Well, to be honest, I can really understand your reasons... I HAVE had these thoughts. I don't ignore these things and i hope one day i will understand why they are there.
Yes, religion has been used to control, and personally, i feel sick about it.
How can George Bush go to war and say it is God's will? It says in the bible that Peace was to be primary. 'Turn the cheek' sorta thing.
Well, i no its petty, but no, i don't worship on saturday because im a christian... Jews worship on saturdays... christians worship everyday. The day of rest no longer counts. Jesus expressed his views on this when he constantly healed on the sabbath.
Well, i wouldn't have so much faith in God, unless he had somehow proved himself to me. I'm human... i can't completely believe in something unless i know the facts... otherwise i doubt it... and i have. At first i was questioning everything. I kept testing God. But there are too many situations that i have experienced, that God has been a part of. And i just cannot deny his existance...
And, if you imagine what you have been taught... if you really sit back and think that this God is a God of Love, Justice, mercy and tenderness. A God of Hate... who hates the injustices of people... and a God of Jealousy... who is jealous for his Children... If he is these things, then he must have some sort of reason. I know he is much more powerful, much more intelligent and much wiser than me, so i have no problem trusting in him... and there is also the fact that Satan does all he can to turn us away from the relationship we can have with God. He creates stuff that will cause us to stray... and im not sure if its him that creates diseases etc... but its my best bet so far...
Also, you're right about nature... but worshipping it?
And yep! Jesus is COOL MAN!
AND, if a child, who would have the most questions, can get into heaven because of belief... then im sure you can...
its your heart that hes after... and if you're a good person... and you do it for the simple fact you want to be good... then i think you already believe to a certain degree...?
But you're right...
We ARE all entitled to our opinions... so...