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As soon as you "fall back on faith", you are ceasing the inquiry, closing your mind, and allowing ignorance to prevail. The results of "faith" are abundant throughout history, and it's never been good.

Absolutely incorrect. I am a physics- and computers major, a graduate with a double Baccaulaurette, and have started my MBA. I seek knowledge constantly, and have a very open mind about scientific and factual realms. I've travelled to other countries for months at a time to try to understand foreign cultures. I speak three languages and want to master three more.

And I also strongly believe in G-d, the L-rd of the Universe.

At the same time, the number of lives "saved" by basic improvements in agriculture and health care far outnumber those lost in all the wars combined. Science works, every time, and has always worked, since the Greeks first discovered it two thousand years ago.

Yes, it has saved lives. But what about the after life?

When you calm your personal insecurities by telling yourself lies about "The Heavenly Father" watching out for you, you are doing nothing but endangering yourself and those around you.

Oh, you poor, poor man. I hope G-d reveals Himself to you someday.

You would be happier if you had the solidarity of reason behind you.

I have reason behind me. I'm happy. Except, of course, for the tiny monkeys in tiny airplanes. They annoy me.

"And I also strongly believe in G-d, the L-rd of the Universe."

Lazamataz, thank you for your reply. It sounds like you have a very interesting background.

I would like to know, in all of your travels and experiencing different cultures, what have you ever seen that makes you think God is real? I'm talking sensory input -- what have you seen or heard. I have never experienced anything that makes me think there is some supernatural creature out there.

(Remember that the bible has no authority in my view, so calling that "evidence" won't fly with me.)

"But what about the after life?"

I'm inclined to think that there is no afterlife. I've never seen anything that makes me think there is an afterlife. All living things die, and that is the end.

Waiting for an afterlife is really missing the boat, in my opinion. Life here on Earth is more amazing, incredible, and exciting than any hollow promise you'll find in a mythological text like the Bible. Stop waiting for the greener grass on the other side, and start living.

Do you believe the Pharaohs made it to the afterlife? They were not Christian, they followed a "false god" (according to the bible), but went to extraordinary lengths to follow their beliefs about the afterlife. In your opinion, were they right? If not, what makes Christianity's afterlife true but the ancient Egyptian religion's afterlife wrong?

What I do see is churches exploiting people's natural fear of death to their own ends. "Do what we tell you and you'll go to heaven. No... really. Disobey us and you'll fry." What a crock.

Stop living in fear. You will die. Every human ever, since the beginning of time, has died, and so will you. It's the natural cycle of life; plants, bacteria, stars, and galaxies all have a life cycle that ends in death. If you wait for the afterlife to experience happiness, then it will be too late. Life is about living! Enjoy it, cast your anxiety and agression aside... you don't need to belittle yourself with religion.