religion

is my religion a REAL religion or is it a philosophy?

what kind of question is that?? *thinking* okay. if by religion you mean beliefs that are guiding forces in my life, that guide my actions and decisions, that affect how i interact with people and the world around me ... ummmm yeah my religion is a religion.

but do i go to church? well hey now. there's a HUGE difference between religious and religiosity. ask any real sociologist. religion is the set of beliefs etc etc etc ... religiosity is the whole ritualized observance crap that i so don't subscribe to. i don't push my beliefs on other people (proselytizing), i don't need to be surrounded by like-minded individuals in group rituals (seriously i'm not a group person so why would i need to go to church to experience my religion???)

and okay i really don't have any need to know there are lots of people out there who are the same religion because seriously what do i care what your religion is? it's YOUR religion ... you gotta live with it, not me.

well okay it might make a difference if we lived together and we were vastly different in religions ... well, no, actually, it wouldn't really make any difference to me, but it might make a huge difference to you.

in which case, living together wouldn't last long would it.

basically what it boils down to is this:

• i need to live my life being the best person i know how.
• believing what i do, i try to treat people with the respect and consideration i believe is due to them as cohabitors of this universe.
• i try to make a difference however small or unnoticed in life ... it isn't about recognition and it sure isn't about peoples' gratitude because that's not why i do it ... i do it because that's what i believe is right

so what's so weird about that?