Religion, Now in the Fiction Section.

I am agnostic. At least I think I am. I would believe in a religion, if there was one that made sense to me. Religion was created as a means to control the population from stealing and doing bad things -after all, who would want to spend all of eternity damned to hell?

If there really was a god, or gods, where is/are he/her/they? Why do innocent people suffer? Why do young lives get taken away? If he is immortal why can't he pass on that immortality to some of us here on earth? How do we know that if there was a god that he did not die? If the Messiah is coming why is it taking him so long? If heaven is in the sky, why can't we visit? Why does prayer not work when you pray day and night for something to happen or change?

And, if there are so many different religions, Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, etc. how can only ONE of them be right? In theory, if I am a catholic and believe I am going to heaven, that means that all my jewish and muslim friends have been wasting their time. And, if thats the case, does that mean that I won't see any of my hindu friends in heaven? What about pets? They aren't baptisized, so if you go to heaven what happens to your dog?

And if the Hindus are correct, and we reincarnate, I ask why? Why go through many different lives relearning high school and college only to have to do it all over as someone else entirely?

How can people believe in something they cannot see? Shouldn't there be some sort of proof for the die hard believers? The people who devote their lives to prayer and church? Can't god send them a message on their ipods or something?

Plus, people are such hypocrites. They go to church every week, read the bible and pray. But then they go cheat on their wives, steal from friends or commit crimes. Their solution? Go to confession, and ask the Lord for forgiveness.

Muslim people cannot eat pork, or have premarital sex. Why should someone be sent to hell if they ate a pork chop or slept with their boyfriend?

And if heaven were SO great, why would we continue to suffer here on earth, why not just kill ourselves as soon as possible, so we can die young and live out eternity floating on clouds. How would it even be possible for our souls to continue? Once the brain stops, all thoughts and functions within us cease. How would a soul "find its way to heaven"?

To tell you the truth, I wished I did believe in a religion and a wonderful god. I see the benefit, if you are scared, or someone you know is suffering, you are comforted by the fact that god will soon take care of them and they will be in heaven; free of pain. If there is a crisis, you believe that god will answer your prayers and provide a miracle. Religion gives people hope and keeps them unified.