[Duke]

Oddly enough, Organized Religion and TV (such as the Exorcist) have very little to do with my thought process. Just the unknown value of Heaven and Hell is enough to make me wonder and also enough to help curb my behavioral patterns now and again.

I think the one biggest event in my life that started this questioning happened when I was a kid. My mom used to coax me into attending Church with her now and again and I didn't mind because she always brought my favorite flavor of Lifesavers Candy and I really liked the Minister. Even though I can't say I was overly attentive to the sermons, I really did like the charisma that our Minister radiated (in fact both him and his wife were like this, you just enjoyed being around them).

I'd even help out during summer vacations by mowing the Church Lawn, vacuuming, dusting, etc., the Church. I can't say I was driven by Faith but more a desire to help out this particular servant of God.

Well, this Minister ended up having a stroke which partially paralyzed one side of his body. It wasn't too obvious really but you could tell as his mouth drooped to one side slightly. Even though his life wasn't in danger it still really sux that had to happen to him and I just couldn't (and still can't) believe that this could happen to a servant of God (a decent, upstanding, servant; not a Chester Molester).

To this day this thought is never far from my mind when the issue of Religion comes up. I just can't understand how something ban can happen to someone who takes God into their lives as much as this man did. It just makes no sense to me and if this is part of a "master plan" then it's a terribly stupid master plan as far as I'm concerned.

My view of Religion was changed forever due to this one, extremely significant event in my youth. To this day I still wonder if my faith will make an ounce of difference in God's master plan and if not, I'll put my faith into something else.