kids and they are free to think whatever they want about religion/spirituality.
That said we explained very realistically and bias-free the differences about religions, and we used to have most of the holy books at home. (and read them too 
)
My kids are free to do whatever they want spiritually as long as they don’t try and force it on me 
Beautiful! I am a true believer of every word. I would gladly die to help spread this truth to a world starving to understand, each of us, our place in the Universe. Wait! Not only am I a believer, I am a disciple.
I have had some HARDCORE arguements with my wife on this subject
I can get quite vociferous about it after a few beers.
It usually ends up with me describing the inherent selfishness of a species that doesn’t want to take responsibility for itself and its existence so it invents nonsense like “fate” “chance” “luck” and religion to hide its pathetic fear of rationally looking at the universe as bigger than is possible to imagine
Agree. I try to guide them along what I think is logically and ethically sound, but ultimately the decision is up to them
It won’t happen in our lifetime, but IMHO the only way that our species survives is to think of ourselves not as members of a race, religion, or nationality, but most importantly as members of humanity. There were times in my life when I felt that we were edging that way, only to be set back by one catastrophic blunder or another. Probably a good topic for another thread: when have you felt yourself a kindred spirit with a supposed enemy?
I’m with you all the way, but I think you answered your own question.
Many people take comfort in the thought of an afterlife and a diety taking care of everything.
Absolutely. And back through history, church and state were inseparable to the point that the state could do nothing without the blessing of the church, often because the church owned the bank.
There is power in religion and in the appearance of religion…
I totally agree with you, and the diplomatic response (which is the only response you can use in polite conversation like this) is that everyone is entitled to live and believe whatever they want to, they are no more right, or wrong than i am.
However, my genuine view on this is its a selfish attempt to anthropomorphise (spelling?) Something that is completely impossible to quantify.
Now, my own wife believes in “something” maybe not god or similar but believes we are guided somehow, which is fine! But i just cannot imagine the immensity of the power wielded to create something as impossibly large and grand as the universe, let alone all that is within that universe down to the subatomic level. Its a (seems like a) cop out.
I find it personally much more comfortable to believe in nothing. We are a random accident of physics and chemistry. Its a beautiful accident, majestic even! But to believe someone created us, is judging and guiding us and even waiting for us to cross over? Its too easy and it seems like a selfish reaction to a fear. Not a rational and sane relationship with the rest of an existence
Can we also acknowledge the fact that I’m fully prepared to have a humbling conversation about these views at some pearly gates someday
I find the idea of heaven, hell! I loved my now deceased mother. Same for my father. Plus uncles, close friends, pets and too many aviation acquaintances to count–all dead. But the thought of facing any of these people in the afterlife and explaining my decisions, actions, thoughts would be the worst sort of nightmare! I just don’t see the appeal past heaven being an easy balm to children first coming to grips with the idea of death. I love that universe cares nothing more about me than my mass and small amount of generated heat.
Religious people counter this with “You mean you don’t believe in a higher power?!” As if I am the arrogant one in the discussion! They are the ones who believe that the creator of the Universe knows about them and actually makes changes to benefit them, even if those changes harm others. Tell me again, who is arrogant? Pope @Victork2 has the truth of it. Knowledge and acceptance of that truth is bliss!
Perfection. Absolutely perfect
Nah mate, with your non-belief, like me you are going straight to hell 
In all seriousness, what you have written on this subject resonates so strongly with me I have copied and saved it for future reference 
I’m just a tyre fitter.
