Day 19 - What do you think of religion?

I think religion is good for people.  I was raised Catholic, I was baptized and had my communion and confirmation.  When I was younger, I didn't mind going to church with my mom.  I enjoyed singing the songs and memorized many of the lines - and didn't understand why the priest would look at his book when he was explaining the body of Christ.  I started to read the bible from the beginning (I didn't finish).  But that aside, I was OK with attending mass - until a year or so before my confirmation.  As I got older, I had a lot of questions, but I felt that many people could not answer my questions...and when they did, I did not like the answer.  After all, the stories in the bible are just that - stories told from someones point of view.  Whose to say that my stories and my friends versions of my life can't be a religion?  Anyone can start something, but getting all those followers? Is that cult like? I don't know.  So, after my confirmation, I only went to mass when my mom asked (begged).  I was the most religious of all my sisters, so I became the godmother of one of my nieces.  I was a registered parishioner at my last church - but for the wrong reasons, SI's mom was super religious and it was 'required' of me to be a part of a church (mind you, he was not!).  Now, I rarely at attend mass, but do so on the rare occasion (but more than the holidays).

So, I guess I haven't answered the question yet.  I think people need religion. They need someone they think will help them or answer their prayers.  Perhaps they need to believe in a higher power.  Those are all good reasons...and I hope people become less paranoid about other religions. I say believe in whatever you want - don't force it on others and don't ridicule other's beliefs.