Well I view myself as one who believes in -the almighty- as a person before me had said. In all honesty I think it would be rather foolish to look at the world around us, realizing all that we do not know and cannot understand, and yet deny the idea of someone or something actually crafting the blue-print which causes trees, flowers, creatures, and people to look the way they are, to act the way they act. If nothing else you have to fathom the high probability of their being a Great Creator behind all of this. If this is so true, I believe there is only tiny things you have to lose to gain so much.
On a latter note, there are also many many cases of faith being the driving force in turning people's life around. From celebrities such as Johnny Cash and Robin Williams to even closer to home like my uncle (also an ex-junky and a felon who is now probably the cleanest, and most honorable person you could meet.) I simply don't think that we as human beings have the capacity in most cases to do such things by ourselves when we're in the deepest depths and can't even see the way out. There is a reason you see people make a dive into faith when they reach the lowest of the low, for some it doesn't take that much, but for others it is the only time when God becomes most obvious and needed.
For those who complain about not wanting to go to church on Sunday, it isn't as though that is required. You don't need to go to a quote on quote "church" and it doesn't even need to be on Sunday. A simple grouping together of fellow people of faith on any day of the week would be sufficient and really, what's an hour or an hour and a half? Besides it isn't even so much required as suggested because people tend to change into those they have around them, and if they surround themselves with fellow people of faith then it will become easier for them to stick with their beliefs, right? Social osmosis.
The latter, impure thoughts. There is nothing wrong with impure thoughts, even the most righteous of men get impure thoughts, on a regular basis. It's the choice whether to act or not to act on said thoughts that make it right or wrong. If impure thoughts were damnable then I think we would all be screwed. It's the act of restraint, not the act of thought suppression. In most cases also, the actions that are considered "impure" tend to be for our benefit. I think it would be safe to say that most of these tend to hold a high risk of ill-consequences falling onto the person doing or even the people around the one doing it.
I realize that I will get ostracized for my beliefs in some, neh, most cases. Sticking with your beliefs in circles that tend to insult or simply, as said before, ostracize. People tend to complain about the bible-bashers going around with their signs and their speeches, but you tend to forget the quiet men of faith who are also bludgeoned with hurtful words and even actions in some cases simply because they follow what they believe and don't keep it hidden from the world.
(On an off note even I'm not in favor of those sign carrying yelpers, I think it is better to speak to someone in an intellectual, humble, and open-minded tone if you wish to win them over to your side. The days of the inquisition are over my friends.)
Finally, people talk about him being a person one can turn to in time of need and pain. How about a person to turn to in joy and prosperity? A being you can look at and realize that it wasn't just a coincidence, and that there is a rather high probability of it happening again, and again. Sure there are going to be hardships, there are going to be a lot of them, but even then he'll be there for you to turn to in times of hardship, a shoulder to lean on so to say.
Hrm..I guess I went on for quiet a bit, well I believe that's all I can say about this subject, I hope you don't mind the rant..
