This is the original poster again. I personally look at most of the world's religions as a giant brainwashing factory. From day 1 children have whatever religion drilled into their heads. They don't make their own choices and it takes balls to question and fight against their programming. Religion also attracts those at the lowest points in their lives... just like the dreaded cult (I don't see much difference). It takes a lot to tell the truth.... "I don't know and neither should you". As for picking a religion / deity just to avoid hell; you could be picking the wrong one. Your god could be the evil one and the evil one (in your eyes) could be the right one. You might just get his name wrong and piss him off. I wish, that if there is a god, that it will at least tolerate the honest fact that I did not know what was beyond my abilities to experience. Or, I might just cease to exist, and in that case, at least I didn't waste time paying homage to nothing. I think a lot about religion. I often wish I could believe something, buy I cannot. I have found nothing to satisfy my questions, but unlike the people who have faith, I cannot bring myself to lie to myself or to others to fit in, or to not go to their version of hell. It just doesn't work that way. My life would be easier if I believed... no arguments with the parents / wife about what to bring up the child (I want them to be open to all religions and non-religion and make their own choice when they are old enough -- no brainwashing). No dirty looks when I say I am an agnostic... and no more endless explanations of what it is... no more "saved" people trying to sway me.... arrrrghhh.....