It’s been one of those days…the kind where everything seems to go wrong. I was so frustrated with everything by the time I got home from work that I just went straight into my room, shut off the lights, and fell asleep until about 1:30 AM. Now I’m wide awake.

Time has passed and thinking back upon it, the “everything is going wrong” feeling is probably nothing more than bad pattern recognition. There are thousands of events that make up our lives each day. The number of things that “go wrong” from day to day is minuscule and doesn’t really change all that much. And they are usually spaced out pretty evenly.

But every so often the wrong events will happen in a short timespan and we feel that a pattern is emerging when it’s really not. That false pattern leads us to believe that the day is ruined or that the universe is conspiring against us. Once in this mindset, we start looking for evidence to support it and see bad things happening all day. A slippery slope.

Of course, understanding this now in no way helps my mood when these situations happen. Which brings me to a realization: it really doesn’t take much to throw my day out of whack. Three or four bad events and the day is lost. Why am I so close to the edge? Why is it so easy for me to fall into this trap?

Perhaps I’m just not as happy of a person as I think I am. I like to believe I am happy, but if that were the case, it should take more than a dropped coffee cup and bad traffic to change my outlook.

I guess I’m not really happy. But I’m not sad or angry or perplexed either. I’m just here. Going along each day because that’s what you do. Excepting suicide, there is no alternative.

This brings me to a basic flaw I see with religion. Most people, it seems, would like to live forever…despite literature and film being filled with examples of why this is a bad idea. The idea of life everlasting, that is advertised by most religions, is appealing to nearly everyone. A good hook, I think.

But if you’re not interested in living forever, if the one you have now is more than sufficient, what appeal does religion offer? I can’t imagine going on and on and on. I can barely imagine getting through this life. Why would I want more? There’s only so much that we humans can experience, learn, understand, and retain. One normal lifespan seems adequate to me. Two lifespans is almost unthinkable. But forever?

I understand the idea of transcending the human experience and limitations through spiritual awakening. But honestly that seems more like a CYA gimmick to me. When you look at the fine print, there’s no way to validate or define that notion. It’s added on to assure people it’s a good thing.

SELLER: Buy my service and you’ll receive unlimited widgets.

BUYER: Why do I want unlimited widgets?
SELLER: Because you do. Everyone does. More is better.

BUYER: But I’m not sure I need unlimited widgets. I can barely use the ones I have now.
SELLER: With my service you’ll be a changed man…one who can appreciate unlimited widgets.

BUYER: So I have to agree to let you change me into someone who can appreciate unlimited widgets just so that you can sell me a service that provides unlimited widgets?
SELLER: … Heretic!

I have heard it said, more than once, that the reason so many people throughout history are religious is because it is a universal truth that most people eventually discover. I would counter by claiming that most people believe because religions are based on humanity’s weaknesses and desires. Most people experience the same hardships, so most people find religion comforting.

Person: Life sucks.

Church: We’ll make it better.
Person: My loved one died.

Church: We’ll let you see them again.
Person: I’m scared.

Church: There, there.
Person: Am I a good person?

Church: No, but you can be.
Person: Does anyone truly know me?

Church: We do.
Person: Does nobody see what I sacrifice for others?

Church: We do.
Person: How can you do all this?

Church: We can’t explain it. Just trust us.
Person: When will all of these things happen?

Church: After you’re dead.
Person: So you have nothing to offer me now while I’m living?

Church: Look at all the good we do for people in need.

Person: So does the Red Cross.
Church: … (insert random scriptural passage)

When you find a person who does not need the comforts of religion, who does not seek life everlasting, you will find someone who has an external eye on the subject. This person sees that religion is not a universal truth, not some ubiquitous echo of a divine creator, but a social institution created to fill the needs shared by humanity. That person is more often than not an atheist. This is what I am.

I’m not stating that religion doesn’t have it’s place in our world. Religions do a lot of good for a lot of people. But they also polarize our world and have grave consequences for how we interact with each other. I haven’t made up my mind on whether religion is net positive or negative.

Either way, I don’t believe in any religion’s underlying assumptions. I do believe that (1) most people need religion to make it through life, (2) they rationalize it however they can, and (3) it is futile to argue against someone’s beliefs.

So I respect it, I just don’t believe it.