James,
I always love your responses, especially the way you lay into the concept of relgion. I agree with you that it is strictly a human construct, it has been horribly abused, receives to much emphasis, and it is wholly inadequate in describing God.
But in defense of religion, I guess I would invoke C.S. Lewis' analogy when someone made a very similar complaint to him. Religion is to God, as a map is to the ocean. It is completely inadequate in describing ocean. It certainly is not a replacement for the real thing. On the other hand, it is a useful tool to help a guide a person. And since it does involve the experiences of others who have been somewhere you want to go, it is useful to consider it carefully.
As far as Christianity, well I guess what appeals to me is not the reminders of my wretchedness (trust me, if you knew me, my wretchedness would not be in doubt), but rather the hope of washing away of that wretchedness and becoming anew. I spent a great deal of time looking for happiness from within. It is not a wasted effort, and I think everyone needs to do that, if for no other reason, then to keep things quiet in ones head when you are all alone. However, I do recall the day I decided I did beleive in God. The sky became bluer, and the grass became greener, and I cheered up quite a bit.
In the end, if we are simply bacteria on a rock hurtling through a meaningless universe, does it matter so much if we are mistaken in our beliefs in a benevolent Creator? Does it (the idea alone, not it's nasty derivations) cause us any harm, if it does bring us comfort?
If there is no God, then I guess nothing does matter all that much, least of all, whether or not I believe in God.
