being very religious growing up, i was hand fend my share of religion every day at school. I took it with a grain of salt and did my time. I agree that there is a higher power, but for me...some of the worst people i knew growing up were so called "religious people". I have read some of the bible passages as directed by my teachers. One of the biggest debates i had was EVOLUTION. You see, i'm a scientist, thats my religion. I believe in science. I find that organized religion is too much for me, too many rule, too many mindless time consuming things to worship. My summer reading list, aside from my job requirements of getting a new certification as a personal trainer, will be the bible, i have been putting it off for too long. My goal is to read deeper into the passages and find myself a meaning in it. I do not wish to "restore" my faith, i just dont believe in alot of the public shows of faith. I live my life not through the ways described to me in the bible, but through what i think is moral and i try to be a GOOD person and help people out, and do it with a smile.

The reason i stopped believing/practicing is because of a friend who said to me...
"i can't believe in something thats not proven, all we have to believe in this stuff is 4 guys who wrote a story on a man(the new testament), and some old scholarly scrolls."

i do believe that jesus was alive and he was crucified, and he was a GREAT human being. But i question the fact that he really proclaimed himself as the son of god, or if he was made that way, a Martyr for the catholic faith, by the writers of the new testament.