[b said:
Quote[/b] (soccer_12 @ Jan. 18 2004,9:41)]The conflict in Iraq wasnt what I was refering to but most of the middle east is controlled by so called musliuem extremists who are using the Khiran (sp?) as a way to control the people.
Anyways the thing I'm getting at is that why do you need to practice a religion, does it really make a difference to read a book, go to church, not to eat a certain food, wear a certain symbol, be afriad if you don't applogice to God for making a mistake. As far as I see it, you can be a good honest person and have a more enjoyable life, have more free time and not feel different than others, without religion and without God.
This is true. For a while, you can feel good, and have a great time without God.
For a while. Sooner or later though, the time comes when it's time to pay your bill. Judgement comes with death. There is no way around this. Sin and the care free lifestyle you espouse, comes at a price and a heavy debt. The question is, has your debt been paid or not. I know mine has.
But let's forgo the eternal rewards of following Christ, and think of just this existance.
A majority of God's laws allow you to live a happier and healthier life.
A prime example is sex. It's been proven that if you wait until you are married to have sex, you are statistically going to have more, better sex, than promiscous single and married people who were promiscious prior to marriage.
And to answer your question. Yes it does matter. Reading a book, helps us to see the sin in our lives. Going to church, helps us to relate and strengthen each other. Eating a certain food? That's actually a hit at foods that often carried harsh parasites that we now know how to prepare properly.
And it's not apologizing to God for making a mistake. To apologize means that we EXPECT to be forgiven, that we are on equal footing with the person that we are apologizing to. Safe in the knowledge that said person has probably done something similar to someone else. We can't apologize to God. God is a perfect being, we do not DESERVE the forgiveness He bestows upon those who merely ask for it.
Why does the world need religion? It doesn't. But each of us NEEDS Christ. Each of us NEED a relationship with the Creator and His son. And each of us NEED to seek out that Son, and ask for His blood to cover our debts, with the small payment of following His teachings, which are neither hard nor troublesome. Now if you call that a religion or a relationship is up to you. Yet it doesn't change the fact that Christ is needed.