An Introduction

I’ve wanted to put my writing skills to better use for some time now, but couldn’t settle on a topic I found worthy. To organize my thoughts I took a look at the topics I generally bring up with people: sex (yes, I’m a pervert, just like you!) and religion. Why do I talk about these two things so often? I would say that my obsession with sex is biological, but my obsession with religion? I’m not so sure. One thing is certain though – my journey of belief has been one of the most important of my life. I simply can’t stop talking about it!

Maybe some people would like to put their religious or moral upbringing behind them, or not question why their beliefs are what they are. I, on the other hand, find the questions of moral upbringing and choice of beliefs to be my siren song.  Why do some people stick with the beliefs they were raised with? Because those beliefs are good? Because those beliefs are easy? Because they don’t want to come up with beliefs of “their own”?

This blog is intended as an exploration of these questions:

What beliefs were you raised with and how did this affect you?

Do you still believe in what you were taught morally/religiously, or have you chosen something different. Why?

I found that these questions will often begin a conversation of epic proportions. Having purchased an audio recorder, I've started to preserve the conversations I have with people. I may also have conversations through email, social networking, etc. On this blog I will share these conversations in either audio or written form.

What is my intent? My intent is to create open dialogue among people about belief. Yes, this blog will be biased towards Agnosticism, Atheism, and Secular Humanism. But, I am going to give the best reasons I possibly can for what I believe and why. I will also do my best to listen to beliefs that conflict with my own without being egotistical and dismissive. I ask others to do the same when they listen to me.

I fear this blog is a massive undertaking that will bring me more pain than joy, but I hope that my readers and contributors will understand that a better world is one where we let go of our egos and try not to control one another. I think many people can agree on that! So please, blog readers, be kind to one another as we interact on this blog.