While both the government and religion were created to keep the flock of sheep in line, religion has proved to be more effective. There are a few different reasons behind this, one being that nothing is more feared than death. The consequence of rebelling against the government, prison, may be enough to deter most from wrongdoing but still is not considered nearly as terrible as the consequence of rebelling against god. After all, what is a lifetime locked away in a concrete cell compared to an eternity burning in a flaming pit? Aside from fear, another major factor in determining religion's success is the folk tale factor. Although government begins to be installed within society's minds as early as kindergarten, religion jumps the gun and begins from almost infancy. While most children are not forced to watch CNN or to study law books, they are made to attend church, say prayers, and read the bible. The religious lecturing comes straight from the parents at a tender age when every word on the lips of a mother or father is treasured as gold. If mommy dearest says that god exists, a child will easily believe it with no questions asked. In this way, the ideas of religion are passed down generation to generation by word of mouth, being subconsciously installed as truth before one even reaches the age of questioning.

The brainwashing doesn't stop there, either. God is plastered on billboards, t-shirts, bumper stickers, frisbees, coffee mugs, pencils, etc. Although religion and state are supposedly separate, "In God We Trust" is featured on every monetary unit and prayer at the flagpole is held each morning before school. Television is taken over by church-in-the-comfort-of-your-own-home shows and wonders such as the 700 Club. It's even considered fashionable to be religious these days with the help of that darling little WWJD jewelry and clothing line. God is so securely located into every aspect of life that it's no wonder so many people blindly believe.

There are countless other excuses for peoples' faith: everyone's egos are petted with the idea that we are the main species created by a high being; religion offers easy yet irrational answers to what curiosity the feeble-minded manage to muster; religion lessons the responsibilities of mankind by convincing people that god has our paths planned out so that all we must do is follow, not take initiative and lead; religion comforts the mourning with empty promises of one day being reunited with their lost loved ones; the list goes on and on and on . . . .

I suppose if lying to yourself makes you feel better, religion will prove useful for you. For as nice of a concept as it might be to think that everything has meaning and that we were created out of love by a god who wants to save our souls, it's still bullshit. Santa Claus makes a nice fib as well, but is a fib nevertheless. And just as children are taught that if they don't believe in Santa they will receive no toys on Xmas, people are instructed to believe that if they dare to question the existence of a god, they will not be allowed into heaven, which once again encourages the blind faith (substitute: ignorance) that so quickly quiets the questions and protests of the people. And while this method may extinguish the curiosity of the weak, it does not change the fact that neither the jolly old elf nor the omnipotent being actually exist. This is more tragic concerning religion, of course, considering that mommy and daddy can't dress up in a fur trimmed red suit, pretend to be god, and hand out the gift of eternal life every December in order to cover up the lies.

This might all make life seem pointless, hopeless, and disappointing, but that all lays in one's perception. While the religious claim that their faith gives their lives a purpose, it actually does exactly the opposite by giving their non-existent after-lives a purpose. Someone who believes in heaven will spend their whole life striving to make it there, always looking towards the future rather than enjoying the present. Therefore this person cannot appreciate life as much as someone who views this existence as being all that we have. The skeptic will be more likely to respect life and live it to the fullest. As an extra bonus, the non-believer also gets the ability to think for themselves. Rather than relying on a religion full of stereotypical, prejudiced, inane rules such as being anti-homosexuality, one can live by his or her own morals. You can decide on your own whether or not killing someone is wrong without having to check with your minister or look it up in your handy electronic pocket bible first. You get to live your own life, by your own principles, making your own beliefs.

So, without hesitation, burn your bibles. They're poorly written, outdated works of literature anyway. Stop paying a preacher to decipher things you can figure out better for yourself. And please, please, please throw out the hideous WWJD gear. God does not exist. Heaven is a state of mind. Jesus was just an extremely confused man who was very much on the same level of David Koresh. The bible is just a set of stories written by mere mortals. No one looks good in flowered church dresses. Open your eyes; this is reality.