All religions fall apart under examination, but they can and do have value for the believers. BUT, no faith is perfect, even for the true believer. All faiths have drawbacks that can cause harm to others, often those we love the most. The trick is to have the courage to examine your religion, because it will fall apart under scrutiny... doctrinally, scientifically, and its historicity. NO EXCEPTIONS! Mark Twain once said: The ease with which I know another man's religion is folly teaches me to suspect that my own is also.
The value of a faith then lies in taking the good from it... stay if you want, but with eyes wide open. With open eyes you can minimize the damage that comes from believing wrong things. You can love freely, you can rid yourself of judgments that inherently come from a faith, and you can embrace other's beliefs. What a beautiful gift to give yourself, your family, and your friends. And you will know truths. The truths that really matter, not the "truths" about or that come from knowing your faith is true, and right. Real truths that you learn for yourself throughout your life. Truths like, when I'm patient and loving, I'm happier. These real truths that all of us learn through our experiences are the most important truths, because they effect our happiness, the happiness of those around us, and the way we live our life.
It's really that simple. I don't think this life is about salvation. I don't think God necessarily cares what we believe, even if we believe in God or not. I think our experience in this life has value because of what we learn and what we do with the things we learn. You will discover the things in life that are most important, as soon as you stop listening to a faith telling you what is most important and begin listening to yourself tell you what is most important. Learning to think for yourself and freeing yourself from the bondage of having to think a certain way a faith wants you to think, is the single most important gift you can give to yourself.
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