The bad boss...

Let's imagine you have a job you tolerate. The boss demands a lot and gives very little in return. If anything goes right he gets full credit. If something goes wrong, though, the blame is on someone else for not believing fully in the idea. This hypothetical boss makes many promises that he will reward you for following his every command, but if you question him you will be fired - there is no room for debate. With only a few exceptions, his past has shown him to be quite brutal in his treatment of workers. At one point he hired his son, and used him as an example to all those that would not follow him blindly. His son did his best to please him. He did everything asked of him and followed every rule. But in the end, he was also fired in a unkind way.

Many workers still remain and follow the boss, hoping for the promised future. Many were fired for not following some little rule. New ones were hired and the business just kept going. This boss stays the same throughout these changes, never wavering. Follow him exactly or you will be out. The job doesn't pay well, but the promises for the future are so great that many stick around to see it through.

How long could you stay in this job? Could you work for a boss that takes credit for everything good, but never takes responsibility for things that go wrong? Would you expect anyone else to do the same?

Now lets change this from a business to something larger - religion. Why do people feel the need to blindly follow a god that will punish them for questioning him? Good people or bad people, it doesn't matter as long as you don't question anything you'll be fine. I'm not a religious person but if I were I'd have a hard time accepting a god that I wasn't allowed to question. The boss in my hypothetical story would most likely be overthrown or fired for that behavior but for some reason God gets free reign.

This grew out of a conversation I had a few months ago with a man I respect greatly. Somehow the topic of religion came up and I was told that just doing good things and helping people would not be enough to get me to heaven if it did exist. I would have to blindly accept God and Jesus into my life or else I would be doomed eternally. I am a good person. If someone needs help with something I will help them in any way possible. I don't lie, cheat, or steal. I work for what I have and will share whatever I can. If I am wronged I do not get revenge, instead I do my best to turn the other cheek and move on from there. I'm not perfect in any way shape or form, but I do attempt to treat everyone as I would like to be treated.

Although, I am good in these ways, I was told that I would still be going to hell because I haven't accepted God into my life. How can someone feel good about following this God? God doesn't go out of his way to show us that he is real. Only when things go well do we "feel" his presence. When we hit rough spots in life it's because WE have strayed from HIS path. God is sitting in a pretty good position. He can do anything he wants and we have to accept it or be threatened with the fires of hell for all eternity. Just doing good work is not enough, either.

Both my parents are Christian and I was raised as a Christian. I was also raised to question how the world works and how I can make it better. The older I get the more wonder I have with the world. We live in an amazing place. I don't need a god to express that wonder. Nature always amazes me with it beauty and humans always amaze me with their ingenuity. God isn't needed for me to see this wonder - and it's all even more amazing once you are able to see it without having to look through god's eyes.